The success of a narrative is often driven by the presence and actions of the villain, challenging Freud's focus on the hero's invulnerability
Creative writing and daydreaming are deeply connected to childhood play and fantasies, highlighting the importance of the unconscious in generating ideas
The tension between artistic form and commercial interests can hinder the preservation of fantasy in popular art forms, as exemplified by the ongoing strikes in Hollywood
Deep dives
The importance of form and the role of the villain
One key insight from the podcast is that the success of a narrative does not solely rely on the hero, but instead, it is often the villain who makes the story engaging. This contradicts Freud's assertion that narratives revolve around the invulnerability of the ego. The hosts cite examples such as Batman and the Joker, where the hero's actions are driven by a masochistic desire to engage with the villain's sadism. They argue that the tension and conflict created by the antagonist are integral to the narrative's appeal, challenging Freud's focus on the hero's invulnerability.
The role of the unconscious and childhood play in creative writing
The discussion also delves into Freud's observation that creative writing and daydreaming are rooted in childhood play and fantasies. This connection highlights the role of the unconscious in generating ideas for creative writers. The hosts emphasize how the unconscious fantasy puts individuals in unique positions and prompts them to explore alternative perspectives and experiences. While Freud does not explicitly address the unconscious in this essay, the hosts argue that paying attention to the form of fantasy and the aesthetics involved is crucial in understanding creative writing.
The tension between maintaining artistic form and commercial interests
The podcast episode further examines the tension between artistic form and commercial interests in the creative industry. It discusses how studios often prioritize profitability over preserving the phantasmatic form that makes great works of art distinct. This conflict is exemplified in the ongoing strikes in Hollywood, where writers and actors are pushing back against standardized and formulaic content. The hosts argue that maintaining the formal aspects of creativity and allowing for deviations from the norm are essential for artistic expressions and the preservation of fantasy in popular art forms like cinema and television.
The significance of actors' pay and the fetishization of wealth
The podcast episode discusses the issue of actors' pay and how it contributes to the fetishization of wealth in society. It highlights that while not all writers and actors are well-paid, those who are highly paid serve as a fetishized representation for those who are not. The example of an interview with Matt Damon is mentioned, where he turned down a movie role and lost out on a significant amount of money. The discussion emphasizes how the unquestioned value placed on massive amounts of money perpetuates the idea that wealth is an unmitigated good, ultimately reflecting a contemporary capitalist ideology.
The connection between male and female fantasy structures
The podcast delves into Sigmund Freud's exploration of the connection between male and female fantasy structures. Freud argues that while male fantasies tend to be ambitious in nature, female fantasies are often romantic in nature. However, he notes that these seemingly opposite trends are often united. He posits that in ambitious fantasies, there is a female figure in the background for whom the creator of the fantasy performs heroic deeds, demonstrating that every fantasy has an element of romantic comedy. The discussion also touches on how Hollywood's focus on action films overlooks the power of romantic comedies, which can speak to a broader audience.
Ryan and Todd analyze Freud's essay "Creative Writings and Daydreaming." They look first at the theory of fantasy that Freud develops in this essay and then turn to his conception of what generates the work of art, discussing it in terms of the current strike in Hollywood. In their concluding remarks, they deal with problems that Freud runs into in his theorizing here.
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