Freud's Uncanny and Gothic Elements (Week 10)

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Questions and Answers

The concept of 'media city' as discussed in the context of this week's readings is best understood as:

  • A city where traditional media forms like newspapers are still dominant.
  • A city that solely focuses on the production and consumption of digital media content.
  • A futuristic urban center entirely controlled by media corporations.
  • A contemporary urban space that exhibits characteristics of a Gothic city enhanced by technology. (correct)

Freud's term 'Das Unheimliche' is translated as 'uncanny.' What is the core linguistic meaning of 'Unheimliche' according to Freud's analysis?

  • Something related to overt supernatural phenomena and otherworldly beings.
  • Something completely unfamiliar and alien, originating from outside one's culture.
  • Something overtly frightening and dangerous, posing an immediate physical threat.
  • Something that was once familiar, 'homely' (Heimlich), but has become strange and unsettling through repression. (correct)

Which of the following best exemplifies a Gothic element that commonly contributes to the feeling of the uncanny, as described in the presentation?

  • A remote, ancient castle shrouded in mist and rumored to be haunted. (correct)
  • A crowded marketplace filled with diverse and vibrant human interactions.
  • A brightly lit, modern skyscraper in a bustling city center.
  • A technologically advanced smart home with seamless automation and AI.

Freud connects the uncanny to 'omnipotence of thoughts' and 'animistic conception of the universe.' What does this connection suggest about the psychological roots of the uncanny?

<p>The uncanny taps into primitive, narcissistic beliefs in the power of our thoughts and a world inhabited by spirits, remnants of early human development. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

According to Freud's theory, what is the role of 'repression' in the experience of the uncanny?

<p>Repression alienates something familiar, pushing it into the unconscious, so its return can be unsettling and uncanny. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

The presentation mentions 'fear of places associated with death' (e.g., cemeteries, hospitals) as related to the uncanny in urban environments. Why do these places evoke uncanny feelings?

<p>These places are associated with death and suffering, making them reminders of repressed anxieties about mortality within a familiar urban context. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

The 'feeling of being watched when nobody is around' is presented as an aspect of the urban uncanny. How is this feeling connected to the concept of 'interstitial spaces'?

<p>Interstitial spaces, being between inside and outside, become imagined locations from where one might be watched, amplifying the uncanny feeling of unseen presence. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the 'uncanny valley' and how does it relate to the broader concept of the uncanny as discussed?

<p>The uncanny valley is the point where highly realistic representations of humans (like robots or CGI) become disturbing due to their almost-but-not-quite human appearance, triggering uncanny feelings. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

According to the Zizek quote, how does 'subjectivization' relate to the 'Thing' in the context of the uncanny?

<p>Subjectivization does not 'humanize' the 'Thing,' but rather makes the subject see themselves as the 'Thing,' blurring the lines between self and other in a traumatic encounter. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

McQuire's concept of 'techno-culture' suggests that technology has led to a problematic redefinition of:

<p>The place of 'nature' and the delineation of 'human nature'. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does McQuire mean by 'technological yearning' in the context of the 'uncanny home'?

<p>A deep-seated longing for progress and transcendence of bodily limits, driving the development and adoption of new technologies. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

The widening gap between 'ways of life primarily grounded in place' and 'emergent ways of life' is attributed to what historical shift?

<p>The industrial modernity and advancements in transportation and communication technologies. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

McQuire argues that 'action-at-a-distance' has underpinned globalization. What does 'action-at-a-distance' primarily refer to in this context?

<p>The capacity of new media technologies to create 'real-time' interactions and impacts across geographical space. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is 'de-territorialization of the home' as described in the presentation?

<p>The condition where experiences within the home are no longer limited by its physical boundaries due to media and technology. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How does 'relational space,' as defined by McQuire, characterize social experience in the media city?

<p>Relational space denotes the contemporary condition where the scope and nature of social relationships are radically expanded and opened up by mobile and interactive media. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

According to McQuire, what is urgently needed to address the 'contradictions of contemporary globalization'?

<p>The articulation of new forms of social collectivity and collective interaction that respect multiple levels of difference. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

In what way is the movie 'Ringu' ('The Ring') presented as an example of the 'technological uncanny'?

