Thanatos Gains the Upper Hand: Sadism, Jouissance, and Libidinal Economy

Thanks to Sade's daring descriptions of classic sadistic scenes, sadistic desire has been characterized by a frantic, virulent, destructive investment of physical and psychic energies. Since Barthes, jouissance does not only emerge as a culmination of emotions as is associated with sexual orgasm, but also declares its vehement, radicalized status which is distinct from the mild, comfortable enjoyment of plaisir. The resemblance of sadistic desire and jouissance, however, does not stop at the maximized degree of aggressivity. Sadism and jouissance, in our conception, also demonstrate similar mechanisms of desire, follow the same logic and operation in the libidinal economy, and are both motivated by the death drive.