Irish Talusan: THE CURIOUS CASE: PSYCHOANALYSIS OF BENJAMIN BUTT...

Irish Talusan: THE CURIOUS CASE: PSYCHOANALYSIS OF BENJAMIN BUTT...:             Psychoanalyzing a character at text is always done backtracking the early stages of one’s life, the youth. However, t...

The Curious Case: Psychoanalysis of Benjamin Button

            Psychoanalyzing a character at text is always done backtracking the early stages of one’s life, the youth. However, this curious case of Benjamin Button requires a curious exception to that rule. What then are psychological aspects of being old that may have affected his getting young?

The film started with an old woman  (Daisy) on her death bed spending last moments with her daughter (Caroline) who she made to read Benjamin’s diary for the first time. The diary started with Benjamin’s father Tomas Button rushing to his wife who was giving birth. However, upon learning that the wife sacrificed her life to give birth to Benjamin, Tomas' instinct was to get rid of him. At this very point in time, we can see the complexes that the Button family has shown. Looking at the Jungian perspective, the mother who chose her child over self could be a reflection of Jocasta complex for even at her very last breath, her only message to Tomas is to take care of Benjamin. Meanwhile, the only concern of Tomas was his wife and he hated Benjamin for being the reason of her death.  This could be a manifestation of Heracles complex or hatred for children as rival to the attention of wife. Without any thought, Tomas did not consider his superego (subconscious part responsible for moral decision making) and let him be taken over by his Id (natural desire, instinct). He however showed a balancing of his subconscious and ego by opting to leave Benjamin in front of a home for the aged instead. These factors have affected Benjamin Button later on his life.

Theories of psychoanalysis say that one may look at the unconscious, biological, environmental and cultural, factors that may affect one’s behavior (Hall, 2001). Benjamin’s case is very peculiar then. Biologically, he is an old man born with sickness and body properties of a person in his 80s. Unconsciously, his Id or natural desires are for a child. His curiousness is set on wanting to know what is outside. This is added by the environmental factor that he is confined in a house full of old people and a life of routines. A strong manifestation of Sigmund Freud’s Oedipus complex is shown within Benjamin for his love for the woman who adopted him, Queenie. His interaction with Queenie is all about his dependence to her. One scene also shows that Benjamin is usually sleeping beside her “mother” but except when her mother’s lover is going to stay, then he would have no option but to give way. This shaped his relationship with other women in his story later on; for example, his dependence of affection from Daisy, dependence of sexual desire from three different women and constantly going back to the home for the aged where her mama is.

Different cultures that Benjamin got into are the significant players of his behavior. The most dominant is the culture is in the way of life in the home for the aged where Benjamin spent most of his life staying, going out but coming back again. This is the symbol of his psychological space and comfort, his “home”. Here, he grew up (younger) interacting with old people with different stories to tell. One particular old man just keeps on telling how he was struck by lightning seven times but all instances are different every time he tells. He is practically wiser as he gets younger, he learned about death before knowing how to live. One day when a new man in the house took Benjamin out in the streets, Benjamin had a battle with his conscious and unconscious, curiosity or Queenie’s instruction, if he should go on. This was manifested by his actions of being vulnerable and anxious. But he let his curiosity (Id) as a child take over his biological and environmental constraints being old. At the end, he still felt satisfied in fulfilling his desires.

When Queenie got pregnant, Benjamin did not know what to do. He felt a potential sibling rivalry. From then on, his dependent relationship with her mother faded as he goes on with this journey. That’s when he learned to discover and do things by himself, a manifestation that Benjamin is psychologically a follower of his desires. Even though Queenie is her symbol of superego or conscience, external forces and pressures from other people take over him just like the first instance when someone took him out in the streets. This was repeated when he still slept with a prostitute, drank alcohol with a stranger and had an affair with a married woman whenever Queenie is not physically around to depend on.

            From the very start, Benjamin’s relationship with other people are temporary and on temporal spaces. Like the old lady who taught him to play piano then suddenly passed away, the man who took him out of the street the suddenly left the house, the married woman he meets in the hotel lobby every night that just disappeared one day, Captain Mike and his co-sailors in a tugboat who died when war came to them and his father who's looking after him but only from afar. These other characters have their own psychological suppressions as they tell their childhood stories to Benjamin like the group narcissism manifestation of Benjamin’s co-sailor who loves America so much to think it’s the only country in the world. Because of these experiences with people of different stories leaving him, he also felt he was never meant to stay in one place, live only one story or be with someone throughout his life. Benjamin's wisdom and outlook in life are from them.

