3 Terms of Bhaba's Post-colonialism Theory Reflected in AYLA: The Daughter of War (2007)

source: IDN Times

About the Movie

            Ayla: The Daughter of War (2017) is a South Korea-Turkey drama movie directed by Can Ulkay. This movie tells about the invasion of South Korea by North Korea in 1950. Five years after World War II. From that issue, Turkey sends a brigade to South Korea as a result of the call for help made by the United Nations. Sergeant Suleyman—as the main character of this movie—meets a little girl who lost her parents on the battlefield. Then, Sergeant Suleyman gives her a name “Ayla” because he met her under the moonlight. Sergeant Suleyman and Ayla became friends although both of them hard to communicate. Unfortunately, their friendship did not take a long time, because Sergeant Suleyman must to return home.

Bhaba's Post-colonialism Theory

This article used Homi K. Bhaba’s post-colonialism theory to analyse the object, Ayla: The Daughter of War (2017). Bhabha as one of experts who has post-colonialism theory, he stated that there are mimicry and ambivalence. Mimicry is an act of imitation from colonialism process, while ambivalence is a representation of colonized consciousness to the new culture brought by the invaders.

The fall of colonialism in literature gave rise a new movement named postcolonial. According to Gina et al. (2020) based on Makaryk (2015) claimed that postcolonial theory is a term for a set of strategies theoretical and critical used toresearching culture (literature, politics, history, and so on) of the colonies European countries and their relations with other countries in the world.

Desire is the basis of mimicry. The appearance of mimicry becomes one of the most elusive and effective strategies of colonial power. According to Bhabha (1994) mimicry is the sign of a double articulation, a complex strategy of reform, regulation and discipline to visualize power. As Lacan said, mimicry is like camouflage, it is not a repression harmonization of difference, but a form of resemblance, that differs from presence by displaying it in part, metonymically.

As a double articulation, mimicry raises ambivalence as a form of the colonized's awareness of the new culture brought by the colonizers. Then, the ambivalence of mimicry suggests that the fetishized colonial culture is potentially becomes the rebels (Bhabha, 1994).

Analysis of Bhaba's Theory in AYLA: The Daughter of War

1. Mimicry 

Gina et al. (2020) based on Child and William, stated that mimicry is a form of resistance from the colonized that comes from potential subversive placed in the area between mimicry and ridicule. First, this movie shown Ayla imitated the Turkish soldiers when they were marching.

Soldiers           : “Fifteen … sixteen. Seventeen … eighteen.”

Ayla                : “Fifteen … sixteen. Seventeen … eighteen.”

And Ayla also pay attention and following them in a marching. She also knows how to end a report in a marching.

2. Ambivalence 

The ambivalence of colonial authority repeatedly turns from mimicry becomes threat a difference. This ambivalence shows when Sergeant Suleyman hard to leave Ayla. Because he was staying in South Korea for a several times, so when he had to return home, he could not leave Ayla alone. It was so difficult for him. Finally, it makes Sergeant Suleyman to take a risk—hide Ayla in his suitcase. 

Read More

How Movie Infuences Audiences: The Highlight of Mike's ID & Ego in Road to Perdition

source: iMDb

Talking about Mise-en-scene is also talking about how a movie influences the audience. John Gibs (2002) stated on his book Mise-en-scene: Film Style and Interpretaion when watching a movie, the audience shown what the audience can see and how they invited to see it. And it called as Mise-en-scene. However, to connect a whole part of film, mise-en-scene has some elements. Those are setting, costume & make-up, lighting, actor-act, and blocking,

In a movie entitled Road to Perdition (2002), I would like to take Actor-act element. Michael Sullivan or called as Mike as a main character of this film acts as a gangster who works for John Rooney almost his whole life. John Rooney loves Mike more than he loves his son, Conner. But, unfortunately, an incident makes the relationship between them being deteriorated. A film about relationship, love, and revenge, connect each other. Because this plot is flashback, I will describe how Mike’s character is. He has some characteristic; those are brave, loyal, mature, and slow. Thus, psychoanalysis theory by Sigmund Freud is the best choice to analyse Mike’s id and ego.

