Generalized Semiotic Functions of Borders’ model: Contributions from cultural psychology, semiotics and psychoanalysis to-wards the understanding of borders in human experience

Abstract

The article is an exploration of the bordering process, its theoretical foundations, its ontology-dynamics and phenomenology in human experience. The research question is how bordering, which is ubiquitous in human psyche, works and contributes to the way we experience the world and make sense of it. On one hand, borders works in terms of objectification (namely, they define temporary ontologies of objects and scenario); on the other hand borders are processual devices that enable the development of relational systems. Furthermore, we will discuss the ontogenesis and sociogenesis of bordering and its affective dimensions. The theoretical framework we use to discuss borders is a dialogue between cultural psychology, psychoanalysis and semiotics focusing on a processual and developmental perspective. By the dialogue between these perspectives, we will highlight the multiplicity of functions of borders and their ambivalences and paradoxes. Finally, we propose the concept of bordering as primary way of organizing the human experience – in terms of subjectivity and sociality - and discuss the idea of bounded polyvalent affectivity of borders.