Ultimately, Benjamin’s personality was shaped by his Mama Queniee and his father Tomas. First, he was raised as a good person by a loving and religious mother. Throughout his life of getting young, his values are still the core within him overshadowing his Id. After all, he has still forgiven his dying father who abandoned him. He made his father let go of the emotional suffering or leaving own son behind (wisdom). Benjamin was able to do so because Queenie, after all he does for the day, would still welcome him in her arms (personality). He chose not to let in into Daisy seducing him because of his respect for her since he know her from she was a little kid and waited for their right moment to be together. And at the end, he left Daisy trusting that she could raise their child the way he was raised by Queenie because aside from the fear of being a burden for of his condition, the unconscious part of Benjamin was that he really did not know what it is to be a father because he never felt he had one. Just as his father did, the Buttons’ gave their wealth for their children. Tomas looked after Tomas from afar wishing things were different just as Benjamin sends postcards from afar to her daughter every year wishing that he is physically there too. True enough, both Benjamin and Caroline just knew their father too late and through the story.  

References:

Berger, A. A. (1995). Cultural Criticism: A Primer of Key Concepts. California: SAGE Publications

Hall, D. E. (2001). Literary and Cultural Theory. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Co.

(2014, February 18). The Curious Case of Benjamin Button full movie (HD) [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e-wnz3L1xh0

The Becoming of Leni Robredo

            While I was browsing one of Leni Robredo’s Facebook pages for campaign, I noticed these two familiar materials. These were viral photos of Leni waiting for a bus (around December 2014) and where she refused passing the red carpet last SONA of 2015. Upon seeing these materials, it hit me that these are not those who went viral anymore. These are ideologically imposed materials trying to go with our “common sense” in the becoming of another Leni Robredo.

            First, the very essence of candidness was taken out. It opened up to me now that these could all be just parts of the becoming from the start. I may be wrong but it’s still something to think about. I would also clear that I am not an anti-Leni and I might consider giving her my vote. The texts of these photos are my only concern.

Last year, although I hated the media attention it received, I did admire Leni for waiting for a bus… period. But today I’m asking, who took this photo last year?  I don’t think a random citizen did because Leni was not that popular then like Anne Curtis for an ordinary person to take a stalking picture of her in the street and upload it in social media. It was taken by a certain Keisha Del Castillo and upon “stalking” her Facebook, all her public posts are about the campaign and TV guestings of Leni. The next one taken last SONA gained mixed opinions from the people and I would side in the argument that if she was really hiding from the spotlight, she should not have posted this picture. In effect which I believe was hoped for, she gained way better attention than those who passed the red carpet. To me it was brilliant, she became a separate news apart from the usually news items about the SONA red carpet. He had her own “red carpet moment” right there.

My concern now is that despite question of candidness of these two viral posts, these are now used as an advertisement which to me confirms to be simply part of her becoming. Both materials have texts saying “Kongresista ng Camarines Sur. Kampeon ng good governance. Kakampi ng magsasaka. Kaisa ng kababaihan. Kalaban ng political dynasty. Kaaway ng corrupt.” that positions Leni just like any political candidates. These are way too familiar lines, way too familiar imposing of ideologies that a candidate should be this and that. The only thing sure and justified there is that Leni is Camarines Sur’s Congresswoman. Only the familiar image of Leni makes the materials different with labeling “At kapag nag-aabang ng bus sa gabi patungong Bicol, karamay ng bawa’t Pilipino” and “At kapag dumadaan sa likod ng Plenary Hall imbes na sa red carpet tuwing SONA, kasama ng bawa’t Pilipino”. Leni might have some concrete achievements when it comes to governance, agriculture, women, anti-political dynasty and corruption but it is unfair for her to have those viral acts as achievements and unfair for the voters to think that a candidate’s humility is the standard of voting instead of a side personality. The dominant system still reflects that we vote more by heart than mind, how we like a person for his/her personality than what they can do. Who knows, humility can be deceiving. That is why I liked Gen. Antonio Luna’s leadership despite his “despicable” attitude.

