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The Mind-Numbing, Yet Rewarding, Process of Composing a Title
Admittedly, this section title is a bit extreme, but allow me to explain...
Yes, I hate coming up with titles because I am too indecisive; it takes an embarrassing amount of time for me to settle on a title, only for me to eventually scrap it and start again. But also, I am sure most people have experienced this: the feeling of creating a title that you believe to be so ingenious, that it sparks more passion for the respective project.
Well that is exactly what happened: it took me forever, but I came up with a title I am very content with, and hopefully I stick with it.
The title I decided on was— "Button Eyes and Freudian Ties: Exploring the Conscious and Unconscious in Coraline."
The film Coraline follows an 11 year old girl who, following her parents' new employment, is forced to move from Oregon to Michigan. Her parents have little to no time for her, as they work on writing and editing their garden catalogue, so she is forced to accompany herself.
Given the context for the events that occur the film, my research will surround the analyzation of Coraline's psychological processes and responses facing her new surroundings.
Paracosms, as mentioned in a previous research log, are a phenomena that I find very intriguing; fictional worlds created and "inhabited" by children is a topic that is easily explored through Coraline, as a large part of the storyline is the existence of both a reality and "other" world.
All in all, there is a lot to explore within the film and a lot of connections to make with ideas of psychology and humanities.
Potential Research Questions?
What exactly is a paracosm and are there reasons for its occurrence, is it dissociation or psychosis? To what degree is it "reality" for someone who experiences it?
How does Coraline portray how a child copes with or responds to parental and peer neglect?
What does this film say about human society and culture in regards to how it depicts a child's response to emotional trauma?
My Ideas and Interpretations Thus Far
Referencing my potential resource questions above, I already have a few ideas I know I'd like to play with and explore from the film. A few key details from the film I would like to analyze includes: Coraline's relationship with her parents, her relationship with her neighbors, the emotional implications of moving into her new home, the two worlds she experiences (reality and "the other world"), and her behavioral patterns. I know I will have to make a few arguments including:
Coraline's experiences of the other world actually stems from her unconscious needs and desires; the "other" world is a dream and connected to her reality
She finds herself partially living in her own self-made paracosm, due to the fact that her surroundings are less than ideal and her parents neglect her.
The film depicts a child's response to a less-than-ideal reality, resulting in the child creating this "imaginary" world that reflects the real world, but everything is better: her parents are attentive, her neighbors are quirky and fun, and she essentially gets everything she wants.
I am actively gathering evidence and sources to support my arguments. I have identified in a previous research log that my interpretation of the movie events is not too popular, so I will likely have to read articles written by others who have watched the film and agree with my interpretation of the film. In other words, I still have a lot of work to do...
So What's Next?
So What's Next?
In all honesty, I think I have ambitious plans for this research project and I am unsure whether or not I will be able to execute them all. I will try my best, of course, to do everything in a timely manner.
Currently, I plan to watch Coraline again and as recommended by my seminar instructor, rewatch the film with a critical eye and take closer notes. We were recently introduced to the research presentation assignment, which I am excited for and looking forward to starting— maybe even more excited for what I am going to do for the presentation than the research paper itself.
Now, I just need to remember to hold myself accountable for self-set deadlines for this research project... more updates soon!
References
References
Selick, Henry. Coraline. Focus Features, 2009.
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