Sunset Boulevard: Psychoanalytic Analysis

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Questions and Answers

What themes are common in the phantasies experienced by both men and women?

Triumph in sporting or military arenas (correct)

Rescue by an idealized figure (correct)

Achieving mundane daily tasks

Failure in social situations

How does Norma express hope for the future through her relationship with Joe?

By planning elaborate future adventures (correct)

By seeking validation from others

By ignoring his needs and focusing on herself

By reminiscing about her past glories

What does Norma's character primarily struggle to confront?

Her social standing in society

Her romantic feelings for Joe

The passage of time (correct)

Her financial troubles

What role do Max and Joe play in Norma's life?

They serve as enablers of her delusional worldview Signup and view all the answers

What is a key result of Norma's retreat into her idealized past?

She faces feelings of loneliness and fear Signup and view all the answers

How does Joe's character serve as a contrast to Norma's?

He accepts the progression of time Signup and view all the answers

What does Norma's desire to fill the pool and open her house signify?

Her desperate need for companionship Signup and view all the answers

What does the phrase 'time's winged chariot drawing near' suggest about Norma's mental state?

She is aware of her time running out Signup and view all the answers

What do Joe Gillis's and Betty Schaefer's interactions reveal about his current situation?

He is struggling to make a living as a scriptwriter. Signup and view all the answers

How does the black and white cinematography affect the mood of the film?

It enhances the eerie and phantasmatic mood of Norma Desmond's mansion. Signup and view all the answers

What character trait best describes Norma Desmond according to the text?

Delusional and narcissistic. Signup and view all the answers

What thematic contrast is established between Joe Gillis and Norma Desmond?

Youth and success versus aging and obsolescence. Signup and view all the answers

How does the setting of the mansion influence the narrative?

It isolates Norma Desmond from the external world, reflecting her state of mind. Signup and view all the answers

What does the coffin ordered for Norma's pet chimp signify?

A metaphor for Norma's own impending decline. Signup and view all the answers

Why is Joe Gillis described as being on the run at the beginning?

He is being pursued by creditors. Signup and view all the answers

What underlying message does the script reader's critique of Joe's work convey?

Hollywood often devalues true talent for commercial success. Signup and view all the answers

What leads Joe to play the role handed to him in the theater?

His desire for material comforts and fear of failure Signup and view all the answers

How does Joe's relationship with Norma evolve throughout the narrative?

There is a reversal of roles that shifts the audience's perception Signup and view all the answers

What does Joe feel when he encounters the bizarre figure mentioned in the content?

Pleasure in being able to charge her for improvements Signup and view all the answers

What represents the irony in Joe's fantasies about swimming pools?

He ends up dead in a swimming pool despite his past fantasies Signup and view all the answers

What does Norma use to maintain her fragile sense of power?

Her delusions and Joe's compliance Signup and view all the answers

What characterization does the narrative initially give of Norma Desmond?

A caricature that embodies histrionics and delusions Signup and view all the answers

What ultimately causes Joe to lose credibility in the narrative?

His manipulation of Norma for personal gain Signup and view all the answers

What does the phrase "he abdicates his tenuous contact with the external world" imply about Joe's state?

He becomes increasingly isolated and trapped in Norma's delusions Signup and view all the answers

What narrative role does the corpse serve in the film?

To establish a radical anti-realism Signup and view all the answers

Which quality of the film is compared to 'Alice-in-Wonderland'?

Its quasi-dream like quality Signup and view all the answers

How should one interpret the experiences of Joe Gillis while watching the film?

As a dream-like fantasy Signup and view all the answers

What does Joe Gillis do when he drives towards Sunset Boulevard?

He falls into a dream-like state Signup and view all the answers

What does Norma Desmond's cigarette holder represent in the film's dream-like context?

An inanimate object with life Signup and view all the answers

What does the retreat on Sunset Boulevard symbolize?

An escape from reality Signup and view all the answers

How does Joe Gillis perceive Norma Desmond?