Bakit Ako? Underlying Rhetorics of Heneral Luna Memes in the Public Sphere

History indeed repeats itself. That is one of the many reasons we loved the film Heneral Luna where issues and villains seem to be very much alive and kicking until today. But I argue that history repeats itself in different contexts that need understanding more than conclusions. History is a trace to the future but sure it is not the only reason why. Who are the real villains and what are the real issues? This essay then aims to deconstruct the rhetoric of three memes uploaded in Heneral luna memes Facebook group how this General’s mediated history opened today’s discourses in Juan’s nation.

Social media, hence through Heneral Luna memes in Facebook, is what social theorist Jurgen Habermas calls as the public sphere where public opinion is formed especially among the bourgeoisie or the middle class. In realization, Antonio Luna has been commodified in the best way possible through his film’s memes. His story and discourses had undergone rigorous mediation - from the actual events to oral histories to written accounts.  From written accounts to script making then film production. From the film product to viewing consumption came the public feedback. It is from the common feedback that Facebook groups were born where memes are sent by individuals themselves which subject to shared meaning making and feedback from other members in this public sphere… which landed in media criticisms, like this.

Mr. American in the Train Station: Why do we hate to love his language?

    https://www.facebook.com/HenLunaMemes/photos/pb.1661669620714616.-2207520000.1443845360./1661674397380805/?type=3&theater

          What is Heneral Luna saying in this meme? Yes, that we should all hate speaking English in this country. But why am I writing in English? Why are we always writing reaction papers in English? I think it is because we are not Gen. Luna here but we are Mr. American and his is also our language. This meme is just a form of resistance attempt (I don’t even know the tagalog of meme if there is). Why did we find this scene funny? Perhaps one is because we are not actually laughing at Mr. American (us presupposed) but at Heneral Luna and his people because we know English better than them. We watched it not us Filipinos in love with our native language but as English spectators waiting for the Filipino General make a grammatical error. How many people nowadays had their argument invalidated by people just because of the infamous your and you’re error?

            This is not to say that Filipinos of today are hypocrite with the language. Most of us still use Filipino are our mother language. We engage in these discourses in Filipino. It is just that we actually don’t and should not hate English anymore for it has become an asset and part of our gratification more than a colonial influence.

Gregorio the Gregorgeous: Perceptions of Consumable Beauty

https://www.facebook.com/HenLunaMemes/photos/pb.1661669620714616.-2207520000.1443845360./1662038040677774/?type=3&theater
       Personally, what I admired most in the film is the choice of actors. From the very cabinet meeting scene, I knew the movie will be spectacular. The familiar faces of actors that I am not sure of names guaranteed me a film of acting not of personalities. This is justified by the memes of actors captioned Started from bottom, Now I’m here which could either be rhetorically interpreted as small actors given break or about these actors’ versatility. Of course I hope public is on the side of the latter explanation.

But then we saw Paulo Avelino as Gregorio del Pilar and I can’t deny he is really good looking and that I was rooting for him in Starstruck back then. I am also sure he’s got the acting talent and angst to play the young General but his looks are definitely an advantage. However, if we look at Paulo Avelino getting the role of Gen. Del Pilar in the political economy perspective, this meme could be promoting for the survival of the film in the consumer industry. In film and television, real life personalities are usually played by huge celebrities as a way of giving a high tribute to real icons. Of course who would not be flattered to be portrayed by the good looking person? Remember how VP Jejomar Binay wants Alden Richards to portray him?

We may re-ask why then is Avelino in the second sequel and not John Arcilla with Gen. Luna? Why was he in the post-credit scene?  Because ultimately, he is the mainstream option when all else fails. We all know that Heneral Luna film is a risk and it was subject to be one of those substantial pieces that flopped. I watched the film on its first day and the cinema felt just empty. I guess if they were sure that the film will be this successful, they would have considered other actors than Avelino. Reading on the comments and shares of this meme, there are more excited on this personality’s close-up shots than the story of Gen. Del Pilar. But who am I to conclude? Maybe we’ll see more of Del Pilar just like how I can’t remember John Arcilla’s face anymore because to me he is simply Gen. Luna.

