Lived City (2): Love and Desire on Lived City (2): Love and Desire on Cities‘ MarginsCities‘ Margins

Exotica,Exotica,

“ “I’m Running for my Life” and I’m Running for my Life” and “Blossom”“Blossom”

Outline Outline

Starting QuestionsStarting Questions ExoticaExotica: :

General intro and comparison with Vive l’amour General intro and comparison with Vive l’amour

Margins and MinoritiesMargins and Minorities Exotica: the Site and the Sight; Exotica: the Site and the Sight; Betrayal vs. Ritual/Contract for Self-Therapy; Betrayal vs. Ritual/Contract for Self-Therapy;

The Caribbeans in TorontoThe Caribbeans in Toronto ““I’m Running for my Life”I’m Running for my Life” ““Blossom” Blossom”

Exotica General Introd.Exotica General Introd. Francis (Francis (Bruce GreenwoodBruce Greenwood ; tax audito ; tax audito

r, the father who loses his wife and dar, the father who loses his wife and daughter) ughter)

Eric (Elias Koteas; DJ of the Exotica; eEric (Elias Koteas; DJ of the Exotica; ex-lover of Christina) x-lover of Christina)

Thomas (Thomas (Don McKellarDon McKellar; owner of the p; owner of the pet shop) et shop)

Christina (Mia Kirshner; strip-dancer, uChristina (Mia Kirshner; strip-dancer, used to baby-sit for Francis) sed to baby-sit for Francis)

Tracey (Tracey (Sarah PolleySarah Polley; Francis’ niece); ; Francis’ niece); Harold, Tracey’s father and Francis’ brHarold, Tracey’s father and Francis’ br

other other Zoe (ArsinZoe (Arsinéé Khanjian; hostess of Exoti Khanjian; hostess of Exoti

ca, pregnant with Eric’s sperm) ca, pregnant with Eric’s sperm) Inspector & Customs Officer Inspector & Customs Officer

Common Themes: 1. Gradual revelation of the past (esp. about broken families; 2. Inspector at the airport or for the government;3. Need to deal with trauma with rituals—esp. the use of camera.

Exotica: General Introd.Exotica: General Introd.Three plotlines intertwined in three major Settings: 1. Exotica; Francis’ home. 2. Aquarian & Concert Hall;3. The past: The grass field.

Starting QuestionsStarting Questions

How is the film Exotica and Vive l’amour siHow is the film Exotica and Vive l’amour similar to or different from each other?milar to or different from each other?

How do these two films define and present How do these two films define and present city’s margins respectively? city’s margins respectively?

How do people survive on the margins in tHow do people survive on the margins in these two films? hese two films?

How about ‘I’m Running for my Life” or “BlHow about ‘I’m Running for my Life” or “Blossom”? ossom”?

Margins and Minorities Margins and Minorities

Social MarginsSocial Margins – –

1) gender, behavioral 1) gender, behavioral minorities,minorities,

geographical margins:geographical margins:

1)1) beyond the central control,beyond the central control, out of order out of order

(heterotopia (heterotopia 異質空間異質空間 , strip, striptease bar, sauna, speaketease bar, sauna, speakeasy, etc.)asy, etc.)

2) racial, lower classes;2) racial, lower classes;

2) with fewer resources and 2) with fewer resources and in poorer materialist in poorer materialist conditions (e.g. illegal conditions (e.g. illegal constructions, ghettos)constructions, ghettos)

Notes: Deconstructing the Myth of Notes: Deconstructing the Myth of Marginality Marginality from from 夏鑄九’夏鑄九’ s lectures lecture

邊緣性邊緣性 [[ 如：非正式經濟、非正式部門如：非正式經濟、非正式部門 ]] 擴展，擴展，不單因為人們貧窮，是因為在不單因為人們貧窮，是因為在人與勞動市場間人與勞動市場間的機制的機制，，這機制是再生產這機制是再生產 marginalitymarginality 之情境之情境之基礎。記得無住屋運動中李幸長曾說過：“之基礎。記得無住屋運動中李幸長曾說過：“無殼蝸牛不要人同情！”無殼蝸牛不要人同情！”

““窮人不是經濟上的邊緣而是窮人不是經濟上的邊緣而是被剝削被剝削，不是社，不是社會上的邊緣而是會上的邊緣而是被拒絕被拒絕，不是文化上的邊緣而，不是文化上的邊緣而是是被污名被污名，不是政治上的邊緣而是，不是政治上的邊緣而是被操縱與壓被操縱與壓迫迫””（（ Janice PerlmanJanice Perlman ））

Our Focus – Our Focus – how marginal desires are how marginal desires are

expressed; how m. spaces livedexpressed; how m. spaces lived Vive l’amour Vive l’amour Anonymous, rootless and Anonymous, rootless and

drifting drifting Lower-Middle class Lower-Middle class With Desire (Homo/HeterWith Desire (Homo/Heter

o)o) Empty apartmentEmpty apartment Desire and Gaze, Desire and Gaze, and re-iand re-i

nvention of meanings nvention of meanings Comforted by Comforted by transient reltransient rel

ationships which seems liationships which seems like a new kind of “family”ke a new kind of “family”

