Jungian Reflections within the Cinema: A Psychological Analysis of Sci-Fi and Fantasy Archetypes

238 Pages·1998·12.79 MB·English

by  James F. Iaccino

JONGIAN REFLECTIONS
WITHIN THE CINEMA
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Jungian Reflections
within the Cinema
A Psychological Analysis of
Sci-Fi and Fantasy Archetypes
JAMES F IACCINO
Westport, Connecticut
RRAEGER5
London
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Iaccino, James F.
Jungian reflections within the cinema : a psychological analysis
of sci-fi and fantasy archetypes / James F. Iaccino.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 0-275-95048-4 (alk. paper)
1. Science fiction films—History and criticism. 2. Fantastic
films—History and criticism. 3. Archetype (Psychology) in motion
pictures. I. Title.
PN1995.9.S26I23 1998
791.43'65—dc21 97-41705
British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data is available.
Copyright © 1998 by James F. Iaccino
All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be
reproduced, by any process or technique, without the
express written consent of the publisher.
Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 97-41705
ISBN: 0-275-95048-4
First published in 1998
Praeger Publishers, 88 Post Road West, Westport, CT 06881
An imprint of Greenwood Publishing Group, Inc.
Printed in the United States of America
(fir
The paper used in this book complies with the
Permanent Paper Standard issued by the National
Information Standards Organization (Z39.48-1984).
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 32
As always:
To my archetypal companion Michele,
and our four primordial children: Jon, Nicole, Kaitlin,
and Rebecca
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Contents
Preface ix
Introduction to Jungian Archetypes xi
Part One
A Jungian Analysis of Science-Fiction Films
Chapter 1. The Star Wars Trilogy: The Space-Father
Archetype 3
Chapter 2. The Star Trek Movies: In Search of the Creator
Archetype 15
Chapter 3. Planet of the Apes: The Evolution of an
Archetypal Shadow Species 35
Chapter 4. From Logan's Run to Battlestar: Galactica:
Archetypal Rebellions Against Shadow Destroyers 55
Part Two
A Jungian Analysis of Fantasy Films
Chapter 5. Back to the Future Again and Again: Archetypal
Exploits of Alchemic Travelers 79
viii Contents
Chapter 6. From Superman to Batman: Divided Superhero
Archetypes 93
Chapter 7. The Indiana Jones and Highlander Chronicles:
Quests for the Holy Grail Archetype 121
Chapter 8. The Omen Trilogy: The Growth of the Demon
Child Archetype 147
Part Three
A Jungian Analysis of Television Archetypes
Chapter 9. Shadow Pursuers: Fanatical Figures in The
Fugitive, The Incredible Hulk, Starman, and The
Pretender 165
Final Remarks 187
Appendix: Science-Fiction and Fantasy Filmography 189
Bibliography 197
Index 207
Preface
When I was writing my book entitled Psychological Reflections on Cine
matic Terror: Jungian Archetypes in Horror Films for Praeger Publishers
in 1994,1 knew that I would not be able to do justice to the psychoanalytic
theory by focusing on just one movie genre. Though the correlation be
tween Carl Jung's primordial images and horror story lines was a striking
one, I felt that other treatments could be considered along the same lines
of investigation as the first work. Thus, the purpose behind Jungian Re
flections within the Cinema is primarily to extend the archetypal analysis
to a number of movie categories, ranging from science-fiction to fantasy
films. There is even a section on television series that have tried to emulate
the larger-than-life movies in plot and character development. In the proc
ess of broadening my scope, I hope that I have succeeded in providing
greater substance and three-dimensional life to Jung's extensive list of ar
chetypes not only to this present generation of readers, but also to those
who will follow.
The format of Jungian Reflections within the Cinema is similar to the
previous text. Each chapter will concentrate exclusively on an archetype
via a package of films that illustrate its essential contents. For instance, the
Jungian shadow has been represented in various movies as an oppressive
society (Logan's Run) or an alien race {Battlestar: Galactica) that is hell
bent on maintaining control and order in the universe. Archetypal heroes
like Logan-5 or Commander Adama are inserted into the stories not only