An entire life in one glance: a psychoanalytic reading of Revolutionary Road

This article, starting from an analysis of the film Revolutionary Road (2009; director, Sam Mendes), addresses the topic of conflictuality in relationships between couples, especially in those characterized by intense violence and a relational configuration of the sadomasochistic type. In particular, the film – in highlighting sequential moments in the couple’s life, from its formation through to its tragic conclusion – seems to strengthen the hypothesis that the specific quality of falling in love is a contributing factor in determining the dramatic unfolding of a couple’s relationship. The relationship is characterized by an experience of intense, erotic sensoriality, and by the nature of the unconscious fantasy underlying the bond between the couple that began with the moment of falling in love, a bond in which deep needs for fusion predominate. The presence of this neediness impedes a more adequate working through of the conflicts and the transition to more satisfying ways of relating.     

Foot Position Tends to be Sensed as More Medial Than the Actual Foot Position

ABSTRACT

Participants placed different parts of their foot as close as possible to a target line without stepping onto it while wearing modified goggles that obscured their view of their feet. Once they felt that their foot was appropriately placed, the distance between their foot and the target line was measured. Participants tended to step 20–30 mm over the target line when asked to place the most lateral part of their foot near the target line and tended to place their foot 20–30 mm away from the target line when asked to place the most medial part of their foot near the target line. These results indicate that the placed feet shifted more laterally than sensed, which may explain unexpected tripping during walking.