Cannibalism on Film, Empathy, and Eating Disorders

Season 3, Episode 2,   May 30, 02:51 PM

Episode image
Emma and Christy watch Julia Ducournau’s first feature film, the cannibal coming-of-age body horror flick 'Grave' (or 'Raw'), 2016. In this episode, we cover cinéma du corps and New French Extremity, empathy and monstrosity, the horrors of being a girl, the horrors of being in a body, eating disorders, veterinary science, ‘being meat’ and becoming animal, vegan cinema, self control, desire, and what it means to be a moral cannibal — and a moral subject.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE IMAGES WE DISCUSS, as well as complete show notes, references, and suggestions for further reading.

MEDIA DISCUSSED
 Julia Doucournau, dir., Grave (Raw) (2016)
Julia Doucournau, dir., Titane (2021)
Marina de Van, Dans Ma Peau (In My Skin) (2002)
Eadweard Muybridge, Running (Galloping) (1878–79), animated here
Horse running on a treadmill (still from Grave)
Eadweard Muybridge, Male Running (1878–79)
Close-up of Justine during the monkey rape discussion (still from Grave)
Horse being tranquillised (still from Grave)
Students crawling over ground during hazing (still from Grave)
Justine eats Alex’s finger (still from Grave)
Hair vomiting scene (still from Grave)
‘Two fingers will make it come up faster’ (still from Grave)
Henry Van der Weyde, Patient 4, a and b (1882), image published in Sidlauskas, ‘Before and After’ (2017), courtesy of The College of Physicians of Philadelphia
Henry Van der Weyde, Patient 5, a and b (1882), image published in Sidlauskas, ‘Before and After’ (2017), courtesy of The College of Physicians of Philadelphia
‘C’est pas humain’ (still from Grave)
Justine waking up in the blood of Adrien (still from Grave)
Justine holds the rod against Alex’s head (still from Grave)
Justine washes the blood off Alex (still from Grave)
Justine and Alex’s faces blurring together on the prison glass (still from Grave)
The father’s chest (still from Grave)
Justine gets a nosebleed watching Adrien play football (still from Grave)

CREDITS
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‘Drawing Blood’ cover art © Emma Merkling
All audio and content © Emma Merkling and Christy Slobogin
Intro music: ‘There Will Be Blood’ by Kim Petras, © BunHead Records 2019. We’re still trying to get hold of permissions for this song – Kim Petras text us back!!