Md. Mahroof Hossain (2011) on his journal Psychoanalytic Theory used in English Literature: A Decriptive Study stated that psychoanalysis is one of the modern theories that used in English literature. The relationship between literature and psychoanalysis are always deployed by academic field of literary criticism or literary theory. Thereby, this psychological literary approach then takes the mental structure of the characters (id, ego, and superego) represented by Mike in Road to Perdition (2002).

First, there is id. It operates at an unconscious level and focuses solely on instinctual drives and desires. Freud divided two biological instincts into two parts, Eros and Thanatos. When human have instinct to survive that drive them to engage life-sustaining activities, it called as Eros. But, when human have instinct of death that drives destructive, aggressive, and violent behaviour, it called as Thanatos. And Mike’s id is Eros, because he knows that he wanted for murder, he decide to go far away bring his son, Michael Sullivan Jr.

Second, there is ego. According to Freud, ego mediates the demands of the id, superego, and reality. The ego operates on the reality principle, satisfying the id’s desires in ways that will realistically bring pleasure rather than pain. Mike’s problem solving is run to Perdition and protect both of him or his son from some dangerous outside—precisely Harlen Maguire, a murderer as a journalist and attacks from the other John’s gangsters.

Read More

Applying 12 Jungian's Archetype in Thor: Ragnarok (2017) Movie

        src img: https://www.cinemascomics.com/spoilers-detras-camaras-thor-ragnarok/

        It's so interesting if we talk about the story off Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) series. Before discuss more about the archetype in this one of MCU series, I would like to explain from the general. In a psychology mainstream, especially unconscious psychology, cannot be separated from a young man from Switzerland, Carl Gustav Jung who found collective unconscious in psychoanalysis theory. FYI, Freud's thought (1955) was the thoughts that influenced Jung's thinking in developing Jung’s psychoanalysis. Hereby, the archetypes are Jung's thinking the most known and used by psychological researchers around the world. 

According to Anas (2019) Jung (1968) found a collective unconscious, a source of energy and insight in the depth of the human psyche which has operated in and through man from theearliest periods of which we have records. According to Mark and Pearson (2015) Jung divided 12 types of archetypes that usually expressed in commercial activities. Those are the hero, the innocent, the outlaw, the explorer, the magician, the sage, the regular guy, the lover, the jester, the caregiver, the creator and the ruler. Here there are:

1. The Hero

The heroes pride on discipline, focus, and ability to make tough choices. They are the protector of the innocent, fragile, or people can’t help their own self. Thor as the main character in this movie has the hero archetype. This is seen from how we fought her sister—Hela, the Goddesses of Death—to save his people.

2. The Innocent

The innocent is a part that has faith and hope, it also may be known as Pollyanna, puer or puella, utopian, traditionalist, naive, mystic, saint, romantic, traditionalist, and dreamer. Dr. Bruce Banner was trapped in himself—being a Hulk—for two years. He could not control Hulk and forgot anything that was happened. Thus, he didn’t know what he did and where he was. 

3. The Explorer

The explorer goes to looking for a better world. They are motivated by a deep desire what in the out of the world according to their inner need and hopes. The explorer are also known as seeker, adventurer, quester, antihero, and rebel. In her previous life. Scrapper 142 of Saakar is a Valkyrie of Asgard. She was being an explorer after she lost her Valkyrie friend in Asgard war fought Hela.

4. The Sage

The Sage has their faith in the capacity of humankind to learn and grow. In the process, they want to free to think and create a better world with their own way. Odin—the king of Asgard—and also father of Thor and Loki, he warned his two sons about Hela, the Goddesses of Death.

