Frank's Freudian Slip
Deborah Herring
Mastering Liberals Arts II
February 18, 2012 Essay 1 Psychological Criticisms
Frank’s Freudian Slip
Blue Velvet is a film directed and written in 1986 by David Lynch. This film is considered controversial to many critics due to its depiction of the sexual and disturbing imagery. There are some Freudian elements within the film shown through the love story, kidnapping and sadistic pornographic elements. It even attempts to dramatize how one character Frank Booth (Dennis Hopper) who has a dark side to his sexuality and he reacts to his sexual desires that are hidden within him.
Even though Freud concept is of personality as having “three aspects which work together to produce our complex behaviors: the Id, the Ego, and the Superego.” He argues that as individuals that we need these aspects of the self in order to be mentally stable human beings. Freud believes that the “id is only concerned with pleasing itself.” In David Lynch‘s Blue Velvet the director allows the character of Frank Booth to represent the “id” in his adult life in a scene with Dorothy Vallens (Isabella Rossellini).
In the movie Frank Booth participates in having bizarre sex with Dorothy. We believe that he is inhaling gas though a gas mask, humping upon Dorothy, at the same time yelling and calling her “Mommy”. He also cries out, “Don’t look at me”. The “id” is an important part of our personality because as newborns it allows us to get our basic needs met. (Cherry 1) One might think as Frank yells out “Mommy” that he is thinking of himself as a newborn. Freud believes that the “id” doesn’t care about reality or the needs of others. The “id” only cares about its satisfaction. When the “id” wants something nothing else is important. This sort of behavior would be both disruptive and socially unacceptable. (Cherry 2) During the movie it appears that Frank has whenever he chooses in a sexual manner or just physically and mentally abuses her. Due to the fact
Mastering Liberals Arts II
February 18, 2012 Essay 1 Psychological Criticisms
Frank’s Freudian Slip
Blue Velvet is a film directed and written in 1986 by David Lynch. This film is considered controversial to many critics due to its depiction of the sexual and disturbing imagery. There are some Freudian elements within the film shown through the love story, kidnapping and sadistic pornographic elements. It even attempts to dramatize how one character Frank Booth (Dennis Hopper) who has a dark side to his sexuality and he reacts to his sexual desires that are hidden within him.
Even though Freud concept is of personality as having “three aspects which work together to produce our complex behaviors: the Id, the Ego, and the Superego.” He argues that as individuals that we need these aspects of the self in order to be mentally stable human beings. Freud believes that the “id is only concerned with pleasing itself.” In David Lynch‘s Blue Velvet the director allows the character of Frank Booth to represent the “id” in his adult life in a scene with Dorothy Vallens (Isabella Rossellini).
In the movie Frank Booth participates in having bizarre sex with Dorothy. We believe that he is inhaling gas though a gas mask, humping upon Dorothy, at the same time yelling and calling her “Mommy”. He also cries out, “Don’t look at me”. The “id” is an important part of our personality because as newborns it allows us to get our basic needs met. (Cherry 1) One might think as Frank yells out “Mommy” that he is thinking of himself as a newborn. Freud believes that the “id” doesn’t care about reality or the needs of others. The “id” only cares about its satisfaction. When the “id” wants something nothing else is important. This sort of behavior would be both disruptive and socially unacceptable. (Cherry 2) During the movie it appears that Frank has whenever he chooses in a sexual manner or just physically and mentally abuses her. Due to the fact
Cited: Cherry, Kendra. The Id, Ego and Superego: The Structural Model and Personality. About.com, Psychology. 2012. Web. 18 February 2012. Psychology 101. Psychology 101. AllPysch Online, The Virtual Psychology Classroom. Chapter 3, Section 5. Web. 29 November 2011. Wikipedia.