<p>It utilizes 20th-century technology (videotape, television) to mediate and amplify uncanny elements like disembodied voice and gaze, linking horror to technology. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Robert Sheckley, the author of 'The Life of Anybody,' is described as:

<p>An author famous for being unpredictable, absurdist, and broadly comical, often in the science fiction genre. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is suggested as the likely source of the 'uncanny' in the excerpt from Sheckley's 'The Life of Anybody'?

<p>The presence of explicitly supernatural and bizarre elements (undead, sexual escapades) presented in a casual, domestic context. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How might Sheckley's 'The Life of Anybody,' with its uncanny domestic scenario, relate to the concept of the 'media city'?

<p>It reflects the 'media city' by exaggerating and satirizing the blurring of boundaries between private and public, normal and abnormal, potentially amplified by media saturation. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

John Cheever, author of 'The Enormous Radio,' is known for exploring themes of:

<p>The contrast between 'decorous social persona and inner corruption' in suburban life. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

In 'The Enormous Radio,' what is the source of the uncanny experience for Irene and Jim Westcott?

<p>Their radio unexpectedly begins broadcasting the private conversations and lives of their neighbors. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Why does Irene in 'The Enormous Radio' become increasingly disturbed by the voices from the radio, to the point of saying 'Maybe they can hear us'?

<p>She fears that their own private lives are now also being broadcast and exposed through the radio, mirroring the invasion of privacy they are witnessing. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How could 'The Enormous Radio' be interpreted as relevant to the parallel of 'reality TV,' as suggested in the presentation?

<p>It foreshadows reality TV by depicting a technology (radio) that blurs the lines between private and public, anticipating the intrusive nature of reality TV and its voyeuristic appeal. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

In the context of 'The Enormous Radio,' how is the 'voice itself' described as uncanny?

<p>The voices are familiar (neighbors, everyday people) yet become uncanny when heard out of context, revealing private and often unpleasant realities, invading the domestic sphere through technology. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a key difference highlighted in the presentation between the 'Ringu' movies and the 'Ringu' books in their treatment of the technological element?

<p>The books take the technological element further, pushing the narrative from horror into science fiction, exploring broader implications of technology. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

The presentation uses examples like 'Psycho,' 'Us,' 'Amityville Horror,' and 'People Under the Stairs' to illustrate:

<p>Themes of uncanny doubles, haunted houses, and people hiding 'in the walls' in media representations of urban spaces. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

The image of the 'Psycho' house and motel is used to visually represent:

<p>The uncanny juxtaposition of the seemingly normal (motel) with the sinister and gothic (house), highlighting the uncanny home. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of the 'KILL 'EM ALL' message displayed in the 'X-Files' 'Blood' episode example, in relation to the uncanny home?

<p>It represents technology (digital display) becoming a conduit for disturbing, aggressive messages within the domestic space, making the familiar home environment uncanny. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

The 'X-Files' 'Ghost in the Machine' example likely relates to the 'uncanny home' theme by exploring:

<p>The idea of technology becoming sentient and potentially threatening within the familiar space of the home, blurring the lines between the animate and inanimate in an uncanny way. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

The concept of 'culture-at-a-distance' suggests that technological culture is constitutively characterized by:

<p>The diminishing importance of geographical distance in cultural exchange and experience. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

In the context of 'de-territorialization,' what happens to the boundaries between 'human perception and technological vision'?

<p>They become blurred, as technology increasingly mediates and shapes human perception and experience. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is implied by the statement that 'models of autonomy and interior subjectivity what dominated modernity become increasingly difficult to reconcile with everyday experience' in the age of the 'uncanny home'?

<p>The traditional modern emphasis on individual autonomy and a separate, private inner self is challenged by the interconnected and permeable nature of the 'uncanny home' and media city. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the broader implication of the 'uncanny home' concept for understanding urban spaces and city culture?

<p>It suggests that the unsettling and boundary-blurring effects of technology on the home are mirrored and amplified in the larger urban environment, reshaping city culture and experience. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

Das Unheimliche

Term translated as 'uncanny,' referring to a sense of unease related to the familiar becoming strange.

Gothic Elements

Gothic themes involve doubles, automatons, or the supernatural, which can cause an uncanny experience.

The Uncanny

The point where familiar things cause unease, often linked to a repressed memory or idea.

Feeling of Being Watched

A feeling of being watched when alone, often linked to unease about interstitial spaces.

