FEBRUARY 17, 2001

PSYCHOANALYSIS AND FILM

presented by 

Daniel Kluge

If you were at the DSPP Spring workshop when the DSPP/Fairhill undergraduate scholarship award was announced, you will remember the young man who leapt from his seat in the audience, whooped, FLEW across the room to accept his award, high-fived his buddies when he returned to his seat, and made us all smile with his pleasure and triumph. THAT was DANIEL KLUGE. 

Daniel Kluge is returning to Dallas to present his award-winning paper (and its evolution), PSYCHOANALYSIS AND FILM, sponsored by DSPP ARTS, on Saturday February 17, 7:00 p.m., at the home of Judith Samson, ARTS committee chair. Daniel's talk will be followed by a reception and supper. 

Daniel is a 2000 graduate of the University of Dallas, now in the Masters in Psychology degree program at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh. He writes that existential-phenomenology is his strong suit and main interest philosophically. Yet, he has always been fascinated by psychoanalysis, "especially when interpreted phenomenologically" (so, read up on this, guys!). He calls psychoanalytic theory "beautiful" and especially useful in describing the psychology of film, despite his qualms about some aspects of the theory. 

In his paper, Psychoanalysis and Film, Daniel drew parallels between Freud's theory of dream work and film work. Working primarily, in his paper, with classical structural psychoanalytic theory, Daniel uses illustrations from 2001; A SPACE ODYSSEY; THE SHINING; DUEL; STAR WARS; THREE STOOGES films; SOUTH PARK; VERY BAD THINGS; BEING JOHN MALCOVITCH; and James Bond films. He explores both what the director may have intended consciously and what a film may appeal to and elicit unconsciously, both within the director and within the member of the audience. Daniel is fascinated by the power film has for engaging the unconscious and has much to say about this, as well as what his thoughts are about what film reflects psychologically about our culture. 

The evening with Daniel Kluge is open to DSPP members, guests and others interested in psychoanalytic thought and film. RESERVATIONS ARE REQUESTED (please call Judith at 214-691-7434, and please SPEAK CLEARLY, leaving your name AND telephone number), because seating is limited.

Read the original paper submitted to the DSPP/Fairhill Scholarship competition.

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