The Oedipal trajectory
Film theory based on Freuds conception of the oedipal complex and Jacques Lacan's account of the mirror state. The application can be used to analyse the narratives of a range of different films. It was based on male perspectives initially.
Oedipal trajectory- an adaptation of Freud's theory by Jacques Lacan...
-A male child, who at first bonded with his mother, imagines himself a united whole with her.
-However, when held up to a mirror, he perceives his difference from her.
-He becomes aware of the illusion of unity yet still desires it. This desire now becomes sexual.
-He comes to hate his father as his father has lawful access to the mother.
-The child perceives this difference as on of castration: he sees the mother as castrated.
-To identify with her would thus mean he would be without his penis - in identifying with her he becomes like her; in uniting with her, he runs the risk of castration from his father (he assumes the father has this power.
-He attempts to identify with father he set about trying to find a female the male child can ow move towards social stability and continue the cycle.
The female doesn't have a role in films, (more passive) the male is active and actively pursuing the woman. He pursues her always. You rarely see a full nude shot of a woman only small fragments of her. This means that it is less intense and threatening for a man to view the female body. This conveys a woman as passive because she is being fetishised by a man. Sex scenes are always to entice a man.
Because Mia has no penis she has no control over her own life.
As with the male child, the mother is the first love object of the female child. However, since there is no perceived difference between mother and daughter ie: a lack of penis, the daughter rejects her other due to penis envy. The mother cannot provide her with a penis so she turns to her father to provide her with it in the form a of a child. To fulfil er Oedipal trajectory and enter into the social order of things the female child must turn from the mother, even though she may still desire her - she must conform to male subjectivity. Failure to do so will result in punishment - either through marginalisation or death. Independent women, in mainstream cinema, eventually come to their senses they marry the guy, if it is a comedy; they are brought to their senses if its a film noir or thriller.
Oedipal trajectory- an adaptation of Freud's theory by Jacques Lacan...
-A male child, who at first bonded with his mother, imagines himself a united whole with her.
-However, when held up to a mirror, he perceives his difference from her.
-He becomes aware of the illusion of unity yet still desires it. This desire now becomes sexual.
-He comes to hate his father as his father has lawful access to the mother.
-The child perceives this difference as on of castration: he sees the mother as castrated.
-To identify with her would thus mean he would be without his penis - in identifying with her he becomes like her; in uniting with her, he runs the risk of castration from his father (he assumes the father has this power.
-He attempts to identify with father he set about trying to find a female the male child can ow move towards social stability and continue the cycle.
The female doesn't have a role in films, (more passive) the male is active and actively pursuing the woman. He pursues her always. You rarely see a full nude shot of a woman only small fragments of her. This means that it is less intense and threatening for a man to view the female body. This conveys a woman as passive because she is being fetishised by a man. Sex scenes are always to entice a man.
Because Mia has no penis she has no control over her own life.
As with the male child, the mother is the first love object of the female child. However, since there is no perceived difference between mother and daughter ie: a lack of penis, the daughter rejects her other due to penis envy. The mother cannot provide her with a penis so she turns to her father to provide her with it in the form a of a child. To fulfil er Oedipal trajectory and enter into the social order of things the female child must turn from the mother, even though she may still desire her - she must conform to male subjectivity. Failure to do so will result in punishment - either through marginalisation or death. Independent women, in mainstream cinema, eventually come to their senses they marry the guy, if it is a comedy; they are brought to their senses if its a film noir or thriller.
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