Doppelganger Definition and Origin
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Questions and Answers

What does the term 'doppelganger' literally mean?

  • Silent observer
  • Double walker (correct)
  • Lost soul
  • Dark shadow

    • According to folklore, what does meeting one's doppelganger signify?

  • A forgotten memory
  • A sign of death (correct)
  • A desire for change
  • An upcoming journey

    • What psychological concept does the doppelganger represent according to Freudian psychology?

  • Repressed desires (correct)
  • Hidden aggression
  • Intellectual aspirations
  • Social conformity

    • In the context of identity, how is the doppelganger particularly relevant to bilingual or bicultural individuals?

    <p>It represents an alternate secret life. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is one potential danger of encountering one's doppelganger as suggested by Guerard?

    <p>It may dominate the original personality. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does the concept of 'autoscopt' refer to?

    <p>Seeing oneself from an external perspective (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following themes is commonly associated with doppelgangers?

    <p>Manifestation of repressed desires (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What insight do doppelgangers provide concerning counterfactuals?

    <p>They illustrate how life could have been different. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What unsettling idea does the concept of the doppelganger raise regarding autonomy?

    <p>We might not be in control of our own actions (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following themes is NOT commonly associated with the doppelganger?

    <p>Romantic disappointment (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In 'The Student of Prague', what does Balduin unknowingly sell to Scapinelli?

    <p>His identity (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How does Freud define the concept of the uncanny?

    <p>Something both familiar and unfamiliar at the same time (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What societal issue does 'The Student of Prague' allegorically address?

    <p>The divided psyche of Germany before WWI (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What type of technology does the doppelganger concept relate to in modern contexts?

    <p>Social media (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does Balduin's confrontation with his double ultimately symbolize?

    <p>The loss of self-control and identity (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which aspect of the doppelganger theme is particularly emphasized in horror and psychological thrillers?

    <p>Isolation and self-doubt (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What psychological crisis does the doppelganger narrative predominantly highlight?

    <p>Crisis of identity (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What film technique was used in early doppelganger films like 'The Student of Prague'?

    <p>Double exposure (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following best describes the relationship between lovers in the context of the doppelganger?

    <p>They often reflect one another (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does the uncanny phenomenon often evoke when encountering repeated patterns?

    <p>A feeling of eeriness (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Who is the mysterious figure that offers Balduin a fortune in 'The Student of Prague'?

    <p>Scapinelli (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does Freud say is especially uncanny?

    <p>Severed body parts (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Flashcards

    Doppelganger

    A character's alternative self, often reflecting different choices.

    Freud's uncanny

    Something familiar yet strange that evokes discomfort or fear.

    Crisis of uniqueness

    The dilemma of identity when two people are identical.

    Autonomy and doubles

    Doppelgangers questioning our control over actions.

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    The Student of Prague

    A film depicting a student's deal leading to his doom through a doppelganger.

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    Repressed desires

    Hidden wishes that manifest through doppelgangers' actions.

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    Loss of autonomy

    Losing control when a double acts independently.

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    Deal with the devil

    A Faustian bargain trading identity for power or wealth.

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    Technological doubles

    Modern doppelgangers in AI and social media.

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    Eerie coincidences

    Unexplained repetitions of events or patterns that feel unsettling.

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    Human-machine uncanny

    Unsettling figures that resemble humans but are not quite right.

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    Cinematic doppelganger

    Film as a medium showcasing doubles through editing and effects.

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    Allegory of German class struggle

    The narrative reflects societal conflicts in pre-WWI Germany.

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    Balduin's downfall

    His doppelgänger leads him to loss of control and identity.

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    Film and psychological themes

    Doppelganger stories explore identity, desires, and control issues.

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    Origin of the term

    The term doppelganger was coined by Jean Paul Richter in 1796.

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    Autoscopt

    A phenomenon of seeing oneself from an external perspective, often linked to hallucinations.

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    Symbol of death

    In folklore, encountering a doppelganger is a sign of impending death.

