1 Marxist film theory One of the oldest and more complex film theories.
2 Feminist film theory Theoretical film criticism derived from feminist politics.
3 Auteur theory An understanding that the director is more to be considered
the author of the movie.
4 Genre studies An academic subject which studies genre theory. (See my previous
essay for more info.)
Ryan Gerard Murray
HNCCMP-2014-2015
Figure 2: Visual representation of the id, the ego and the superego.
THE ID (INSTINCTS):
It is believed that everyone is completely id at birth, with the
ego and superego developing later in life as part of growth.
The id contains the primitive and instinctive personality
components such as the life instinct and the aggressive death
instinct. The id reacts to situations and instincts immediately and
operates on the pleasure principle, which is the idea that every
impulse should be satisfied immediately, regardless of any
consequences (McLeod, 2008). The id is chaotic and has no sense of
reality.
Example: Bart was stuck in traffic. He just wanted his vehicle to move! Enraged
at the situation, Bart pulled his car onto the shoulder and sped forward, not
caring that he was clipping peoples side mirrors as he tried to get ahead of the
cars in front of him. (YourDictionary.com)
HNCCMP-2014-2015
and the ego may reach the same decision about something, the
superegos reason for that decision is more based on moral
values, while the egos decision is based more on what others
will think or what the consequences of an action could be
(YourDictionary.com). The superego is morality driven and to be
completely superego would to be your ideal moral self both
personally and in society.
Example: When Michael saw the $5 bill lying on the floor with no one around it,
he turned it into the school office in case anyone came looking for it. He wouldnt
want to lose $5, and hoped that whoever had lost it would ask about it in the
office. (YourDictionary.com)
Psychoanalysis entry into film began almost as soon as film itself. As the theory
is based on the mechanics of the human mind, and all humans have these
mechanics at work, it is understandable u
that film characters mentality can be studied like that of a real person. Taking
genre into consideration it is important that characters are relatable, and that
their mentality runs deep. Both film and psychoanalysis began in the 1890s and
have inspired each other and entwined ever
since. In 1925, Hans Newman contacted
Sigmund Freud with plans to make a dramatic
film which explores the process of
interpretation of dreams. (Greenberg, 2008)
The film eventually came to light and was
titled Secrets of a Soul. Telling the story of a
scientist who is tormented by an irrational
fear of knives and the irresistible compulsion
to murder his wife (Kinolorber), Secrets of a
Soul is known as the first film to have deliberately applied the theory of
psychoanalysis, creating a complex character and allowing viewers to explore his
state of mind.
HNCCMP-2014-2015
HNCCMP-2014-2015
BIBLIOGRAPHY
BBC. History: Sigmund Freud. BBC History. [Online]
http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/historic_figures/freud_sigmund.shtml.
Cherry, Kendra. The Id, Ego and Superego: The Structural Model of Personality.
About.com. [Online]
http://psychology.about.com/od/theoriesofpersonality/a/personalityelem.htm.
Dyer, Richard. 2000. Film Studies: Critical Approaches. Film Studies: Critical
Approaches. Oxford : Oxford UP, 2000, Introduction, pp. 1-8.
Greenberg, Harvey Roy. 2008. Secrets of a Soul: A History of Psychoanalysis
and Cinema. Philoctetes. [Online] February 29, 2008.
http://www.philoctetes.org/calendar/secrets_of_a_soul_the_history_of_pscychoana
lysis_and_cinema/.
Kinolorber. Secrets of a Soul. Kinolorber. [Online] http://www.kinolorber.com/.
McLeod, Saul. 2008. Id, Ego and Superego. Simply Psychology. [Online] 2008.
http://www.simplypsychology.org/psyche.html.
Murray, Ryan Gerard. 2014. Horror (Defining Characteristics of Genre and
Genre Conventions). 2014.
YourDictionary.com. Examples of Id Ego and Superego. YourDictionary.com.
[Online] http://examples.yourdictionary.com/examples-of-id-ego-andsuperego.html.