Psychoanalysis in film

I found it interesting how the psychoanalytic theory was placed on film to address overarching cultural themes. It considered film as another form of societal discourse, and thus a platform to study how certain members of society reacted to other members of society. This was applied to such topics as race and sexuality, and how to understand the actions taken by people who mimic or go against the grain of societal hegemony. The application of Freudian theory offers some serious weight to the arguments on such ideas as the mimicking of cultures that are seen to be dominant. One of the most fascinating elements of this article was when it talked about the representation of the body in horror films. Psychoanalysis can be applied to how we depict and perceive the body of the villain or monster; the elements that make this character particularly repulsive or “monstrous.” Psychoanalysis can be applied to virtually every element of cinema, because it is an art form that can be perceived on many levels, and brings out a certain purpose of reaction on the part of both the artist and the audience.