An Examination of Initiatory Motifs: Symbolism and Esotericism in Cinematic Narratives of As Above, So Below (2014) and Under the Silver Lake (2018)

This study examines initiatory motifs in the films As Above, So Below (2014), and Under the Silver Lake (2018), utilizing the theoretical frameworks of Arnold Van Gennep, Rene Guenon, and Arthur Versluis. By applying Van Gennep’s rites of passage as a guiding principle, the analysis explores how these films depict initiation rites, while drawing parallels with Guenon’s metaphysical perspectives and Versluis’s insights on esotericism. It further uncovers implicit layers of meaning tied to the initiation process, connecting these themes with Jean Baudrillard’s Symbolic Exchange and Death and Georges Bataille’s The Accursed Share to deepen the understanding of symbolism and esotericism in contemporary film. This interdisciplinary approach bridges cinematic analysis and philosophical exploration, contributing to academic discourse on initiatory motifs in modern cinema.