Mermaids, mythology, desire and madness in Robert Eggers’ The Lighthouse (2019)

Hayward, P

Mermaids, mythology, desire and madness in Robert Eggers’ The Lighthouse (2019)

Hayward, P

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Publisher:: Shima Publishing
Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Shima, 2022, 16, (2), pp. 197-213
Issue Date:: 2022-01-01

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Hayward, P https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0018-0174
dc.date.accessioned	2023-07-03T03:02:26Z
dc.date.available	2023-07-03T03:02:26Z
dc.date.issued	2022-01-01
dc.identifier.citation	Shima, 2022, 16, (2), pp. 197-213
dc.identifier.issn	1834-6049
dc.identifier.issn	1834-6057
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/171135
dc.description.abstract	Robert Eggers’ 201 9 film The Lighthouse provides an idiosyncratic representation of the mermaid as a Jungian anima in a film that revolves around the homoerotic tension between two lighthouse keepers on a remote, windswept island. While the mermaid theme is essentially a minor aspect of the film, juxtaposed with other mythological motifs, it is significant for the intensity of passions it catalyses in one of the film’s two male leads. Analysing the film, its script and statements of directorial intent, this article first discusses aspects of the interaction of the masculine characters and their relation to mythic figures, before going on to discuss the role and design of the mermaid, and of the sex scene she appears in. Additional consideration is given to the role of music and sound design in building nuance and thematic intensity within the film.
dc.language	en
dc.publisher	Shima Publishing
dc.relation.ispartof	Shima
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.21463/SHIMA.111
dc.rights	info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
dc.title	Mermaids, mythology, desire and madness in Robert Eggers’ The Lighthouse (2019)
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	16
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences/School of Communication
utslib.copyright.status	open_access	*
dc.date.updated	2023-07-03T03:02:25Z
pubs.issue	2
pubs.publication-status	Published
pubs.volume	16
utslib.citation.issue	2

Abstract:

Robert Eggers’ 201 9 film The Lighthouse provides an idiosyncratic representation of the mermaid as a Jungian anima in a film that revolves around the homoerotic tension between two lighthouse keepers on a remote, windswept island. While the mermaid theme is essentially a minor aspect of the film, juxtaposed with other mythological motifs, it is significant for the intensity of passions it catalyses in one of the film’s two male leads. Analysing the film, its script and statements of directorial intent, this article first discusses aspects of the interaction of the masculine characters and their relation to mythic figures, before going on to discuss the role and design of the mermaid, and of the sex scene she appears in. Additional consideration is given to the role of music and sound design in building nuance and thematic intensity within the film.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/171135