«You've never had control. That's the illusion». Mimesis of world and catharsis in «Jurassic Park»

The aim of this article is to explore the cinematic narrative and form of Jurassic Park (Spielberg, 1993), in order to identify its textual topic or central thematic concern. For this a mixed methodology was used, incorporating tools from film analysis into the hermeneutics of poetic possible worlds. First, the article demonstrates how the film’s initial four narrative blocks replicate its overall premise on a smaller scale, adapting the central idea to different circumstances. In each case, an external agent intrudes into a system of possibilities, marked by connotations of the unnatural, threatening to destroy that "world." Second, the article outlines the fundamental character traits of those responsible for these unnatural intrusions and how the film portrays the character’s cathartic journey. The one who introduces an improper possibility into the system disastrously attempts to emulate a divine creator, manipulating their reality and suppressing dissenting voices. At the same time, this character type is symbolically represented with the worst attributes of childhood: immaturity, irresponsibility, selfishness, and cowardice. The most eloquent image of the purification of this illusion of control is found in the mirrored shot pairs, which initially depict a certain version of reality, only to reveal, in the film’s final stretch, the hidden truth behind Hammond’s delusional pretensions.

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Publication Details

Journal
Communication & Society
Published
2025-07-16
DOI
https://doi.org/10.15581/003.38.2.003
Primary Topic
Digital Games and Media
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00

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article

«You've never had control. That's the illusion». Mimesis of world and catharsis in «Jurassic Park»

Arturo Encinas Cantalapiedra, Belén Gómez-de-Argüello-Olivera, Francisco-Javier López-Cuervo-Villanueva
Communication & Society
Digital Games and Media
article

«You've never had control. That's the illusion». Mimesis of world and catharsis in «Jurassic Park»

Arturo Encinas Cantalapiedra, Belén Gómez-de-Argüello-Olivera, Francisco-Javier López-Cuervo-Villanueva
article en

Abstract

The aim of this article is to explore the cinematic narrative and form of Jurassic Park (Spielberg, 1993), in order to identify its textual topic or central thematic concern. For this a mixed methodology was used, incorporating tools from film analysis into the hermeneutics of poetic possible worlds. First, the article demonstrates how the film’s initial four narrative blocks replicate its overall premise on a smaller scale, adapting the central idea to different circumstances. In each case, an external agent intrudes into a system of possibilities, marked by connotations of the unnatural, threatening to destroy that "world." Second, the article outlines the fundamental character traits of those responsible for these unnatural intrusions and how the film portrays the character’s cathartic journey. The one who introduces an improper possibility into the system disastrously attempts to emulate a divine creator, manipulating their reality and suppressing dissenting voices. At the same time, this character type is symbolically represented with the worst attributes of childhood: immaturity, irresponsibility, selfishness, and cowardice. The most eloquent image of the purification of this illusion of control is found in the mirrored shot pairs, which initially depict a certain version of reality, only to reveal, in the film’s final stretch, the hidden truth behind Hammond’s delusional pretensions.

Communication & SocietyVol. 38(2)
Universidad Francisco de Vitoria (ES)
Universidad Francisco de Vitoria
Openalex Percentile: Top 76%
Digital Games and Media
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«You've never had control. That's the illusion». Mimesis of world and catharsis in «Jurassic Park» — Arturo Encinas Cantalapiedra, Belén Gómez-de-Argüello-Olivera, et al. · Communication & Society (2025) | TGRS Research Map | TGRS