From: "Susan Ash" <s.ash-AT-cowan.edu.au>
Date: Mon, 18 Aug 1997 12:40:21 +0000
Subject: Re: imaginary father and kristeva


I am critiquing a piece of work which relies heavily on 
privileging a notion of the 'paternal function' of the 'Imaginary 
Father.' (from Tales of Love)   Characters in a series of novels 
are judged on the basis of whether or not they have access to
 such a figure and therefore the potentail to find a ' safe' and productive
 position within the 'Socio-symbolic.' 

 It seems to me that, although arguing that the figure is a 
non-gendered masculine/feminine nexus, the essay is actually assimilating 
the mother into an  idea of a benevolent (good) father.  

Two questions: 
1)  How is Kristeva's ' Imaginary Father' not just an assimilaton of the 
mother under another name of the father?.  
2) Where would I find a feminist critique of  'the Imaginary Father'? 

Thanks to anyone 'listening.'  Susan


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