Abstract
This chapter considers the FX animated comedy series Archer from the perspective of Freudian psychoanalytic theory. Taking a pedagogical approach, it begins by theorizing the ideal traits of a text to be used in the teaching of psychoanalytic ideas to students raised in the contemporary media environment. Through a close analysis of Archer’s visual, verbal, and narrative construction, the chapter goes on to detail the ways in which the animated series both overtly and covertly illustrates core Freudian ideas ranging from the taboo of Oedipal attraction to the ‘kettle logic’ of dreams. Ultimately the chapter argues that by weaving explicit references to Freudian themes into a text that also subtly exhibits psychoanalytic concepts Archer offers an ideal opportunity to illustrate the repression and expression of taboos in comedy.
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Sienkiewicz, M. (2016). Phrasing!: Archer, Taboo Humour, and Psychoanalytic Media Theory. In: Bucaria, C., Barra, L. (eds) Taboo Comedy. Palgrave Studies in Comedy. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-59338-2_5
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-59338-2_5
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