Exotica Exotica Obsessed, from broken Obsessed, from broken

families families Middle class Middle class With Desire With Desire

(Homo/Hetero)(Homo/Hetero) and a and a need for self-healingneed for self-healing

Empty homeEmpty home Desire and Gaze,Desire and Gaze, and and

other ritualsother rituals Comforted by Comforted by ‘family’ ‘family’

ritualsrituals (repetition and (repetition and breakthroughs)breakthroughs)

ExoticaExotica Atom Egoyan

Everybody knows that the dice are loaded Everybody knows that the dice are loaded Everybody rolls with their fingers crossedEverybody rolls with their fingers crossed

Everybody knows that the war is over Everybody knows that the war is over Everybody knows the good guys lostEverybody knows the good guys lost

Everybody knows the fight was fixed Everybody knows the fight was fixed The poor stay poor, the rich get rich The poor stay poor, the rich get rich That’s how it goesThat’s how it goes Everybody knows ……..…………..Everybody knows ……..…………..

SpacesSpaces

Trauma, Ritualistic Obsession, Trauma, Ritualistic Obsession, & Breakthrough& Breakthrough

““Families”Families”

Spaces:Spaces:Site and Sights Site and Sights

Exotica -- Exotica --

(1)(1) Voyeurism – of the cliVoyeurism – of the clients, (with the rule of ‘ents, (with the rule of ‘no touching’) no touching’)

(2)(2) Routined dances Routined dances C Christina fetishized/fixehristina fetishized/fixed as a school girl.d as a school girl.

Spaces:Spaces:Site and Sights Site and Sights

Exotica -- Exotica --

(1)(1) The other different The other different gazes –designed or un-gazes –designed or un-designed; designed;

(2)(2) The ‘other’ The ‘other’ relationships (clips 5, relationships (clips 5, 6) 6)

Spaces (2) Spaces (2)

Aquarian: Just because they are exotic, Aquarian: Just because they are exotic, doesn’t mean that they cannot endure doesn’t mean that they cannot endure extremes. It is a jungle out there, isn’t extremes. It is a jungle out there, isn’t it?it?

Concert: a place to steal glances at Concert: a place to steal glances at each other or their bodies. each other or their bodies.

Homes– empty or spare Homes– empty or spare

Trauma & Obsession: LinesTrauma & Obsession: Lines Influences of the pastInfluences of the past -- --

Airport Inspector: You have to ask yourself Airport Inspector: You have to ask yourself what brings this persowhat brings this person to this point. n to this point.

Francis: As you get older, you become aware of the people and thFrancis: As you get older, you become aware of the people and the person you are is carrying a certain type of baggage, and the bae person you are is carrying a certain type of baggage, and the baggage creates a certain type of ggage creates a certain type of tension.tension.

Eric: Eric: It seems that everytime we want to hold on to somIt seems that everytime we want to hold on to something, it’s bound to slip away.’ething, it’s bound to slip away.’

Alienation Alienation – – Francis -- ``They Francis -- ``They look atlook at you with those big eyes, their whole life a you with those big eyes, their whole life a

head of them, while you've wasted half of yours.'' head of them, while you've wasted half of yours.'' ““You didn’t ask to be brought to this world, but then who did?” “NoYou didn’t ask to be brought to this world, but then who did?” “No

w that you’re here, who’s asking you to stay?”w that you’re here, who’s asking you to stay?”

Trauma & Obsession: (1) Trauma & Obsession: (1) FrancisFrancis Francis’ trauma:Francis’ trauma: family broken by family broken by

1.His daughter’s being murdered1.His daughter’s being murdered

2.His wife’s betrayal (love affair with his 2.His wife’s betrayal (love affair with his brother) brother)

Ritual (1) –Tracy as a babysitter (tries his Ritual (1) –Tracy as a babysitter (tries his best to preserve his ‘memories’ through best to preserve his ‘memories’ through

photos, videos photos, videos & automatic piano) & automatic piano) clip1clip1 Ritual (2) : Ritual (2) : be a (protective) father to be a (protective) father to

Christina. (clip 8)Christina. (clip 8)

Trauma & Obsession: (2) Christina Trauma & Obsession: (2) Christina and Ericand Eric

Christina: 1. Eric’s ex-girlfriend Christina: 1. Eric’s ex-girlfriend Eric’s obsessio Eric’s obsessionn

2. Used to be baby-sitter for Francis (e2. Used to be baby-sitter for Francis (ending clip)nding clip)

3. Francis’ “present daughter”3. Francis’ “present daughter” 4. Strip dancer4. Strip dancer A. Betrayal -- Eric’s contract with Zoe (Zoe’s mA. Betrayal -- Eric’s contract with Zoe (Zoe’s m

other’s betrayal of the girls)other’s betrayal of the girls) B .Obsession--- (Loss of family love) needs to B .Obsession--- (Loss of family love) needs to

be cared and be protectedbe cared and be protected C. Repetition--- Dancing for FrancisC. Repetition--- Dancing for Francis

Trauma & Obsession: (2) Christina Trauma & Obsession: (2) Christina and Ericand Eric

