In this text the role of the alien in the 2014 movie “Under the Skin” by Jonathan Glazer shall be examined and analyzed. The alien will be categorized and characterized as a hybrid form and embodies three different types of monstrosity which intermingle. In order to support this thesis various film scenes and motifs will be analyzed. At the beginning, I will perform a general introduction of the alien as figure in cultural history. Following this, I am going to introduce Tzvetan Todorov’s concept of the Fantastic as the type of genre that can be related heavily to the film Under the Skin.
The main part will be occupied by an analysis of several forms of monstrosity in the film which is divided into three parts, the alien as monstrous serial killer, the alien as monster because of its alien nature and at last the alien as a symbol for female monstrosity. Within the literature that is going to be used, especially Kristeva´s concept of abjection and Judith Butler´s theory regarding performance and performativity shall be applied as two of the most important concept of the recent research. Regarding monstrosity the work of Cohen with its seven theses about monstrosity is used to provide a foundation for the analysis
The film Under the Skin was directed by Jonathan Glazer and bases on the novel of the same name by Michel Faber. It was not a big box office hit but received intense praise by critics and was described as one of the best films in 2014, not only because of its mix of different genres. The movie was released on the 14th of March and deals with a female Alien, played by Scarlett Johansson, who is killing men in Scottish towns. Many of the roles in the film were played by non-professional actors and other scenes were unscripted and filmed with hidden cameras to produce authentic scenes.
Table of Contents
Introduction
History of the Alien in the Popular Culture
Science-Fiction, Aliens and the Fantastic
Seven Theses about Monstrosity
1) The Alien as Serial Killer
2) The Alien as the monstrous Other
3) The Alien as monstrous female
Conclusion
Objectives and Topics
The primary objective of this work is to analyze the role and characterization of the alien in Jonathan Glazer's film "Under the Skin." By utilizing theories of monstrosity, performance, and abjection, the paper examines how the film constructs the alien as a hybrid figure that embodies three distinct types of monstrosity, thereby challenging traditional boundaries of identity and gender within contemporary science fiction.
- The historical evolution of the alien figure in popular culture and science fiction.
- Application of Todorov’s concept of the "Fantastic" to analyze narrative uncertainty.
- Examination of the alien as a serial killer through the lens of Seltzer’s "wound culture."
- Analysis of the alien as the "monstrous Other" and the disruption of binary oppositions.
- Investigation of female monstrosity, abjection, and castration anxiety within a patriarchal framework.
Excerpt from the Book
1) The Alien as Serial Killer
The first aspect which the alien can be related to is serial killing. During the film the alien drives around the streets of Scottish towns in order to find men and lure them into a house to kill them. The aspect of serial killing is therefore one of the characteristics of the alien. In his book about Serial Killers, Mark Seltzer argues that Serial killing itself has its place in a public culture where addictive violence has become one of the sites where private desire and public fantasy intermingle. He refers this to the concept of a wound culture. This type of culture includes a public fascination with torn and open bodies and persons. The public gathers collectively around this kind of trauma. The spectacle of a wounded body attracted throughout the history but according to Seltzer around 1900 some new factors appear. In his opinion the wound changes from a symbol of heroic and sacrifice towards the stigmata of the openness of the body. In this context of trauma the category of the serial killer can emerge. The fact that the serial killer is not only threatening by senseless murder but also acts against the basic senses regarding bodies and societies, confirms the point of a shift in the understanding of individuality in the society (Seltzer 1998:1).
Summary of Chapters
Introduction: Provides a brief overview of the film "Under the Skin" and sets the theoretical foundation, including the analysis of the alien as a hybrid form of monstrosity.
History of the Alien in the Popular Culture: Discusses the origins of the alien figure in astronomy, cultural mythology, and the development of the science fiction genre.
Science-Fiction, Aliens and the Fantastic: Connects the film’s narrative style to Todorov’s concept of the "Fantastic," highlighting how uncertainty and hesitation define the viewer's experience.
Seven Theses about Monstrosity: Introduces Jeffrey Jerome Cohen’s theoretical framework on monsters to prepare for the specific analysis of the alien's monstrous characteristics.
1) The Alien as Serial Killer: Examines the alien’s behavior as a serial killer, incorporating Seltzer’s concepts of "wound culture" and the "social exoskeleton."
2) The Alien as the monstrous Other: Analyzes the alien's nature as an outsider that disrupts social categories and identity, using theories of performativity and othering.
3) The Alien as monstrous female: Explores the intersection of femininity and monstrosity, utilizing Barbara Creed’s and Julia Kristeva’s theories on the monstrous-feminine, abjection, and castration.
Conclusion: Summarizes the findings, confirming that the alien's hybrid nature serves as a critique of patriarchal structures and the binary categorization of identity.
Keywords
Under the Skin, Alien, Monstrosity, Science Fiction, Fantastic, Serial Killer, Othering, Performativity, Abjection, Female Monstrosity, Judith Butler, Jeffrey Jerome Cohen, Todorov, Hybridity, Patriarchal Society.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this study?
This study analyzes the characterization and symbolic role of the female alien in the film "Under the Skin," interpreting her through various academic lenses related to monstrosity and identity.
What are the central themes examined in the work?
Key themes include the construction of the "Other," the influence of the "Fantastic" on narrative structure, the intersection of gender and power, and the representation of the body in horror cinema.
What is the primary research goal?
The goal is to explore how the alien entity embodies three specific forms of monstrosity—serial killer, monstrous other, and monstrous female—to challenge societal norms.
Which scientific methods or theoretical frameworks are applied?
The analysis employs film theory and cultural studies, specifically drawing upon Cohen’s "Seven Theses about Monstrosity," Todorov’s theory of the "Fantastic," Butler’s concept of "performativity," and Kristeva’s "abjection."
What topics are discussed in the main analysis?
The main part analyzes the alien’s hunting behavior, her interactions with human society, and her symbolic role as a castrating female figure within a patriarchal context.
How would you summarize the work using keywords?
The work is characterized by terms such as Monstrosity, Alien, Othering, Performativity, Abjection, Gender Politics, and Hybridity.
How does the film utilize the "Fantastic" as defined by Todorov?
The film uses narrative ambiguity and unscripted scenes to keep the viewer in a state of hesitation between the real and the supernatural, fitting Todorov’s definition of the fantastic.
What is the significance of the "social exoskeleton" in the film?
The "social exoskeleton" refers to the alien's ability to imitate and adopt normative human behaviors, allowing her to blend into society to hunt more effectively, as discussed in relation to Seltzer's work.
- Quote paper
- B.A. Fabian Lukas (Author), 2015, Monstrosity and Hybridity in Jonathan Glazer's "Under the Skin", Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/321383
