Scribd Logo
Upload

Welcome to Scribd!

  • 274 views

    King Kong Frued

    Uploaded by

    Gravevelgra
    This document discusses Sigmund Freud's theories and how they relate to the film King Kong. It provides background on Freud's life and work developing psychoanalysis. It then examines two main Freudian interpretations of King Kong: one viewing the island as representing the id, ego and superego, and another interpreting the film as a metaphor for Carl Denham's psyche. Both interpretations involve the concept of repression as central to Freudian theory. In conclusion, the document states that Freud's theories have impacted how the film is psychologically understood, in terms of symbolism, even if this wasn't the original intent.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd

    King Kong Frued

    Uploaded by

    Gravevelgra
    274 views14 pages
    This document discusses Sigmund Freud's theories and how they relate to the film King Kong. It provides background on Freud's life and work developing psychoanalysis. It then examines two main Freudian interpretations of King Kong: one viewing the island as representing the id, ego and superego, and another interpreting the film as a metaphor for Carl Denham's psyche. Both interpretations involve the concept of repression as central to Freudian theory. In conclusion, the document states that Freud's theories have impacted how the film is psychologically understood, in terms of symbolism, even if this wasn't the original intent.

    Original Description:

    hi

    Copyright

    © © All Rights Reserved

    Available Formats

    PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd

    Did you find this document useful?

    Is this content inappropriate?

    This document discusses Sigmund Freud's theories and how they relate to the film King Kong. It provides background on Freud's life and work developing psychoanalysis. It then examines two main Freudian interpretations of King Kong: one viewing the island as representing the id, ego and superego, and another interpreting the film as a metaphor for Carl Denham's psyche. Both interpretations involve the concept of repression as central to Freudian theory. In conclusion, the document states that Freud's theories have impacted how the film is psychologically understood, in terms of symbolism, even if this wasn't the original intent.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    274 views14 pages

    King Kong Frued

    Uploaded by

    Gravevelgra
    This document discusses Sigmund Freud's theories and how they relate to the film King Kong. It provides background on Freud's life and work developing psychoanalysis. It then examines two main Freudian interpretations of King Kong: one viewing the island as representing the id, ego and superego, and another interpreting the film as a metaphor for Carl Denham's psyche. Both interpretations involve the concept of repression as central to Freudian theory. In conclusion, the document states that Freud's theories have impacted how the film is psychologically understood, in terms of symbolism, even if this wasn't the original intent.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    You are on page 1of 14

    King Kong & Sigmund

    Freud
    Casper, Karris, Coyle, Sandy
    Introduction
    Our research areas are Freud’s history, his theories, and how they link to King Kong. Our main
    sources are Biography.com Authors, Coup Dé Des, Brin D. and Yeffeth G., and CrashCourse.
    These are our main sources because of the depth of information they give us on each section.

    We chose to split our topic into these sections because Freud’s history and impact on
    psychology as a whole are significant; so much so that there are many Freudian interpretations
    of King Kong. The main two interpretations of the movie in Freudian terms are related to the
    character of Carl Denham and Skull Island itself.
    Sigmund Freud
    Fig 1. Sigmund Freud (2014)

    Sigmund Freud born May 6, 1856 and died on September 23, 1939. He was an
    Austrian neurologist that known for developing the theories and techniques of
    psychoanalysis. He would go through the unconscious conflicts based on the
    dreams and fantasies of the patient; over time forming the theories that we
    know today like the mental iceberg that talks about three layers of conscious/
    the Oedipus complex/ the id and much more. Even though these theories of
    sexual /social behaviour got him famous for the wrong reason. (Biography.com
    Editors, 2014)
    Sigmund Freud
    Fig 2. Sigmund Freud (2014)

    Fig. 3. Freud’s view of the human mind (2018)

    There was also a case dubbed “the rat man” that shows how in a small way how
    he was able to build his theories based off of these troubled cases. The rat
    man, for example, confused pain and pleasure and even mentioned a Chinese
    torture and how all this lead back to a case of childhood sexual curiosity.
    (Appignanesi, R. and Zarate, O. 2007).
    Psychology
    Fig 4. Small-Business-Psychology, (2012),

