Guys, I'm almost certain that this song was written after Frusciante either read, studied, or investigated Lacanian psychoanalytical theory.
"The Real", a category established by Jacques Lacan, can only be understood in connection with the categories of the symbolic and the imaginary. Defined as what escapes the symbolic, the real can be neither spoken nor written. Thus it is related to the impossible, defined as "that which never ceases to write itself." And because it cannot be reduced to meaning, the real does not lend itself any more readily to univocal imaginary representation than it does to symbolization. The real situates the symbolic and the imaginary in their respective positions.
Go read "the mirror stage" and other essays by Lacan and you will see what I mean. I believe this to be Frusciante's interpretation and musical expression of these Lacanian ideas. In fact, the whole album "Curtains" may revolve around the similar subject. This whole business of disassociation, and not knowing who you are, and blending and bending in and out of "reality" I think contribute to this notion.
"These jokes life's playing..." may be indeed a "re-presentation" of John's struggle with these ideas. All of life is a joke because we can never attain "The Real."
Really wish I could get some clarification from John himself, but I'm almost certain I'm correct.
Guys, I'm almost certain that this song was written after Frusciante either read, studied, or investigated Lacanian psychoanalytical theory.
"The Real", a category established by Jacques Lacan, can only be understood in connection with the categories of the symbolic and the imaginary. Defined as what escapes the symbolic, the real can be neither spoken nor written. Thus it is related to the impossible, defined as "that which never ceases to write itself." And because it cannot be reduced to meaning, the real does not lend itself any more readily to univocal imaginary representation than it does to symbolization. The real situates the symbolic and the imaginary in their respective positions.
Go read "the mirror stage" and other essays by Lacan and you will see what I mean. I believe this to be Frusciante's interpretation and musical expression of these Lacanian ideas. In fact, the whole album "Curtains" may revolve around the similar subject. This whole business of disassociation, and not knowing who you are, and blending and bending in and out of "reality" I think contribute to this notion.
"These jokes life's playing..." may be indeed a "re-presentation" of John's struggle with these ideas. All of life is a joke because we can never attain "The Real."
Really wish I could get some clarification from John himself, but I'm almost certain I'm correct.