Jacques Lacan theorised that when an infant, typically under the age of 6 months witnesses their own reflection in the mirror, they believe what they see to be superior to them by comparison. They therefore look up to this person that they see as they don't recognise the image as themselves. They then set out to parallel this image that they see.This theory can be applied to the way women see the ideal being on a cinema screen, identifies them as a superior being and strives to replicate the image. This can lead to very potential harmful conditions such as body dysmorphia which could then lead to anorexia/bulimia. Unfortunately it gives the effect that the body types as seen on screen are unachievable which can leave you vulnerable to feels of self doubt an lack of confidence/self esteem.
The Theory of Lack
Lacan suggests that any sense of desire that we experience are somewhat unrealistic and are merely fatties which every individual feels they have to achieve . It is these desirable fantasies which drive individuals to do certain things/ say certain things etc. It is what motivates them to do the things they do. However he is not stating that it is impossible to fulfil these fantasies. He is in fact stating that if these fantasies were to be fulfilled then the lust of the individual will become even more difficult to fulfil and therefore will go on to live an empty life as all they will want will become more and more unreasonable. It is this kind of lack that exists in the mind that can go on to create problems such as addictions or unhealthy obsessions.
This theory has been translated into film text through out many years. Such film texts include: Stanley Kubrick's The Shining (1980), The Worlds End (2013), and Vertigo (1958).
There are many technical aspects shown during certain scenes in this film which support this theory. For example the repetitive nature of the film. Many scenes are shown to reveal that Jack is living the same routine of self torture, attempting to write day in and day out with no luck. This is conveyed by shooting similar scenes that are played over and over again as time progresses. The audio aspect supports this as the music becomes increasingly distressing as time goes on, signifying Jack's slowly deteriorating mental state. The music that can be heard is eerie in nature, at not at all pleasant to listen to which makes it all the more haunting. The set design of The Shining is also very specific as it acts as more of a labyrinth than a hotel which creates a very eerie and disorientating atmosphere. The halls are twisted with impossible corridor and windows that shouldn't exist. This is representative of Jack's mental state as he attempts to navigate his way around the hotel. This can be seen as a visual metaphor for his own internal psychological battle which he ultimately succumbs to.
'The Worlds End' tells the story of a depressed middle aged man who can't let go of his youth. He organises a trip to his home town in order to complete a pub crawl that he failed to complete when he was 18. Similarly, this film also represents the theory of Lack as his lust for being young again and taking back those good times puts him and his friends in danger. The incomplete pub crawl represents his unfulfilled life/transition from being a teenager into adulthood.
There are in fact countless cinematic examples that have been based around the theory of lack and human fulfilment, desires and the inmate human need. Despite the genre of the film, the film tends to centre around the wants and needs of the central characters.
However in lesser cases, this want or need has the potential to lead to an obsession with this person or thing. Or in fact exploring human infufilment. Once that original desire had been fulfilled people tend to move on or discover addition desires only for the cycle to continue throughout their life. This is why Lacan suggests that human satisfaction can never be achieved as people will just keep wanting more.
