Description
Psychological Criticism Paper (3-4 pages)
ASSIGNMENT:
Analyze a film of your choosing through a psychoanalytic lens.
STRUCTURE:
Intro: Briefly introduce the contextual components of the film including the director, title and year. You should also mention the main conflict of the film.
Thesis:
What is the major theme of the movie, and what is the film saying about human nature?
***How does the conflict of the film connect to this thematic message?
Body:
The following are a list of psychological terms we covered in class:
-Id, ego, superego
-Defense mechanisms (repression, regression, projection, denial, displacement, sublimation)
-Oedipus Complex
-Death drive
-The Unconscious
-The Gaze
-Dreams as wishes
-Pleasure Principle
-Reality Principle
Explain how TWO of these aspects are being portrayed in the film. Provide a definition for each concept you chose that shows your understanding of it, and then apply it to your analysis. How do these terms allow us to better understand the inner
conflicts being shown? How does this relate to the theme?
BODY STRUCTURE:
a. Introduce the relevant scene, motif, symbol, or dialogue from the movie
b. Describe in detail how the psychoanalytic principle is connected to this part of the film
c. Follow up with a connection to the theme and/or conflict (e.g., how do Mr. Grady’s repressed memories connect to the larger theme of being haunted by our past?)
CONCLUSION:
a. How do these psychological models allow us to better interpret the film? Does the application of these concepts allow us to better understand character motivation and the inner workings of human beings?
b. What is your view on psychoanalysis? Is this a useful tool in understanding or analyzing human
behavior? Or is it a sham?!