This
essay discusses animal-to-human metamorphosis in film, with particular regard
to the ways in which therianthropy is used to communicate and investigate the
theme of social isolation. Films under discussion are John Cocteau’s La Belle et La Bete (1946), Kurt
Neumann’s The Fly (1958), and Sam
Raimi’s Spiderman 3 (2007).
Research sources include Sigmund Freud’s The Psychopathology of Everyday Life,
being used to analyse the psychological effects of the transformation on
everyday existence, Brett Easton Ellis’ American
Psycho, as well as the 2000 film adaptation by Mary Hannon, acting as an
example of a psychological transformation in society and the above films The Fly, La Belle et La Bete and Spiderman 3, for their themes regarding
transformation on an emotional level.
The discussion begins by comparing the symbolic use of
metamorphosis in La Belle et La Bete
and The Fly, before examining the
associated idea of the Symbiote in the Spider-Man universe, reinforcing ideas
surrounding social isolation found in American
Psycho. In conclusion, the assignment will seek to address the
psychological and emotional repercussions that come as a result of
metamorphosis.
Bibliography
Films
La Belle et La
Bete. (1946) Directed by Jean Cocteau, France: DisCina.
The Fly. (1958) Directed by
Kurt Neumann, Los Angeles: Twentieth Century Fox Corporation.
Spider-Man 3. (2007) Directed by
Sam Raimi, California: Columbia Pictures.
American Psycho. (2000) Directed by Mary Hannon,
Canada: Edward R.
Pressman Film Corporation.
Books
Freud, S. (1901) The
Psychopathology of Everyday Life. [Online] http://library.isb.edu/digital_collection/Psychopathology_of_everyday_life.pdf:
(Accessed on: 15/10/11)
Ellis, Brett Easton.
(1991) American Psycho. London:
Picador
Hey Steve - you're not doing anything wrong at all - it's just a style thing, and this is already much more credible sounding and focused. However, it now seems as if your analysis of American Psycho is actually key to your discussion of social isolationism - is it more important/as important as the other 3 films under discussion, if so, it feels as if it should be mentioned in the same sentence as them as a key case study?
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