THE ABSENCE OF FATHER FIGURE ON SUTTER’S ADOLESCENCE IN JAMES PONSOLDT’S THE SPECTACULAR NOW (2013) FILM : A PSYCHOANALYSIS CRITICISM

Adolescence is a pivotal period for adolescents to determine their identity. In this research, the writer proposes the need to critically investigate the absence of father figure in adolescence that related to its experiences, and at the same time, how the main character in this film, Sutter, determining his identity regarding to his adolescence and developmental stages. The writer declares how it might be done through an analysis of adolescents in James Ponsoldt’s The Spectacular Now film. The Spectacular Now tells a story about an American adolescent who have both good and bad experiences in terrific feelings and conflict in his family. Psychoanalytic theory is used to examine the developmental stages, including adolescence and supporting theory; parental bonding, to investigate the influence of father figure in his adolescence. Data are collected through investigating the relevant issue and capturing eight shots, certain dialogues, that show the impact of its influences and how Sutter undergoes his adolescence. The findings of this study indicate that the absence of father is a crucial factor among adolescent to determine his identity. This study reveals that the absence of father figure influences Sutter in undergoing his adolescence and it has an important role in determining his behavior and shaping his identity