    Psychology is a scientific study of human behaviour and the mind. It includes


    many subfields of study of human development including sports, health,
    clinical, and social behaviour as well as cognitive process.
    Origin of Psychology
    Sigmund Freud changed psychology in a big way, by
    ‘’Its earliest history can be traced back to the time of the early introducing the theory of personality that
    Greeks. During the 17th-century, emphasizes on unconscious mind.
    the French philosopher Rene Descartes introduced the idea of
    dualism, which asserted Freud worked with Bertha Pappenheim (Anna O)
    that the mind and body were two entities that interact to form the suffering from Hysteria, that led him to think that
    human experience’’ early childhood experiences and unconscious
    May 23, 2018 Kendra Cherry
    impulses. It can influence adult life and the
    personality.
    Hysteria
    A condition in which the patient shows
    physical symptoms like paralysis,
    hallucination, loss of speech. Like being more aware of your surroundings at
    Without a physical cause, it can be night while walking in a dark alleyway, or jumping
    cured by recalling past traumatic while being taken by surprise.
    events.
    The Conscious Mind & Unconscious Mind
    Eros
    A life drive is concerned with
    preservation of life and species.
    It seeks basic needs of health and
    safety and food. And with sexual drives
    it seeks to create life and preserve it

    Thanatos
    The death instinct it pushes towards
    extinction and innominate state of
    being. It associated with negative
    emotions of fear, hate, anger that lead
    to anti social behaviour

    Repetition
    a strong desire to repeat actions, even
    Fig 5. The Unconscious Mind , (2018) to point that is harmful. Like an
    addiction.

    ‘The aim of all life is death...inanimate things existed before living ones’ (Freud 1920)
    Psychology
    Fig 6. The Superego, Ego, and Id (2016)

    “In Freudian psychology, the Id is the source of our “libido”- that is, the “drive,” typically sexual,
    to do things. The Id is fully unconscious, operating on primary processes- namely, the “pleasure
    principle.” The Ego and Super-ego are usually at odds with the instincts of the Id, and its
    pressures are frequently countered and repressed by the Ego and Super-ego. In a society, the Id
    cannot very well achieve full satisfaction. The tragedy of Oedipus- a story where a man is put in a
    position to kill his father, gain power, and marry his mother- can be considered as an example of
    the social misery caused by Id gratification.” (Coup Dé Des, 2016)
    Psychology And King Kong
    In King Kong, Freud’s use of the Superego, Ego, and
    Id are said to be found on Skull Island (which is
    conveniently split into three parts, each one
    representing one of these three features).

    Fig 7. Ann, (1933)


    The natives on the island are claimed to be the Superego, “separated from the domain
    of Kong by a massive gate.” Kong’s domain is therefore the Ego, which subsequently
    overlooks the realm of the dinosaurs (the Id). The sacrificing of women to Kong also
    references this; socially, it is unacceptable to give into the urges of the ego (of which
    the desires are reflected by the Id). The “brides” being offered to Kong keeps him
    “from breaking down the wall in search of other ways to satisfy his needs”. (Brin, D.
    and Yeffeth, G. 2005).
    Psychology and King Kong
    The film is also said to be a metaphor for Carl Denham’s psyche; “Skull Island’s
    expressionistic landscapes – fertile, overgrown, reptile-infested, cave-filled – is
    Denham’s fantasised sexual terrain, and Kong is a manifestation of Denham’s
    subconscious.” (Honeybone, N. 2010)
    Kong, as Denham’s supposed animalistic side, is attempting to suppress his urges towards Ann;
    his final quote, “It was beauty that killed the beast”, could be in reference to his own bestial
    side; “King Kong (1933) and Cat People (1942) opened up the controversial area of the bestial self
    and the extent to which the human subject defines itself in relation to the animal.” Scheider, S.
    (2009).
    Fig 8. Carl Denham(1933)
    Such interpretations of the film’s final phrase could also said to be
    pinning the fault on the woman; “men’s anguish in the face of
    female indifference, the tenderness of masculine desire and the
    cruelty of female response”. (Warner, M. 1995)
    Psychology and King Kong
    Fig 9. King Kong towers over the city (1933)

    • Whether discussing the Denham or Kong interpretation, the concept of


    repression comes into play with both; “Repression is a defense mechanism
    that’s thought to work by banishing [repressing] any thoughts, feelings, or
    memories that cause anxiety into the unconscious.” (Rorschach & Freudians:
    Crash Course Psychology #21, 2004).
    • In terms of Freud and King Kong and the interpretations of the movie,
    repression is significant; both with the idea of Denham repressing his urges
    towards Ann, and the metaphor of Skull Island being the cerebral cortex
    containing all of the different sections of the Superego, Ego, and Id.
    Conclusion

    • Freud’s impact on psychology has been significant.


    • King Kong has multiple Freudian interpretations
    • The gratification of the Id is an issue in most interpretations of King Kong.

