This is an ‘analytical’ essay – avoid broad summary by focusing on key moments/scenes. While it may be helpful to include a little summary, keep this to a minimum (1-2 sentences); you may assume your reader is familiar with the movie. Discuss specific lines and details. Your paper must follow MLA format guideline (available online). Your paper will be graded for its the focus of its thesis, the selection and handling of quotes, the accuracy, precision, and subtlety of the interpretation, the organization and flow of its analyses, the aptness and insight of its argument, and the clarity and concision of its prose style. Format will not be graded but you will be subject to a 10% penalty if there are more than minor formatting errors.

QUESTION

Compose a 1,200-word (give or take 100), thesis-driven, analytical paper on psychoanalysis and the abject; use a quote or concept from Julia Kristeva’s “Approaching Abjections,” “Something To Be Scared Of” and “From Filth to Defilement” (in Power of Horror) an analysis of James Cameron’s Aliens.

Julia Kristeva’sIt is advisable to watch again the scenes you discuss in your paper—be precise and detailed in your discussion of the movie. Note: you can watch the film for free on Amazon Prime if you have a Prime membership, or on Google for less than $5. Find a useful list of the cast and their character names at the IMDB online.

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This is an ‘analytical’ essay – avoid broad summary by focusing on key moments/scenes. While it may be helpful to include a little summary, keep this to a minimum (1-2 sentences); you may assume your reader is familiar with the movie. Discuss specific lines and details. Your paper must follow MLA format guideline (available online). Your paper will be graded for its the focus of its thesis, the selection and handling of quotes, the accuracy, precision, and subtlety of the interpretation, the organization and flow of its analyses, the aptness and insight of its argument, and the clarity and concision of its prose style. Format will not be graded but you will be subject to a 10% penalty if there are more than minor formatting errors.
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This is an ‘analytical’ essay – avoid broad summary by focusing on key moments/scenes. While it may be helpful to include a little summary, keep this to a minimum (1-2 sentences); you may assume your reader is familiar with the movie. Discuss specific lines and details.

Your paper must follow MLA format guideline (available online).

Your paper will be graded for its the focus of its thesis, the selection and handling of quotes, the accuracy, precision, and subtlety of the interpretation, the organization and flow of its analyses, the aptness and insight of its argument, and the clarity and concision of its prose style. Format will not be graded but you will be subject to a 10% penalty if there are more than minor formatting errors.

ANSWER

Psychoanalysis and the Abject: Exploring Julia Kristeva’s Concepts in James Cameron’s Aliens

Introduction

Julia Kristeva, a prominent psychoanalyst and philosopher, delves into the concept of the abject, the state of being confronted with a repulsive, uncanny, and disorienting presence that threatens our sense of self and stability. In her works, “Approaching Abjections,” “Something To Be Scared Of,” and “From Filth to Defilement,” Kristeva explores the psychological implications of encountering the abject and its transformative potential. This paper aims to analyze James Cameron’s sci-fi masterpiece, Aliens, through the lens of Kristeva’s theories on the abject, exploring the film’s representation of the monstrous Other, the disruption of boundaries, and the potential for subjectivity transformation.

The Monstrous Other: The Xenomorphs

Aliens, a sequel to Ridley Scott’s Alien, takes place in a dystopian future where the protagonist, Ellen Ripley, confronts a horde of extraterrestrial creatures known as Xenomorphs. These creatures embody the abject in their grotesque appearance and menacing behavior. Kristeva asserts that the abject disturbs the borders of the self and other, blurring the distinction between what is considered familiar and foreign (Infestation, Transformation, and Liberation: Locating Queerness in the Monsters of “Body Horror” – ProQuest, n.d.). The Xenomorphs, with their slimy exoskeletons, acid for blood, and phallic-shaped heads, epitomize the monstrous Other that threatens the human characters’ sense of identity and order.

One pivotal scene that exemplifies the abject is when Ripley discovers a chamber filled with human bodies, cocooned and impregnated with Xenomorph embryos. This abominable sight engenders a deep sense of horror and revulsion, challenging the boundaries of the human body and its relationship to reproduction. Kristeva argues that encountering the abject exposes the fragility and impermanence of our bodily boundaries, thereby unsettling our identity and generating a profound fear of dissolution.

Disruption of Boundaries: The Oozing and the Uncanny

Kristeva posits that the abject is not solely confined to physical objects or beings but can also manifest in symbolic forms. In Aliens, the abject finds expression through the oozing, slimy substances associated with the Xenomorphs, which symbolize bodily fluids and decay. The viscous substances that permeate the film—be it the Xenomorph’s acidic blood, the slime in the nest, or the android Bishop’s milky fluid—blur the boundaries between life and death, contaminating the spaces they inhabit. This transgression of boundaries generates an uncanny atmosphere that destabilizes the characters and the audience alike.

One memorable instance of this disruption is when a Xenomorph Queen is birthed from the grotesque sac located on the wall of the nest. The slimy, pulsating membrane ruptures, releasing the Queen in a chaotic and visually arresting scene. The abject nature of this birth process defies traditional notions of reproduction and maternity, evoking both fascination and disgust. Kristeva suggests that encountering the abject births ambivalent feelings, simultaneously attracting and repelling the subject.

Subjectivity Transformation: Ripley’s Journey

Aliens offers a profound exploration of subjectivity transformation through the character of Ellen Ripley. Initially portrayed as a survivor haunted by her traumatic encounter with a Xenomorph in the first film, Ripley undergoes a metamorphosis, propelled by her confrontation with the abject (Dumas, 2018). Kristeva argues that the abject holds the potential for transformative experiences that challenge and reshape one’s subjectivity.

As the film progresses, Ripley becomes increasingly entangled in the abject, culminating in her face-to-face confrontation with the monstrous Queen. In a climactic battle, Ripley dons a mechanical exoskeleton, assuming a hybrid form that transcends conventional gender roles. This transformation signifies her evolution into a powerful and assertive figure, no longer confined by societal expectations or fears of the abject (Harrington, 2014). Kristeva’s notion of the abject as a transformative force aligns with Ripley’s journey, illustrating how encounters with the abject can engender personal growth and empowerment.

Conclusion

James Cameron’s Aliens skillfully integrates Julia Kristeva’s theories on the abject, offering a profound exploration of the unsettling and transformative potential of encountering the monstrous Other. Through the Xenomorphs’ repulsive appearance, the disruption of boundaries through oozing and slime, and Ripley’s transformative journey, the film immerses the audience in a world of abjection and challenges our notions of identity and subjectivity. By analyzing Aliens through the lens of Kristeva’s concepts, we gain a deeper understanding of the psychological and philosophical implications of the abject in both cinematic and real-life experiences.

References

Dumas, R. (2018). Monstrous Motherhood and Evolutionary Horror in Contemporary Japanese Science Fiction. Science Fiction Studies, 45(1), 24. https://doi.org/10.5621/sciefictstud.45.1.0024 

Harrington, E. (2014). Gynaehorror: Women, theory and horror film. www.academia.edu. https://www.academia.edu/74169839/Gynaehorror_Women_theory_and_horror_film 

Infestation, Transformation, and Liberation: Locating Queerness in the Monsters of “Body Horror” – ProQuest. (n.d.). https://search.proquest.com/openview/cd3d25beaa6bec046cde0204770baedc/1?pq-origsite=gscholar&cbl=18750 

 

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