5. The Outlaw

The Outlaw is not only where they are just alienated, angry and willing to sacrifice others to get what they want, but they are also finding their identity outside the social structure. Hela as the main enemy in this movie has the outlaw archetype. Her great ambition to rule Asgard triggers the existence of Ragnarok.

6. The Magician

The images of the Magician are the shaman, the medicine man or woman, and the village witch or wizard. Some of typical applications of magical lore are to heal the mind, heart, body and discover ways to create and maintain prosperity. Doctor Stephen Strange is one of characters that has magician archetype in this movie. He shows his magic to Thor at the first time they met.

7. The Regular Guy/Gal

The Regular Guy/Gal demonstrates the virtues of simply being an ordinary person, just like others. When they are active in an individual, the person may dress in working-class or otherwise ordinary clothes and speak in colloquial ways.

8. The Lover

The Lover archetype governs all sorts of human love, from parental love, friendship, and also spiritual love, but the most important is romantic love. It also supports the development of gender identity.

9. The Jester

The Jester includes the clown, the trickster, and anyone at all who loves to play or cut up. Some examples are young children, with their playfulness and spontaneity.

10. The Caregiver

The Caregiver is an altruist, moved by compassion, generosity, and a desire to help others. The symbols of caregiving, expressed mostly as a powerful maternal figure, have been alternatively sentimentalized and demonized.

11. The Creator

The Creator archetype is seen in the artist, the author, the innovator, and the entrepreneur, as well as in any endeavor that taps into the human imagination. Their passion is self-expression in material form.

12. The Ruler

The ruler is is someone with the power like CEO, the king, the president, and the others. They know that the best thing to do to avoid chaos is to take control. Grandmaster as the king of Saakar has the ruler archetype. He is the one and only person in Saakar who has the power. He is also the leader of Contest of Champion that often held in Saakar.

Read More

Six Greimas' Models of Actant in Percy Jackson & The Olympians: The Lightning Thief (2010)

  

sc img: rottentomatoes

            Before discuss about the semantic structure with the object, I would like to explain an introduction for you. Algirdas Julien Greimas--a Lithuanian literary scientist who gives a great contribution in literary works, precisely in semiotics.  Greimas developed the structural narratives into two structures, those are actantial models and functional structures. Have you understand about the intro? Let's enter to the mini analysis!  

           Who doesn't know this Greek modern literary work written by Rick Riordan? Yep! Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief is the first film adapted from novel series “Percy Jackson and the Olympians” by Rick Riordan and directed by Chris Colombus. It is comparing parallel world between Greek mythology and modern era. Sometimes, the Greek Gods of Olympus descend to earth and fell in love with human. Eventually, they have children called as “demigod”. And Percy Jackson is one of them. He is being the subject because he tries to looking for the object to get his goal, find a lightning thief and return it to Zeus.

            Before knowing that he is a demigod, Percy often felt unconfident because he has ADHD symptom. But, in fact, he is not dyslexic. It is because he only can read Greek alphabet, not English. Moreover, he also hears strange whisper that suddenly lost in any random situations. As time went on, Percy realizes that he is a demigod and he is accused of being Zeus’ lightning thief. However, even though he is not a lightning thief, he started on a journey to find out who is behind the Zeus’ lightning thief. Another reason why Percy started his journey is because he wanted to save his mother from Hades.

          Actually, if talking about who is the sender, the most dominant is Poseidon through his whisper to Percy. Yeah, for a long time Poseidon did it to communicate with his son—even though Percy didn’t know that the voice is his fathers. Next, it is impossible to carry out his journey without another helper. At that night, Percy with his two friends came to Luke and asked how the way to Hades’ place, Underworld. Luke gave them a map and his flying shoes—which he stole from his father, Hermes. For addition protection, Luke also gave Percy his favourite shield. Don't you guys hope that Luke is a real and good helper? But, unfortunately, hope is only hope. In the end of the scene, this film will show the unpredictable plot.