As a warped image of sanity Signup and view all the answers

What would happen if Gillis woke up from the dream, according to the discussion?

It would be considered just a bizarre dream Signup and view all the answers

Who directed the film mentioned in the content?

Billy Wilder Signup and view all the answers

Which author wrote 'Learning from Experience'?

W.R. Bion Signup and view all the answers

What is the main subject of J. Steiner's 'Psychic Retreats'?

Pathological organizations of the personality Signup and view all the answers

What year was 'The Future of Nostalgia' published?

2001 Signup and view all the answers

Which concept is likely explored in H. Weiss's work?

Creation of a timeless universe through envy Signup and view all the answers

In which journal was Kaul's article 'Breaching the Frame: Psychoanalysis and Sunset Boulevard' published?

International Journal of Applied Psychoanalytic Studies Signup and view all the answers

Which film from the content was directed by Alfred Hitchcock?

'Psycho' Signup and view all the answers

What is the main theme explored in the works cited by B.W. Steiner?

The illusion of paradise Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Sunset Boulevard: A Psychoanalytic Perspective

Norma Desmond’s Transformational Experience: Her portrayal of Norma Desmond was deeply impactful, intertwining the boundaries between actor & role.
Film Critiques Hollywood: It criticizes the Hollywood system's excess by showcasing the clash between Joe Gillis, a struggling screenwriter, and Betty Schaefer, who criticizes his work as unoriginal despite his potential.
Visual Contrast: City & Mansion: The sharp transition between the urban hustle and the mansion’s eerie quiet underscores the film’s visual potency.
Black & White Film Stock: Despite the availability of color, the black and white film stock enhances the phantasmatic nature of Norma Desmond's world, highlighting the divergence between reality and fantasy.
Delusion & Sanity: At first, Norma Desmond appears as a textbook narcissist - controlling and pathetic. Her withdrawal into the deteriorating mansion reflects her struggle with aging.
Joe Gillis Initially Seen as the Voice of Sanity: His cynicism and pragmatism contrast with Norma's delusion, making him appear grounded.
Norma's Retreat Into The Past: She is unable to confront the passage of time, seeking refuge in an idealized past, reflected in her dismissal of contemporary actresses except for Greta Garbo.
Joe’s Relationship with Norma: He represents a hope for future escape from her solitary confinement, evident when she takes him shopping for expensive clothes.
Norma's Delusional World: This world is brittle, requiring constant upkeep through both Max (preservation) and Joe (fueling).
Norma’s Fear of Time: The quote by Andrew Marvell, “at my back I always hear, time's winged chariot drawing near”, reflects Norma's terror of time and her desperate attempts to destroy it.
Joe’s Role in Norma’s Delusion: He is drawn into her delusional world and reinforces her fragile power, allowing her to escape the reality of aging and failure.
Gillis's Selfish Motives: His cynicism and willingness to exploit Norma are revealed, making him complicit in her delusion.
Macabre Irony: The foreshadowing of his corpse in the swimming pool, one of his fantasies, highlights the ironic twist of fate.
Norma's Transformation: She transitions from a caricature to a tragic figure, evoking sympathy for her psychological struggles.
The Corpse as Narrator: This creates a surreal narrative, inviting the audience to accept a whimsical interpretation of truth.
The Dream-like Quality of the Film: The film's "Alice-in-Wonderland" like texture encourages a psychoanalytic lens of interpretation, where we perceive events as part of Gillis's dream.
Sunset Boulevard as an Embodiment of the Dream: Norma becomes a product of Gillis's dreamscape, allowing him to project his anxieties and fears onto her and maintain a sense of sanity.
The Film's Exploration of Retreat: It examines how both Norma and Joe retreat from reality, seeking solace in their own delusional worlds.

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Description

Explore the intricacies of 'Sunset Boulevard' through a psychoanalytic lens. This quiz delves into Norma Desmond's transformation, the critique of Hollywood, and the film's striking visual contrasts. Examine themes of delusion, sanity, and the stark realities faced by the characters.