Mascardo Feels: Labor Issues in a Capitalist Environment
https://www.facebook.com/HenLunaMemes/photos/pb.1661669620714616.-2207520000.1443845346./1662494840632094/?type=3&theater

      Who did not hate this lousy General Mascardo? It seemed like all his arguments and behavior is all lame but we must admit, a part of Mascardo is within us. Especially for most in the middle class, labor is the way of coping up with life. In a Marxist perspective, the world appreciates the finish product than the amount of labor poured in it. Hence, Mascardo in this meme says that Luna is imposing an end product to him disregard of his labor rights and does not have a power over him because he is not even in the dominant class, they are just both generals.

            On the first, who in the employment world has not experienced being the deprived with skipping work whether directly or indirectly? It is either the boss says so or your work responsibility will be largely affected which at the end of the day will still be your burden. If we are to understand Mascardo, we may differ in him on weighing priorities and call of duty. But I think what is this meme trying to say is that we at some points also set aside work even at the expense of others or the end product. However, can we blame modern Mascardos when he is already beaten up by the capitalist society and wants to attend a party sometimes?

            And then there is the caption, “Edi wow, wag ganon Luna” implying how he consider class in the society. I argue that this meme imposes that in this capitalist thinking society, Filipinos in one way use labor to earn power and to use it over another as a form of resistance to the power to oppress us by the dominant class. If one has seen the movie of Piolo Pascual and Claudine Barretto Milan in 2004, we could notice how the character Lino (Pascual) took offense when he was being instructed by a co-OFW in higher position. Hence, General Luna here could be a villain today by imposing power over the same General in rank. Could we then purely hate the Mascardo of today while loving every bit in Luna?

Conclusion

       Ultimately I'm down to these questions for myself and to the public sphere - where is Antonio in us today? Do we idolized him because he can do something we can not and will never do? How far can we really go? Is Luna a superhero then all other characters are humans?

     We should definitely commend Heneral Luna film for introducing us to Antonio Luna who most of us only know by name. For separating him as a hero of his own rather than Juan Luna’s brother and for giving people things to think about. But I think we should me more proud of ourselves as Filipinos by actively engaging and opening new discourses of nation even as simple as these entertaining memes… although sometimes we are just plain hilarious. Mabuhay ang ensaymada!

https://www.facebook.com/HenLunaMemes/photos/pb.1661669620714616.-2207520000.1443845346./1662482190633359/?type=3&theater

Reference:

Edgar, A. & Sedgwick, P. (2002). Cultural Theory: The Key Thinkers (pp. 182-183). London and New York: Routledge

Date tayo? Contemporary Filipino Dating Ideologie...

2013:
Date tayo? Contemporary Filipino Dating Ideologie...: Date tayo?  Contemporary   Filipino Dating Ideologies in KathNiel, JaDine, and AlDub  Fastfood chain Commercials Irish Talusan ...

Date tayo? Contemporary Filipino Dating Ideologies in KathNiel, JaDine, and AlDub Fastfood chain Commercials

Irish Talusan

Dating

To almost every genre whether film, radio, or television, there will always be that element of romantic love. In the Philippines, pair-ups are usually produced and introduced by TV networks and their success is measured by widening exposure in other media platforms such as in product endorsements.

Today with the emergence of social media as a popularity factory, these three loveteams have been taking the masses by storm -

ABS-CBN's Kathryn Bernardo & Daniel Padilla (KathNiel)

Source: http://media.philstar.com/images/the-philippine-star/entertainment/20140714/Katheniel.jpg

ABS-CBN's James Reid & Nadine Lustre (JaDine)

Source: http://manilastandardtoday.com/panel/_files/image/2015_aug08_show6.jpg

GMA's Alden Richards & Maine Mendoza aka "Yaya Dub" (AlDub)

Source: http://images.gmanews.tv/webpics/2015/08/aldub-wedding_2015_08_24_13_55_03.jpg

Because of their nationwide fans, consumers in the eyes of of businessmen, no wonder these loveteams were courted by the largest fastfood chains in the country to star in their commercials. These TVCs are uploaded in YouTube plus other related videos if one will search it. KathNiel stars in KFC's So Good Together commercial, JaDine is seen in Jollibee's One Extra Special Day, and recently the much awaited McDo's AlDub Ko To commercial featured Aldub.

