Abjection By Julia Kristeva
How Julia Kristeva 's theory of 'Abjection ' works in relation to the film 'Alien ' (1979).
The 'abject ' is a complex psychological concept developed by Julia Kristeva in her book "Powers of Horror: an Essay in Abjection" (1980). "Abject" is that which "…disturbs identity, system, order." Essentially anything that threatens to destabilise the "symbolic order" with the reminder of the "semiotic order". Throughout this essay I am going to talk about Kristeva 's theory of abjection and relate it to the film "Alien" from 1979. In particular I plan to focus on the way in which the film portrays the abject idea of childbirth and they way it is represented in the film, that forces us to address the deep fears we have when faced with concepts we consider to be inherently 'vile ' and 'disturbing '.
According to Kristeva, the semiotic order is when there is no separation between a mother and her child. The child would usually begin at around 4-8 months to push away certain things in order to distance itself from its mother to identify with itself as a separate entity. The things that are pushed away …show more content…
These dark, often calculating women use their sexuality in order to manipulate men so that they can gain power, wealth and freedom. "Her transgressions are signalled by dress, behaviour and lifestyle" (Neroni 25). Society dictates that females should embody a role of devoted mother and loving wife to a husband, but the femme fatale rejects these norms. This transgression of societal; rules means that she is punished, and "her fate usually involves violence" (Neroni 23). Therefore it would appear that the portrayal of the femme fatale is supporting of the existing patriarchal order and gender roles, because the woman is punished in the end for stepping out of the confines put in place to control her, and so keep the male dominant social order
The 'abject ' is a complex psychological concept developed by Julia Kristeva in her book "Powers of Horror: an Essay in Abjection" (1980). "Abject" is that which "…disturbs identity, system, order." Essentially anything that threatens to destabilise the "symbolic order" with the reminder of the "semiotic order". Throughout this essay I am going to talk about Kristeva 's theory of abjection and relate it to the film "Alien" from 1979. In particular I plan to focus on the way in which the film portrays the abject idea of childbirth and they way it is represented in the film, that forces us to address the deep fears we have when faced with concepts we consider to be inherently 'vile ' and 'disturbing '.
According to Kristeva, the semiotic order is when there is no separation between a mother and her child. The child would usually begin at around 4-8 months to push away certain things in order to distance itself from its mother to identify with itself as a separate entity. The things that are pushed away …show more content…
These dark, often calculating women use their sexuality in order to manipulate men so that they can gain power, wealth and freedom. "Her transgressions are signalled by dress, behaviour and lifestyle" (Neroni 25). Society dictates that females should embody a role of devoted mother and loving wife to a husband, but the femme fatale rejects these norms. This transgression of societal; rules means that she is punished, and "her fate usually involves violence" (Neroni 23). Therefore it would appear that the portrayal of the femme fatale is supporting of the existing patriarchal order and gender roles, because the woman is punished in the end for stepping out of the confines put in place to control her, and so keep the male dominant social order