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    Psychological conflicts

    Doppelgangers symbolize parts of the self that individuals attempt to reject or disown.

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    Split identity

    The doppelganger reflects struggles with identity, especially for bilingual or bicultural individuals.

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    Counterfactuals

    Doppelgangers can represent alternate realities or what might have been.

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    Study Notes

    Doppelganger Definition and Origin

    • "Doppelganger" coined in 1796 by Jean Paul Richter, meaning "double walker" or "double goer"
    • Initially referred to the person witnessing their double, later the double itself
    • Part of the broader phenomenon "autoscopy," the experience of seeing oneself externally, often linked to hallucinations or out-of-body experiences

    Importance of Doppelgangers

    • Often viewed as ominous figures
    • In Scottish folklore, meeting one's double signifies death, a 'fetch' from the land of the dead
    • Represent psychological conflicts, symbolizing rejected aspects of the self
    • Can dominate the original person, leading to loss of control and identity

    Themes of the Doppelganger

    • Repressed Desires: The doppelganger manifests hidden urges/fears, a projection of the subconscious, externalizing what one refuses to acknowledge.
    • Split Identity: Relevant to bilingual/bicultural individuals—the foreign culture offers a space for a secret second life, highlighting struggles with identity while existing between worlds.
    • Counterfactuals: Doubles can reveal alternative life paths and imagined possibilities
    • Marriage and Relationships: Lovers can see reflections in each other and a sense of unity
    • Free Will and Autonomy: Doppelgangers raise questions about personal control, central to horror/psychological thrillers where characters battle their doubles.
    • Crisis of Uniqueness: When two are exactly alike, who is the real one, questioning identity and uniqueness.
    • Technological and Digital Doubles: Modern versions explore social media as a doppelganger, curated versions reflecting identity crisis online.

    Freud and the Uncanny

    • Freud's "uncanny" (unheimlich): something familiar and unfamiliar at once, unsettling
    • Often connected to what was familiar but is now strange, like encounters with repeating numbers or symbols in different contexts

    Automata and AI: The Human-Machine Uncanny

    • Uncanny arises when figures look human but have slight imperfections, impacting robots, dolls, and AI.
    • Severed body parts are exceptionally unsettling.

    The Student of Prague (1913) - Plot Summary

    • Follows Balduin, a Prague student, seeking wealth and status
    • A mysterious figure offers a fortune for "anything" in his room
    • Balduin's reflection walks away, and the doppelgänger negatively impacts his life
    • Balduin eventually tries to kill his double, ending by killing himself

    Why Is Balduin's Double Frightening?

    • Exposes the moral cost of desires for wealth and status
    • Demonstrates loss of autonomy and free will
    • Deepens the crisis of identity

    The Deal with the Devil

    • Scapinelli represents a Faustian bargain, exchanging the self (identity) for power/wealth
    • Reflects folklore where doppelgängers symbolize doom

    Historical Significance of the Student of Prague

    • First German art film, early feature-length horror film
    • Part of the "autorenfilm" movement, adapting literature/theater
    • Allegory for German class struggle: a middle-class protagonist aspiring to climb socially

    Peter Wegner's Vision

    • Believed film was the ideal medium for depicting doppelgängers
    • Recognizing the power of trick photography for visual depictions

    Allegory for Pre-WWI Germany

    • Represents a divided psyche within Germany struggling with identity

    The Cinematic Doppelganger

    • Cinema's inherent ability to create visual doubles (editing, special effects)
    • Doppelganger films feel more real/physical than books

    Conclusion

    • Doppelganger explores identity crises, repressed desires, threats to control
    • "The Student of Prague" established the groundwork for future horror/psychological thrillers
    • Modern technology (AI, clones, social media) maintains the contemporary relevance of the doppelganger theme.

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    Description

    Explore the fascinating concept of the doppelganger, from its origins to its implications in folklore and psychology. Discover how this intriguing figure represents repressed desires and can symbolize internal conflicts. Learn about the historical significance and the psychological themes associated with encountering one's double.

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