Obsession--- Loss of his “innocent girl”; Obsession--- Loss of his “innocent girl”; Still reads the lines to soothe himself; Still reads the lines to soothe himself; plays the role of a protector, even to the plays the role of a protector, even to the

degree of setting up Christina’s clients. degree of setting up Christina’s clients. clip 12, 13 clip 12, 13

Thomas’s Ritual: Thomas’s Ritual:

A. a gay pet shop ownerA. a gay pet shop owner

B. shy with communication problems B. shy with communication problems

C. doesn't know how to go about picking up C. doesn't know how to go about picking up menScalping tickets as a chance of dating menScalping tickets as a chance of dating (clips 20 – 23) (clips 20 – 23)

The Characters’ Breakthrough The Characters’ Breakthrough

Zoe – repeating her mother’s career as a challenZoe – repeating her mother’s career as a challenge (to overcome her shyness); making a new optge (to overcome her shyness); making a new option for herself ion for herself

Tracy – refuses to babysit anymoreTracy – refuses to babysit anymore Thomas – found out by the officer (clip 27) Thomas – found out by the officer (clip 27) Francis and Eric – clip 28, the ‘touch’ meaning? Francis and Eric – clip 28, the ‘touch’ meaning? Final resolution among the four – clip 17; Final resolution among the four – clip 17; Zoe and Christina – What do you think their relatZoe and Christina – What do you think their relat

ionship is like? ionship is like?

The ending The ending

1.1. Mutual understanding between EMutual understanding between Eric and Francis -- ric and Francis -- Hug with Francis; facHug with Francis; facing reality – “I found her” ing reality – “I found her” “; I lost her”; leave “; I lost her”; leave the job as a DJ—at least temporarilythe job as a DJ—at least temporarily

2.2. Christine dances by herself and iChristine dances by herself and is able to protect herselfs able to protect herself

3.3. ‘‘Families’ outside the traditional Families’ outside the traditional nuclear families. nuclear families.

Eric and Zoe--- a. Lovers and Friends; Zoe and Christina; Thomas Eric and Zoe--- a. Lovers and Friends; Zoe and Christina; Thomas and Francis; Thomas and his loversand Francis; Thomas and his lovers

Symbolic Meanings ReviewedSymbolic Meanings Reviewed

Mirrors: Betrayal & Appearance vs. reality; doublMirrors: Betrayal & Appearance vs. reality; double identitye identity

The Pet Shop: ExoticaThe Pet Shop: Exotica The Green Field: conflicts in color, music, gain anThe Green Field: conflicts in color, music, gain an

d loss at the same time, with inherent dangers; d loss at the same time, with inherent dangers; Photos & Video: Irony, Imply the failure of keepinPhotos & Video: Irony, Imply the failure of keepin

g memoryg memory Eggs, & Zoe’s pregnancy: “You didn’t ask to be brEggs, & Zoe’s pregnancy: “You didn’t ask to be br

ought here…”(Francis)ought here…”(Francis) Home in postmodern city: Tracey’s, Christina’s, FrHome in postmodern city: Tracey’s, Christina’s, Fr

ancis’s---Which one is the real home? ancis’s---Which one is the real home?

Are we voyeuristic?Are we voyeuristic?

Voyeurism Voyeurism emotional involvement and catharsi emotional involvement and catharsis?s?

““At Exotica (as in, one supposes, an erotic film), At Exotica (as in, one supposes, an erotic film), vvoyeurism is a frustrated alias for emotional intercoyeurism is a frustrated alias for emotional intercourseourse, . . . Egoyan's achievement in , . . . Egoyan's achievement in ExoticaExotica is sin is singularly fitting, as he yokes the experience of the gularly fitting, as he yokes the experience of the movie audience to that of the audience in his film, movie audience to that of the audience in his film, acknowledging erotic needs without condemning acknowledging erotic needs without condemning them, and stripping down the obsessions that colthem, and stripping down the obsessions that color a life. ” or a life. ” http://www.deep-focus.com/flicker/exotica.htmlhttp://www.deep-focus.com/flicker/exotica.html

Are we voyeuristic?Are we voyeuristic?

There are different types of gazes; gazes to There are different types of gazes; gazes to express one’s desire, love and concern, or express one’s desire, love and concern, or gazes to fix the others as objects. gazes to fix the others as objects.

Gazes can be obsessive, but they can also Gazes can be obsessive, but they can also be turned into glances or flbe turned into glances or flââneurial looks. neurial looks.

Note: Note:

““jailbait” 'a girl under the legal age of consjailbait” 'a girl under the legal age of consent for sexual intercourse' ent for sexual intercourse'

ReferencesReferences

３３ .. 都市邊緣性之批判 都市邊緣性之批判 1).1). 神話與現實神話與現實都市社會學都市社會學 夏鑄九 夏鑄九 http://www.bp.ntu.edu.tw/bpwww/Students/courshttp://www.bp.ntu.edu.tw/bpwww/Students/course92_1.htme92_1.htm

Fetishization in "Exotica" Fetishization in "Exotica" http://strangerbox.topcities.com/exotica.htmlhttp://strangerbox.topcities.com/exotica.html