            Because the object is Zeus’ lightning thief, so the receiver is Zeus. After a long journey, Percy finally arrived where the gods live, Olympus. And he gave the lightning to Zeus. Before Percy comes to Olympus, Zeus was very angry and plans to have a big war. Fortunately, our hero came on time and cancelled Zeus’ plan.

            The helpers are Annabeth and Grover. Percy said that he could not do his journey without Annabeth and Grover’s help. In a real world, Grover is his best friend who always accompanying him. But, at a Camp Half-Blood, Grover is Percy’s protector. He is a Satyr or Lord of the Wild. While Annabeth, she is an energetic girl, daughter of Goddess Athena and Professor Frederick Chase. Her ability to fight makes Percy amazed at first sight.

            In a journey to return Zeus’ lightning, Percy got many obstacles from the opponent. First, after he arrived at the first place, he met Medusa and fought her. She has power to freeze people being a stone through her eyes. Second opponent is Hades. Because Hades thought that Percy was the lightning thief, so he chased Percy and took his mother to the Underworld. Finally, when Percy fought Hades, a lightning fell from Luke’s shield.  Percy was trapped. Luke used Percy, Annabeth, and Grover as bait. He is the real lightning thief overthrow the power of Gods at Olympus. But, at the end of the film, Luke was successfully knocked out and lost!

So, wdyt about this modern Greek movie? Gimme your rating! :)

Read More

Four Chandler's Genre Analysis in Anime Movie Hello World (2019)

Hello World is a Japanese science-fiction romance anime movie directed by Tomohiko Ito in 2019. Like the others anime movie with the theme of technology, Hello World was successfully released a combination of sci-fi and romance with a plot inserted by time travel. But, I have to highlight something from here, “No matter how hard you try to change what was happened, destiny is destiny. You can neither run nor avoid it.”

According to Chandler (1997) some of genres tend to defined primarily by their subject matter, some by settings, and the others by narrative form (p. 13). Thus, I would like to reveal 4 elements of genre (in general) in Hello World. Those are:

1.      Setting

It is including geography and history. The setting of this anime movie is in Kyoto, precisely in 2027 to 2037. Why it can be like that? Because, this anime tells about future and it has time travel plot. Katagaki Naomi—a bookworm boy—as a main character meets another “Katagaki Naomi” in 2037 or “Sensei”. Sensei tells to Naomi something will happen with Ichigyou Ruri—Naomi’s crush—in the future. 

2.      Iconography

It is containing of setting, theme, narrative, and characterization. Those are familiar images, familiar patterns of dialogue, characteristic of sound, appropriate physical topography, filmic techniques, lighting, and etc. (Chandler, 1997: 13). And here there are the iconographies from Hello World:

a.       Pluura

Pluura is the largest web server in the world that created 2D and 3D maps called “Chronicle Kyoto”, cooperate with Keito University, and Prefektur Kyoto.

b.      Chronicle Kyoto

Chronicle Kyoto is a big project from the collaboration of Pluura, Keito University, and Prefektur Kyoto. This project created 2D maps into more detailed 3D maps that can be back to the past and check records from different era.

c.      Alltale

Alltale is recorder storage with unlimited capacity from Pluura’s computer quantum project.

d.       Alltale Homeostatic System

Homeostatic system to protect Alltale storage, it will detect anything if something happens to Alltale.

3.      Narrative and Plot

This anime movie tells about technological advancements in Kyoto, precisely in 2027. A web server company—Pluura—created a great project called as Chronicle Kyoto with Keito University and Prefektur Kyoto. Chronicle Kyoto record everything in Kyoto, any events of human in recorder storage “Alltale”. As unlimited storage, Alltale has homeostatic system that will automatically detect if something happens in Alltale storage.

