tiprr 12 Freudian Psychoanalytical Critique

The major goal of what psychoanalytical critics do is identify the conscious (or overt content) and unconscious (or covert) within the text.

Some of the overt content or conscious mind in the text, Chosen, is the coming together of two cultures, the dark calm mysterious hero vs. bad guys, the wisdom of the children, etc. These are elements and possible themes that the director, Ang Lee, wants the audience to leave the theatre or viewing considering.

Jacques Lacan’s theories are rooted in the work of Freud. Lacan helps us search to identify the covert or unconscious mind with the phrase “I am where I think not.”

We pay close attention to the unconscious because that is the meaning of the text. And we will understand this by the motives of the author and characters’ unconsciousness.

The unconscious mind of the text is the BMW itself. Although the vehicle is the sole purpose of the party funding the film, in my analysis of the text I find that the director is telling a story while using a car, not overtly telling the story of the BMW. The car is there because it must, but it does not tell the story. The hero, Driver, is saving the day and he never gives credence to the car as a hero or anything more than a device he controls. Driver uses the car to navigate around the bad guys, but the car is not even present when the day is really saved.

BMW wants their car and purpose to be covert, therefore, they hire a successful director to tell a story that will incorporate a vehicle, not tell the story of a BMW. The director is the author of the film and his story is not BMW specific, but the fact is that he did use the BMW.

Because the indestructible vehicle is the choice of the author and hero, then it will be my choice as well.