The first LAGPA Academic Forum of the year focused on the psychological subtext of the 1992 film Bram Stoker's Dracula, a feature length release directed by Francis Ford Coppola. The January 19 presentation by Sue Scheibler, Ph.D., a member of the faculty in film studies at USC and Loyola Marymount University, focused on a Freudian-Lacanian analysis of the motion picture. Although the work of Lacan, a French psychoanalyst, has largely fallen into disuse in contemporary American psychology, the presentation highlighted the continuing vitality of his conceptual framework in the Field of critical studies and, in particular, film studies. 

Jacques Lacan (1901-81) adhered to a strict, if somewhat idiosyncratic, interpretation of Freud and psychoanalytic technique. Contrary to trends in American psychoanalysis, he focused entirely on the conflict between the ego and the unconscious mind. As a result, he gave great weight to dreams and other metaphoric material, such as films, as an expression of unconscious process. Lacanian thinkers often focus on the role of literature and art in expressing underlying social and cultural conflicts. Beyond academic circles, Lacan's work still holds great sway among psychoanalysts in France and South America.

Dr. Scheibler proved to be a gifted presenter, interspersing clips from the film with her analysis of the psychological and sociopolitical implications of the underlying work. The audience engaged in a sometimes spirited discussion of points including the conscious and unconscious implications of the work as to the oppression of women, the demonization of the feminized male, and the repression of sexuality. Dr. Scheibler mounted a persuasive case for the interpretation and use of imagery as reflective of the desires of the filmmaker and his culture, much as in Freud's seminal work, The Interpretation of Dreams. On the whole, the evening proved to be both entertaining and stimulating for those in attendance. If you enjoyed this event or just realized that you missed a great event, come to our June 23rd Pride Conference as Dr Scheibler will be one of our seminar presenters.