The Big Picture: A Post-Jungian Map of Global Cinema

by James Whitlark, Ph.D.

Abstract: Combining the hypnotherapy of Milton Erickson, the series of unconscious archetypes discovered by Carl Gustav Jung, and the conscious states delineated by Clare Graves, The Big Picture analyzes how certain movies guide their cultures through developmental thresholds with potential for individual and social health.

Introduction to Cinema as Ota (a vision that transforms a culture)

Rashomon as Ota

______ Chapter I: Charting Individuation
Graves/Jung Stages of Individuation (1-4)

Graves/Jung Stages of Individuation (4-8)

Stage 1 in The Last Temptation of Christ

Stage 2 in The Lion King

Stage 3 in Tommy

Stage 4 in Ben Hur

Stage 5 in Ghostbusters

Stage 6 in Jesus Christ Superstar

Stage 7 in Pi

Stage 8 in Star Wars and Harry Potter?

______Chapter II: Tracing Trances
Hypnotic Cinema

Hypnosis in The Exorcist

Hypnosis in The Exterminating Angel

Hypnosis in Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead

Hypnosis in Rocky Horror Picture Show

Hypnotherapy in Kundun

Hypnotherapy in Excalibur

_____Chapter III: Exploring the Maze
Metaphors Foreshadowing Stage 7

Metaphor in Apocalypse Now

Metaphor in Orphée

Metaphor in Fantasia

Metaphor in Fiddler on the Roof

Metaphor in Fisher King

Metaphor in The Indiana Jones Films

_____Chapter IV: Mapping the Fractal Contours of Internal Conflict
Filming the Fractal Contours of Internal Conflict

The Devi: Much Less than 1 Dimension

The Bible: Almost 1 Dimension

Intolerance: 1-2 Dimensions

Robin of Sherwood: Approximately 2 Dimension

The 7 Faces of Dr. Lao: More than 2 Dimension

_____Chapter: V: Redrawing and Erasing Boundaries
NLP and Cinema

Dances with Wolves as "Swish"

Siegfried as "Squash"

Metropolis/Batman as "Squash"

Vampyr/Kwaidan as "Squash"

Fanny and Alexander as "Squash"

_____Chapter: VI: Navigating Chaos
Self-healing in Filmmaking

Bipolar Slaughterhouse 5

Schizo-affective Terminator 2

Bipolar St. Joan/Amadeus

Paranoid Jacob's Ladder

Woody Allen's Narcissistic Films

-----
Bibliography (1)

Bibliography (2)

Bibliography (3)

Bibliography (4)