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Fear of death places

Fear associated with places of death creating goosebumps eg cemetry

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De-territorialization

The world seems like the trauma is happening to one but it is happening on screen, or far away.

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Unsettling Effect of Digital Media

Effects exercised by media on perceptions of private and public space in cities.

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Gap between Ways of life

The widening of the space between life grounded in place, and life opening to events happening elsewhere

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Speed of economic exchange

The speed speed of economic activities has redefined frameworks of human experiences.

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Relational Space

Mobile, scalable, interactive media leads to new social experiences.

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Contradictions of Contemporary Globalization

Domination by a economic agenda, needing an urgent need for new forms of social collectivity

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Robert Sheckley's Style

Sheckley was known for unpredictable, absurd, and comical writing.

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John cheever

An author who wrote about decorous social persona and inner corruption

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Study Notes

  • The topic is 'media city', but the readings resemble more of a Gothic city with technology

Freud's Uncanny

  • Das Unheimliche translates to 'uncanny' or 'uncanny resemblance'

  • Heim is home

  • Heimlich means secretly

  • Un- means de-

  • Something close to home but disfigured can be described as uncanny

  • The uncanny is often no longer or barely recognizable

  • The uncanny is common in Gothic elements like the double, automaton, or supernatural

  • According to Freud, the uncanny can be referred to as the principle of "omnipotence of thoughts"

  • The analysis of the uncanny has led back to the animistic conception of the universe

  • The uncanny fulfills the condition of touching the residues of animistic mental activity

  • Psychoanalytic theory maintains that every affect belonging to an emotional impulse transforms into anxiety if it is repressed

  • The uncanny is nothing new or alien, but something familiar and old in the mind that becomes alienated through repression

  • Fear of death-associated places like cemeteries and hospitals is related to uncanny

  • Feeling watched when alone may cause people to posit interstitial spaces "in the walls"

  • The uncanny is amplified with technology, such as the uncanny valley

  • According to Zizek, the inaccessible/traumatic Thing-beyond-representation becomes 'subjectivized'

  • Subjectivization doesn't "humanize" the Thing, demonstrating that what was thought to be a Monster is an ordinary, vulnerable person

Uncanny Home

  • A technological yearning is necessary to recognize as part of the motor driving the ideology of progress

  • Deep-seated aspirations for the mastery of nature and bodily limits are heavily invested in new technology waves, culminating in a 'techno-culture'

  • Techno-culture is where the place of 'nature' and delineation of 'human nature' become more problematic

  • The widening gap between life grounded in place and emergent ways of life has been a primary characteristic since industrial modernity

  • New media technologies generate 'real time,' which underpins the post-industrial phase of globalization

  • New communication forms underpin a general shift to 'technological forms of life'

  • Technological culture is 'constitutively culture-at-a-distance', and social bonds assume technological forms

  • Cultural responses simultaneously reach backwards and forwards in time

  • Towards creation myths and omnipresence and towards a future where all material coordinates and the body dissolve to unimaginable ends

  • Technological transformation and transcendence have been linked to the cultural production of the technological unconscious

  • Radical uncertainty affecting what was once taken for granted causes unsettling by digital media

  • The transformation of the individual home parallels on a metropolitan scale and a global scale

  • The result is a profound de-territorialization of the home where the interior experiences are no longer contained

  • New media transforms the nexus between place and experience

  • The blurring of boundaries between perceptions and vision asks to rethink the space of consciousness

  • Models of autonomy and interior subjectivity become difficult to reconcile

  • Relational space refers to contemporary conditions where the horizon of social relationships has become radically open as media becomes more mobile, scalable, and interactive

  • There is an urgent need for the articulation of new forms of social collectivity and collective interaction

  • It demands new ways of thinking and acting collectively while respecting multiple levels of difference

  • The description fits the description of ‘action-at-a-distance’ and ‘de-territorialization’ of Ringu

The Life of Anybody

  • Robert Sheckley (1928-2005) was famously unpredictable, absurdist, and broadly comical
  • Sheckley's work had beginnings in Sci-fi and nominations for Hugo and Nebula Awards
  • The Seventh Victim sounds like the original Running Man/Hunger Games

The Enormous Radio

  • John Cheever (1912-1982)
  • Features a decorous social persona and inner corruption
  • There is conflict between two characters, often brothers, light and dark, flesh and spirit
  • There is a sense of community as opposed to the alienating nomadism of modern suburbia

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