The monstrous mother in The Babadook (IFC Films, 2014)
Film Matters: Please tell us about your article that is being published in Film Matters.
Elizabeth Riggs: This article is an examination of the monstrous mother, as portrayed in the films The Babadook and Lights Out. Specifically, it looks at how Kristeva’s theory of the abject can be applied to view the mothers in both films as abject due to their mental illness, and how the abject can create horror. Through contrasting each film’s outcome, it discusses the representation of single motherhood, as well as the problematic way that Lights Out depicts those with mental illness.
FM: What research and/or methodologies do you incorporate in your article?
ER: In this article, I applied Kristeva’s theory of the abject and a critical perspective to both of the films to contrast the way that each film represents motherhood and those with mental illness.
FM: Describe the original context for/when writing this article while an undergraduate student.
ER: I wrote this paper for a Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies seminar called: Women in Horror Film, initially discussing the specifics of the abject mother in Lights Out. Then, when I decided to submit the paper to Film Matters, I expanded it into a comparison with the strikingly similar, earlier film, The Babadook.
FM: How has your department and/or institution supported your work in film and media?
ER: I have had great faculty advisors who have prompted me to look for opportunities for publication, without which I would not have been featured as an author today. The Film Studies Department is very open to fostering individual research or inquiries, all I had to do was ask.
FM: How has your faculty mentor fostered your advancement as a film scholar?
ER: First, Dr. Mizjewski helped me shape a term paper into an article ready for publication. In addition, she has encouraged my academic goal of pursuing a PhD in Communications, with an emphasis in media studies. In the summer of 2017 , I was able to study abroad in Berlin on scholarship due to her recommendation. I am extremely grateful for her mentorship and support.
FM: How has the Film Matters editorial and publication process impacted the development/evolution of your article?
ER: Film Matters has given me the invaluable opportunity to experience the process of publication as an undergraduate student. While I have written plenty of academic papers, writing for an audience outside of my course, and considering aspects of publication such as keywords, images, and layout are all new experiences which help me prepare for graduate school and my future research goals.
FM: What audience do you hope to reach with your Film Matters article and/or what impact do you hope it has on the field of film studies?
ER: I think that it is important to consider the impact that films have on viewers’ perceptions of their own life and society. While this is just one paper about two fictional families that are dealing with mental illness, a lot of messages from films like these can resonate with viewers. Horror films can seem scary, and fun, and really far from reality; however, these films are portraying very real problems through their narratives. I hope that this prompts my audience to think critically about the representations of mental illness and motherhood in The Babadook and Lights Out, as well as other horror films. Then, consider the outcomes that the films suggest as resolution, and what message this may be sending to those who face these problems in their real life.
FM: What are your future plans?
ER: Over the course of my senior year, I completed my undergraduate thesis and worked on a political communication research project. In addition, I was accepted into Ohio State’s MA Communication program, where my research will focus on narrative comprehension and persuasion in the realm of film and television. I hope to continue on toward my PhD in Communication. After receiving my PhD, my hope is to one day be a professor.
Author Biography
Elizabeth Riggs is a fourth-year undergraduate student double majoring in Film Studies and Communications. Her research interests follow film into the realm of social science. Her thesis will focus on narrative characteristics and self-definition in recent science fiction films. She is expected to graduate in May 2018 with her Bachelor’s of Arts.
