JOURNAL ARTICLE

The poisoned father: Jane Campion's The Power of the Dog and the unexpected relevance of Lacan to psychiatric practice.

  • Published In: Australasian Psychiatry, 2023, v. 31, n. 6. P. 758 1 of 3

  • Database: Academic Search Ultimate 2 of 3

  • Authored By: Stone, Meredith 3 of 3

Abstract

This article examines the application of Jacques Lacan's psychoanalytic theory—specifically his concepts of the Symbolic, Imaginary, and Real registers—to Jane Campion's film *The Power of the Dog*. It explores how the film portrays toxic masculinity and the complex dynamics of patriarchal systems, illustrating that such systems impact both the oppressed and their supposed beneficiaries. Through a Lacanian lens, the characters' behaviors and clinical symptoms are interpreted as responses to the constraints and yearnings imposed by the paternal order (Nom-du-Père). The analysis highlights the film's nuanced depiction of gender, power, and individual subjectivity, offering insights relevant to psychiatric understanding of family violence and social pathology.

Additional Information

  • Source:Australasian Psychiatry. 2023/12, Vol. 31, Issue 6, p758
  • Document Type:Article
  • Subject Area:Psychology
  • Publication Date:2023
  • ISSN:1039-8562
  • DOI:10.1177/10398562231186114
  • Accession Number:174270646
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