    Overall, Freud’s psychological theories have had some impact on how the film has been received, in terms
    of how viewers understand the symbolism presented (even if most of the claimed Freudian
    interpretations were not intended by the movie’s original directors).
    Illustration List

    Fig. 1. Sigmund Freud (2014), [Online Image], At: https://www.biography.com/people/sigmund-freud-9302400 (Accessed on 4 October 2018)

    Fig 2. Sigmund Freud (2014) [Online Image] At: http://www.bbc.com/culture/story/20140421-does-freud-still-matter (Accessed on 4 October 2018

    Fig. 3. Freud’s view of the human mind (2018). Topography of Mind: Freud's Iceberg Model for Unconscious, Pre-conscious, & Conscious. [online] Available at:
    http://www.wilderdom.com/personality/L8-3TopographyMindIceberg.html [Accessed 4 Oct. 2018].

    Fig 4. small-business-psychology, (2012), [Concept Art], At: http://blog.fundinggates.com/small-business-psychology-3/, (Accessed: 03/10/18)

    Fig 5. The Unconscious Mind , (2018) [Web Image],


    At: https://www.simplypsychology.org/Sigmund-Freud.html
    (Accessed: 03/10/18)

    Fig 6. The Superego, Ego, and Id (2016) [Image] https://cdn-images-1.medium.com/max/2000/1*bpa0vUCNFJbUbRhLr_dUpg.jpeg (Accessed on 4


    October 2018)

    Fig 7. Ann, (1933) [Film Still],


    At: https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--8Hrm5anF--/c_scale,fl_progressive,q_80,w_800/tljdlmzzhbrvmgwntdwo.jpg
    (Accessed: 03/10/18)

    Fig. 8: Carl Denham (1933) [Film Still] At: http://kingkong.wikia.com/wiki/Carl_Denham (Accessed on 4 October 2018)

    Fig. 9: King Kong towers over the city (1933) [Film Still] At: https://thenypost.files.wordpress.com/2017/03/kong1933a.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=642 (Accessed
    on 4 October 2018)
    Bibliography

    Appignanesi, R. and Zarate, O. (2007). Introducing Freud: A Graphic Guide to the Father of Psychoanalysis. Cambridge: Icon Books Ltd. Pages 102-110

    Biography.com Editors, (2014), Sigmund Freud [Online] https://www.biography.com/people/sigmund-freud-9302400 (Accessed on 4 October 2018). A&E Television
    Networks

    Coup Dé Des (2016), Repression of the Monstrous Id in Horror Film. [Online] At:
    https://coupdedesart.com/2016/10/07/repression-of-the-monstrous-id-in-horror-film/ (Accessed on 4 October 2018)

    Demarko C. (2018), The works of the Conscious, Subconscious, & Unconscious Mind. (Accessed 3 October 2018) AT: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/works-conscious-
    subconscious-unconscious-mind-dr-c-demarco-

    Eimear, D. (2018) AT: https://www.headstuff.org/entertainment/film/king-kong-at-85/(Accessed 3 October 2018)

    Honeybone, N. (2010), Film Review: King Kong (1933). [Online] At: https://horrornews.net/5051/film-review-king-kong-1933/ (Accessed on 4 October 2018)

    Kendra, C. (2018), The Origins of Psychology, AT: https://www.verywellmind.com/a-brief-history-of-psychology-through-the-years-2795245 (Accessed 3 October 2018)

    Rorschach & Freudians: Crash Course Psychology #21, (2004) [user-generated content online] Creat. CrashCourse, Jul 8, 2014 At:
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mUELAiHbCxc (Accessed on 4 October 2018)

    Saul. M. (2019), Unconscious Mind, AT: https://www.simplypsychology.org/unconscious-mind.html (Accessed 3 October 2018)


    Brin, D. and Yeffeth, G. (2005), King Kong is Back!: An Unauthorized Look at One Humongous Ape. Dallas: Benbella Books. Pages 93-94.

    Scheider, S. (2009). Horror Film and Psychoanalysis: Freud’s Worst Nightmare (Cambridge Studies in Film). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press; Reissue edition. Page 192

    Warner, M. (1995). From the Beast to the Blonde: On Fairy Tales and Their Tellers. London: Vintage. Page 295.

    You might also like

    pFad - Phonifier reborn

    Pfad - The Proxy pFad of © 2024 Garber Painting. All rights reserved.

    Note: This service is not intended for secure transactions such as banking, social media, email, or purchasing. Use at your own risk. We assume no liability whatsoever for broken pages.


    Alternative Proxies:

    Alternative Proxy

    pFad Proxy

    pFad v3 Proxy

    pFad v4 Proxy