The Jungian Process of Individuation : A Study of Hermann Hesse’s Novel Demian : Story of a Youth (1948) and Todd Phillips’ Film Joker (2019)

Loading...
Thumbnail Image

Date

2021

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

Mouloud Mammeri University OF Tizi-Ouzou

Abstract

This dissertation discussed the process of individuation in the novel Demian by Hermann Hesse and Todd Phillips’ film Joker. The aim was to show to what extent Hesse and Phillips were influenced by analytical psychology and this by examining the psychological development of each main protagonist relying on Carl Jung’s theory of personalities, based on the concepts of collective unconscious and archetypes which build the process of individuation. To conduct this study, we divided it into two main sections; in the first chapter we analyzed the psychological development of Emil Sinclair, main protagonist of Hermann Hesse’s book Demian, aiming to illustrate the achievement of the individuation process, while the second chapter aimed to show the two different hypotheses that both expose the failure of the process of individuation, focusing on the psychological development of the main protagonist Arthur Fleck in the Hollywood film Joker. To conclude we exposed the final result of each section which showed the influence of Jung’s analytical psychology conducted on Hesse resulting in Emil Sinclair reaching individuation. As well as highlighting the effect of Phillips’ absent approach to analytical psychology justifying Arthur Fleck failing to process his individuation.

Description

59p. ; Ill. en coul. ; 30cm.+(cd)

Keywords

Individuation Process, Collective Unconscious, Archetypes, Carl Jung, Hermann Hesse, Demian, Todd Phillips, Joker, Success, Failure.

Citation

Littérature et Approches Interdisciplinaires.