The Influence of Lacanian Jouissance on K. G. George Movies

Abstract

This paper explores the influence of Lacanian jouissance on the films of K. G. George, a pivotal figure in shaping the narrative and stylistic of Malayalam cinema between 1974 and 1998, who passed away on 24th of September 2023. George’s career as a filmmaker paralleled important changes in society and politics, and his films explored the intricacies of the human mind in the face of shifting social scenarios. The examination of Lacanian jouissance in K. G. George’s films shed light on the complex interactions that shape the psychological landscapes of the characters via lack, desire, and social constraints. This is made possible through the qualitative content analysis of a purposively sampled set of K. G. George movies that include Yavanika (1982), Adaminte Variyellu (1983), Irakal (1985),Mattoral (1988), and Ee Kanni Koodi (1990). These films are representations that allow the spectators to confront their own unconscious desires and the constraints placed on them by social conventions such as gender norms. The study of these films also encourages a contemplative examination of the human condition by engaging with complexities of desire, societal expectations and shifting human relationships. Applying Lacanian Jouissance to the study of K. G. George movies focus on individual psychology with broader social commentaries, offering a nuanced perspective on the interplay between human consciousness and societal structures. As a director hailed for using psychology and psychoanalytic concepts in his movies, it is important to theoretically place observed influence of Lacanian Jouissance on his movies.