Sin,Samsara and Self-Salvation:an Interpretation of the Film Triangle from the Perspective of Archetypal Criticism

摘要

In the light of the knowledge that literature is the direct mimesis of other literary works and indirect mimesis of mythswhile film is the direct mimesis of other forms of arts and indirect mimesis of literary works,the present paper extends the feasibili-ty of Northrop Frye's archetypal theories into the interpretation of films.The film Triangle(2007) is a fascinating and successfulthriller characterized by its legion psychological puzzles and enigmatic plots.Through probing into this cliff-hanging film from theperspective of archetypal criticism,focusing on its displaced archetypal structure,motif and image,the paper exposes the"myth"of this film – a metaphorical and symbolical revelation of"sin""samsara"and"self-salvation",which in turn,proves that the fun-damental sameness of literature and filmable arts is the literariness derived from archetypal myths.