While the loveteams' choice is obviously for marketing purposes, these commercials can also be seen as cultural products mediated by such advertising interests. Through a semiotic analysis, it would be interesting to review the three uploaded commercials in YouTube then determine the ideological points of traditional Filipino dating and how fastfood chains positions themselves to be included as dating 'symbols' in  contemporary Filipino dating ideologies together what each couple's image is portrayed. I argue that the actors, advertisers and Filipino culture have interplayed contribution in the production of contemporary dating ideologies in the country.

I follow semiotician Charles Peirce's classification of sign as a 'symbol' which may not resemble or cause what it stands for but is culturally conventionalized. On another note, I relate traditional signs of dating ideologies to its contemporary versions under Ferdinand Saussure's point of view on how a signifier may appear differently but it's the consistent relationship with other elements within a structure can justify what it signifies.

The Star Couple: Dating as Commodity within a Commodity

In this So Good Together commercial published by KFC Philippines on July 4, 2014, it can be seen that KathNiel is presented as a 'loveteam' to be commodified by consumers as they are needing each other to survive as well. Here, talents are not playing character roles but they are as is Kathryn Bernardo and Daniel Padilla as showbiz celebrities. However, I do not classify this commercial as reality since they are still in their performance as celebrities meeting certain expectations from fans. This is shown by the commercial narratives from taping, dressing up color coordinated, going to the gym and having their 'fully loaded' meal while all eyes are still on them even after Kathryn says "break muna ah".

The background music is sang by the loveteam themselves, it is written for them like in movies or music videos. Also, only their speaking voices are heard throughout the video. They are inseparable by holding hands which signifies or to say affirms 'dating' both in traditional and contemporary courtship, it also showed a clingy couple making each other as extension of their body in everything they do even in pouring gravy. It seemed that their world revolves on needing each other and they are independent as one. There is also the absence of family. Other than with each other, people in the commercial does not show any closer relationship with them aside from merely being part of their production staff, a wardrobe assistant, some gym goers, and two restaurant crew which are their 'fans' as well.

By the end of the commercial, Kathryn placed her cardboard figure beside Daniel's which could be a contemporary sign of objectifying affection such as how names are engraved by lovers in trees. But in this case it does not have that permanence as with the tree when Kathryn said, "KFC narin ako" moving herself. Other related video posted by KFC Philippines is "Behind The Scenes: The Making of KathNiel's KFC TVC" which simply extends the sneak peak in the lives of these two loveteam celebrities mixed  by the full version of the song. From what I can see, the fast food chain attempts to position itself as a dating space for couples on the go and open contradicting the ideology that dates should usually be like in a romantic restaurant having that sense of privacy between two lovers.


Dependent Love: Dating as Practical Decision

In this Jollibee commercial titled One Extra Special Day, the clear theme is an overprotective father to her daughter. It can be observed that it is not only the natural instinct of the father but the absence of the mother is strongly felt throughout the scene, even with color temperature of the commercial which is quite pale. However, mothering ideologies is carried neither by the father nor the daughter as they were never depicted doing household chores, especially in terms of cooking.The father is always sitting holding a gadget while the daughter is always fixing herself and waiting for a suitor.

Traditional dating 'procedures' can be seen such as dating inside the house, knocking on the lady's door and offering something. The lady is also groomed simply. In terms of choosing the 'one', auditory and visual codes can be observed that depicts on the spot disapproval from the father. Once the doorbell rings it is understood to be a suitor, the father and daughter is already behind the door with the father having every excuse in disapproving every suitor. The father is also ironically presented a thin and clean father but apparently has a big say of approval and authority despite his weak appearance.

However, the daughter has actually pre-selected a suitor she likes by advising one what to do and what to bring. The spatial organization of the doorbell sound when it's that suitor is more evident and the father is positioned 'calmly' signifying a welcome feel. This time, the father himself opened the door and the door was kept open when the preferred suitor came in compared to others where door is shut on their face. The paralinguistic cues of the way the preferred suitor confidently said "Hello!" establishes his stronger and confident connection with lady while he adds "Po..." to create a new and extended connection with the father.

