English 312 Film & Literature
3/7/10
Professor Wexler
The Woody Allen Complex
If one were to view several of Woody Allen’s numerous films, chances are that they would notice similarities in the characters, the plot and they way in which they are filmed. Allen has a specific style that is unique and completely recognizable. Most of his films revolve around a similar character faced with similar circumstances with slight variation. The main character, often played by Allen himself, seems to always have trouble with women. In understanding them, interacting with them and being in relationships with them. This main character seems to possess similar qualities as well such as feeling inferior to women, nervousness and even depression. Could there be a link between this character and Allen himself? In class we have discussed the Oedipus Complex and its effects on people. I believe that Woody Allen bases the characters within his films on experiences he had during his childhood. His fascination with both women and the past seem prevalent in most of his work. This fascination could stem from the relationship that Allen had with his mother during his younger years.
Parents have an insurmountable influence on their children. They play both a significant and vital role in a child’s development. It is during the early years when children spend a majority of their time with their parents that they are particularly malleable. Like sponges they soak up every experience, every lesson and every unintentional action. It is with these very things that a child composes and bases their world on. Of course there are other contributing factors, in an excerpt from Doctor Susan D. Witt’s thesis paper she states “attitudes and behaviors are generally learned first in the home and are then reinforced by the child's peers, school experience, and television viewing. However, the strongest influence on gender role development seems to occur within the family setting, with parents passing on, both overtly and covertly, to their children their own beliefs about gender.” Children learn very early in their development the roles that society imposes upon them. This can have either a positive or negative effect. In Woody Allen’s case his upbringing was a little bit of both. With his overbearing mother and turbulent home atmosphere, he was able to express his internal angst with comedy and through the stories his films tell. We are able to observe small pieces of Allen’s upbringing through his work. There seem to be trends in most of his films with the leading male character, usually played by Allen himself, possessing similar qualities. These qualities include, inferiority to women, nervousness, depression and self loathing. If we were to really take a detailed and comprehensive look into these characteristics and their origins, we would most likely end up at the beginning, his childhood.
Woody Allen, whose surname is actually Allen Stewart Konigsberg, was born to his Jewish parents on December 1st, 1935 in Brooklyn, New York. Allen’s upbringing was not particularly joyful and most definitely not privileged by any means. His parents did not get along and he had an especially strained relationship with his strict and overbearing mother. At the age of seventeen, Allen began to write and submit short jokes to local newspapers under the name Woody Allen. Although the reason for his name change is not completely certain, changing a name can be symbolic for creating an alter ego where one can reinvent themselves. The are able to leave behind embarrassing characteristics or perhaps unfavorable events that might have previously occurred. This might have been Allen’s way to leave behind his troubled childhood and focus on comedy. Though try as he may to shape this new persona, his upbringing is still very evident in most if not all of his work. All of his main male characters possess the qualities of one who may have had a stern and tyrannical mother, and many of the situations that they are faced with deal soley with women. Allen’s past has shaped both himself and the characters he writes into his films into who and what they are. Both Allen and his characters seem to share variations of the Oedipus Complex.
The Oedipus Complex discovered first by Sigmund Freud basically states that “a boy is fixated on his mother and competes with his father for maternal attention.” (CHANGING MINDS) The complex is said to occur during a developmental stage labeled the “oedipal phase” . This stage occurs within the years of three and five of the developmental process. The Oedipal Complex may be expressed in many different ways. For example throughout Woody Allen’s films there is a certain “vintage” feel to them. Whether it be through the score used in the film, the cinematography or the way that the characters interact with each other, you can see themes of the 1930’s cinematic styles working their way into the different areas of the film. An example of this could be seen in the opening scene of Allen’s 1979 film Manhattan. The scene fades into a landscape view of Manhattan and is shot in fuzzy black and white film. Joined with the classical cinematography is the notable music of George Gershwin and all the while Allen narrates over these two elements. As you watch the collage of live shots of Manhattan being filmed with this black and white film, you are transported to another place and time. An era of film making far gone. This homage to the early styles of film making brings about the question; “From where did this fascination of this cinematic style originate?” and “Was it perhaps Allen’s mother who cherished this time period thus igniting this passion within Woody himself?”. We might never know, however, based on what we know about the Oedipus Complex his mother could have very well been the one who instilled this appreciation within him. Perhaps Allen’s fear of his mother led him to adopt her interests in order to win over her affection. Perhaps it is the Oedipus Complex that has led Allen to appreciate such things and exemplify them within his work.
Throughout our lives we are able to shape who we are based on events we have gone through, lessons we have been taught and people that we have grown up around. During our younger years we are incredibly impressionable and we take into account everything that goes on around us. The environment in which we are raise primarily shapes who we become as adults, our likes, dislikes and even our character traits. As we have learned about Woody Allen’s childhood there are reasons why his films share so many similar characteristics. Allen’s past shaped who he is today and helped him develop his cinematic style. Without experiences we would not be able to grow and further ourselves into growing. It is apparent in Allen’s work that he has a fascination with the female sex. Whether that stem from the volatile relationship that he had with his mother or from things he experienced in his childhood is uncertain. However, we can recognize the traits of the Oedipal Complex within both Allen’s life and his work. I believe that Woody Allen bases the characters within his films on experiences he had during his childhood. His films and style are legendary and truly hold a special place in cinema and it is through his raw and realistic approach to film that has paved the way for many film makers at present.
Work Cited
“Oedipus Complex.” ChangingMinds.org Syque, 2010. Web. 6 Apr 2010.
Flora, Carlin. “Hello, My Name is Unique.” Psychology Today.
Sussex Publishers, LLC. 1 March 2004. Web. 11 March 2010
The Social Psychology of Name Change: Reflections on a Serendipitous Discovery
Darrel W. Drury and John D. McCarthy. Social Psychology Quarterly, Vol. 43, No. 3
(Sept., 1980), pp. 310-320. Published by American Sociological Association
“Oedipus Complex.” Psychology.Jrank.org. Net Industries,
2010. Web. 6 Apr 2010.
“Parental Influence in the Life of the Child.” Developmental Psychology. N.p.,
2010. Web. 6 Apr 2010.
Azar, Beth. How do parents matter? Let us count the ways. No.7. Vol. 31.
Washington, DC: American Psychological Association, 2010. Print.
Witt, Ph.D, Susan D. “Parental Influence on Children’s Socialization to Gender Roles.”
Adolescence, Summer 1997 1997: Print
Baxter, John. Woody Allen: A Biography. New York: Carroll & Graf, 2000.
Lax, Eric. Woody Allen: A Biography. New York: Knopf, 1991.
No comments:
Post a Comment