Wish fulfillment

Definition

Wish fulfillment is a psychological concept that suggests individuals often express their desires, fears, and subconscious thoughts through dreams, fantasies, or creative expressions, including film. In the context of psychoanalytic film theory, wish fulfillment can be seen as a way for viewers to engage with their own repressed desires and conflicts by projecting them onto characters and narratives in films.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Wish fulfillment can manifest in film as characters achieving their goals or overcoming obstacles that reflect the viewers' own desires.
2. Psychoanalytic film theory posits that audiences find pleasure in seeing their unacknowledged wishes played out on screen, which allows for a safe exploration of taboo themes.
3. Freud suggested that dreams serve as a form of wish fulfillment where the mind creates scenarios that satisfy unresolved conflicts or desires during sleep.
4. In film, elements like narrative structure and character arcs are often designed to resonate with the viewer's subconscious wishes, making the experience more engaging.
5. The portrayal of idealized characters or scenarios serves as a cathartic outlet for viewers' suppressed emotions and desires, reinforcing the connection between cinema and psychological needs.

Review Questions

• How does wish fulfillment relate to the way audiences engage with film narratives?
  • Wish fulfillment plays a significant role in how audiences connect with film narratives by allowing them to see their repressed desires and fantasies projected onto characters. When viewers identify with protagonists who achieve their dreams or confront their fears, it creates an emotional connection that reflects their own inner conflicts. This engagement not only enhances the viewing experience but also serves as a means for individuals to explore their own psychological landscapes through the lens of cinema.
• Discuss the implications of wish fulfillment in psychoanalytic film theory and its impact on viewer interpretation.
  • In psychoanalytic film theory, wish fulfillment implies that films act as mirrors reflecting the audience's subconscious desires. This perspective impacts viewer interpretation by suggesting that what one sees on screen may not just be entertainment but also a projection of unfulfilled wishes. As audiences recognize these reflections, they may interpret characters' journeys as symbolic representations of their own struggles, leading to deeper emotional responses and personal insights.
• Evaluate how the concept of wish fulfillment can transform our understanding of character development and narrative structure in films.
  • Evaluating wish fulfillment allows us to see character development and narrative structure not merely as storytelling devices but as psychological constructs aimed at addressing the viewers' inner desires. Characters who undergo significant transformations or who attain their aspirations serve as conduits for the audience's latent wishes. This understanding can lead to a richer appreciation of narrative complexity, showing how filmmakers intentionally craft arcs that resonate with universal human experiences of longing and resolution.

Related terms

Psychoanalysis: A psychological theory and therapeutic approach developed by Sigmund Freud that emphasizes the role of unconscious thoughts and feelings in influencing behavior.

Repression: The unconscious mechanism through which individuals block out uncomfortable thoughts, memories, or desires from their awareness, often leading to their expression in distorted forms.

Dream analysis: A therapeutic technique used in psychoanalysis where dreams are interpreted to uncover hidden thoughts and desires, revealing underlying psychological conflicts.