It is interesting to note the previously uploaded video of Jollibee titled "FULL STORY: Nadine Lustre's special date". This video is the background prelude to the official commercial but has garnered more views than the actual commercial. There, the scene was that the daughter is supposed to have a date in Jollibee but she was ditched by a guy. Then her father to the rescue as if he knew what will happen and the ugly side of men. This video to me simply shows that dating should not be as open as in that place, it should be done formally at home while the maintaining the fastfood product as "take home".

It can be observed in this advertisement that Nadine Lustre and James Reid are in character. They are not portrayed as celebrities. The background music is simple instrumental. The father-daughter relationship is even more dominant than that of daughter-suitor which shows the ideology that family comes first but it is alright to welcome a new one as long as he is a practical choice. The fast food then positioned itself as the practical choice than of other 'things' offered by other suitors as well as substituted mother's approval with the taste both in food and in dating.

Dating when Shared and Separated: Surviving Distance, Maintaining Gender Roles through Time

Mcdo's AlDub Ko To commercial gained popularity as the first ever commercial of AlDub loveteam. As expected, the Dubbing is there and they are not together. On another side, this commercial can be seen as maintaining dating ideologies through time. "Ikaw Lang ang Aking Mahal" was the song choice which is practically old but most of the people is familiar with. It had a sense reminiscing and dating apart surviving amidst time and changes. For old couples, Yaya Dub is dressed in a fashion of another era with a polo and jumper while Alden is wearing a casual sweater. For new couples, dating without being face to face is often happening but this is bridged by mutual communication of what each other is doing every moment, this often includes asking each other if they had eaten and what did they eat.

However, gender role ideologies is also depicted here whereas the Yaya is the one inside the store seemingly waiting in one place and the man is the one who is mobile. The scene lighting difference is also evident when Alden is in a darker place, while Yaya Dub is in the brighter one which could represent couples in geographical distance. The ideology of love mediated by time and space is relieved with a shared memory, something they both "own". Remember a time when you passed by a Mcdo and remembered people especially from your past? Yes you did. That is also where Mcdo positions itself, since the fastfood chain can be found around the world surviving distance and time. We can relate this in Mcdo's old commercial First Love where the certain spot in that fastfood and certain way of eating become a forever shared memory between two people even if they did not end up together, of course mixing with the famous song Ang Huling El Bimbo of Eraserheads.

Mcdo Philippines did not upload a related video aside from the commercial as is. Most of videos posted are from fans. It keeps the image of the couple being an spontaneous loveteam. It can also be noticed that shots are mostly close up to emphasize their emotions and they only use establishing shots to show the "so near yet so far" feel.

Conclusion

The loveteams' images were clearly evident as how commercials packaged them as well how the visual, verbal and acoustic codes of scenes were adjusted for them. KathNiel in KFC have to be physically 'clingy' to be associated more with each other for them not to be isolated because of their other personalities, Kathryn as a child actor and Daniel as the nephew of 'bad boy' Robin Padilla for example. Both are also dressed as they are in the business and they sang the song themselves keeping their background as actors and singers. Nadine Lustre and James Reid are freshly paired and so their loveteam seeks for approval, with Nadine dressed simply and James keeping his slang accent. Yaya Dub and Alden Richards kept their appearance and behavior just as they are seen in Eat Bulaga daily. It is then important to keep their image to meet the viewers expectations just as Kathryn has to be pretty, Nadine should simple, and Yaya Dub as dorky while all the leading men, well, maintained being good looking.

Advertising interests and product positioning shaped the narratives of three commercials. Dating ideologies reflected where KFC is the open dating 'space' that highlights togetherness above all (dine in), where Jollibee points the importance of family and home (delivery), and where Mcdo is positioned as a place that houses precious memories whether together or apart (dine in or take out).

These three commercials although shaping narratives, for me is not manipulative. These just shows diverse Filipino ideologies when it comes to dating. Although we would always have traditional symbols to define it, it can be always subject to change in forms over time, over people, and over circumstances but ultimately the sincerity towards one another will always be the foundation.

References:

Edgar, A. & Sedgwick, P. (2002). Cultural Theory: The Key Thinkers (pp. 182-183). London and New York: Routledge

Vande Berg, L. H., Wenner, L. A., & Gronbeck, B. E. (2004). Critical Approaches to Television (pp. 67-110). New York: Houghton Mifflin Company