And this story begins with Katagaki Naomi who has being visited by a stranger and he said Naomi would do something for him. Naomi was confused and scared, of course. But, actually the stranger is himself from 2037. Naomi from the future who is called "Sensei" asks Naomi (in 2027) for help to restore something that has been lost in the future. Sensei really feels broken and hurt when he comes to his past, knowing his beloved girl who lost in the future. She is Ichigyou Ruri. In 2027, something happened when Naomi and Ruri was dating which caused Naomi to die from a lightning strike.

So, Sensei really wants to recover all events before that moment will happen. He asks Naomi to safe Ruri, and he hopes that Ruri can stay alive in the future. But, unfortunately, hope is only hope. No matter how much Naomi tried to change Alltale’s recorder, he still can't fight his destiny. The day day that Ruri was struck by lightning, that was when Naomi lost Ruri because Alltale is not recovery, but it removes Ruri from there. Any attacks from Alltale Homeostatic System make Sensei sacrifice himself to Naomi. He realized that everything happened was his entire fault.

And when the scientist from the future tried to repair Alltale, Naomi tried to take back Ruri to their world (Kyoto in 2027), but unfortunately, the problem is getting bigger. Finally, Kyoto, the place where Ruri and Naomi live, it automatically removed and move to the other parallel.

4.      Character

Katagaki Naomi is a bookworm boy who always tries hard to get the best result for anything, either for him or for others. This is reflected in his hard work to help Sensei (his future self), and even when he desperately tries to find a way to heal Ruri in the future.

REFERENCES

Chandler, D. (1997). An Introduction to Genre Theory. 

Read More

Knowing Cinematography in Pride and Prejudice (2005)

Pride and Prejudice is one of classic-romance films directed by Joe Wright in 2005. It is adapted from a classic novel with the same title by Jane Austen. Before I continue to explain more detail, I would to highlight that this film contains some of moral values I can take. First, there is ‘from enemies being to lovers’. Sometimes, we truly hate something until we forget that the essence of hating is admiring. Second, ‘love is love; it will not affect your social level’. But, unfortunately, this film displays how forbidden love when you fall in love with someone in different social class. Third, ‘don't judge something just from a prejudice easily’. Maybe, what looks bad in your eyes is a hidden goodness you never know.

This story begins with Darcy’s pride and Elizabeth’s prejudice. Elizabeth Bennet or Lizzie got her bad first impression to Mr. Darcy in a dance party. In Lizzie’s prejudice, Darcy is an arrogant noble with poor social skills. As time progressed, Lizzie's hatred grew more and more when she knew that Darcy was a person who provoked Charles Bingley to leave her sister, Jane. But, this is just Lizzie’s prejudice. She didn’t know why Darcy did that. In a nutshell, after Darcy proposed to Lizzie and was rejected by her, he left leaving a letter: the reason why he separated Jane and Bingley and the reason why he didn’t want to know about Mr. Wickham.

In this Pride and Prejudice (2005) there are some aspects of cinematography. But, I just take the camera shot. One of type shots in cinematography is close up. In general, the camera come closer shot the character. Thus, the viewer feels the meaning deeper. Brown (2011) stated close up is one of the most important shots in the vocabulary, the terminology for close up includes Medium CU, Choker, Big head CU, and ECU (p. 21). In this Pride and Prejudice (2005), there are some variations of close up:

1.      Close-up or head and shoulder. It is called head and shoulder if the shot is cut just above the shirt pocket area (Brown, 2011: 21).

2.  Medium. It also called a clean single, whenever it’s a shot of one actor alone. Also, it isn’t shot any piece of the other actor (Brown: 2011: 21).

3.     Two shot. Any shot of two people is two shot (Brown, 2011: 22).

4.      Over the shoulder. Over the shoulder or OTS is a shot which is over the shoulder of one actor to the other actor (Brown, 2011: 23).

REFERENCES

Brown, B. (2012). Cinematography Theory and Practice: Imagemaking for Cinematographers & Directors. Routledge.

Read More