THE AMBIGUITIES OF THE CIVILIZED MAN AND THE SQUARE (2017)

Authors : İrem Özgören Kınlı

Pages : 37-57

Doi:10.32001/sinecine.1587354

View : 86 | Download : 77

Publication Date : 2025-06-05

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :This article discusses the ambiguities of the civilised man by employing the conceptual tools of figurational sociology, using Ruben Östlund’s 2017 film The Square as a focal point. Employing Norbert Elias’s theoretical framework, the study explores key sociological themes: the tension between competition and cooperation, the evolving nature of collective and individual identities (the ‘We-I’ balance), the interplay between personal self-control and societal control, and the contrast between formal and informal behaviours in contemporary society. Through Elias’s concepts, the film’s critique of social contracts, group dynamics, and morality is unpacked, offering insights into how people navigate today’s complex social networks. Central to the film’s narrative, the art installation called ‘The Square’ is a powerful metaphor that reveals the intricacies and ambiguities of civilised social behaviour. The study highlights how the veneer of civility often masks underlying primal instincts, exposing contradictions in modern social relations. By applying Elias’s figurational sociology to film analysis, this article not only brings attention to the relevance of Elias’s theories in contemporary European cinema but also contributes to the broader understanding of how civilised individuals cope with evolving social figurations. The film highlights the social tensions and ambiguities experienced by the civilised individual, as well as the fragility of the civilising process. This study analyses the relationships between individual behaviours, social control, and collective identity through the film The Square, using the conceptual tools of figurational sociology, and offers a critical perspective on the dynamics of modern society.
Keywords : Figürasyonel sosyoloji, Norbert Elias, Ruben Östlund, The Square (2017), Sosyolojik film analizi

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