This poster presents select archetypal and motif analysis of a controversial film. The complex drama of a male criminal transitioning to female defies genres as a dramatic, narco, musical collage, but can be examined through specific quests (Frankel;Inness;Brownstein) or (sub)narratives (Aristotle). Also, archetypal facets of “the mother” (Jung; Frankel) and exclusion motifs are some defining qualities of the supporting character’s journey, or descent to hell (Jung; Goethe; Hesiod). Anita Mora is Dominican-Mexican attorney in Mexico, overwrought by plagiarizing males. Revealing a mother archetype weakness, Anita’s maternal care of others opens them to suck her milk dry. Life exclusion means no traditional motherhood. Anita’s toxic environment resonates with women (spectators, viewers) who see identifiable pieces of workplace abuse and thanklessness. In Mephisto style (Mann), a crime leader buys her, and the heroine’s transplantation from cesspool courthouse to male underworld triggers her dark, shadow self (Jung). After taking dangerous risks in “hades”, mother-Persephone-Faustus surfaces, only to be trapped again. In dramatic novela style, “Emilia” locates her, to latch on (baby-suckling-milk.) The anti-heroine Anita dives inside a contradictory life of dangerous rescue and violence (taking care of, retrieving), even mothering orphans. Choices could root her permanently as a dark antiheroine, as is typical in narco-novelas, or for people visiting hades. Overall, patriarchal realms perpetually locate Anita as caretaker but no kingdom respects her womanhood. This intricate story can be partially interpreted by tracing character paths, and identifying select archetype(s) and motifs found in media and literature.

Authors:
Graciela Quinones-Rodriguez, Quinones Consulting and Psychotherapy, United States
Diana Rios, University of Connecticut, United States

About the Presenter(s)
Dr. Diana Rios is faculty in Communication and El Instituto: Institute of Latina/o, Caribbean, and Latin American Studies. University of Connecticut. She is the author of numerous publications and papers examining mass media processes, audience/content, and aspects of ethnicity, race, culture, gender.

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