Abstract
The concept of haunting, of the returning spirit, pervades the cultural landscape of the Philippines. This paper analyzes the function of the image of haunting in selected Philippine films. What does this haunting represent in the narrative of the community and the nation, in general? What does the return of the woman ghost or spirit tells us of the historical and cultural context from where it came? Haunting pervades different narratives. The film as a text becomes an archive of the collective memory of the people—the source of the image. The returning one haunts the present to conjure the past—carrying the ingrained history of the bayan or the nation. This exploration hopes to find transformative reimagining of this image that tackles the collective unconscious of justice and the struggle against historical amnesia.
Presenters
Maricristh MagalingAssociate Professor, Departament of Philippine Studies, Bulacan State University, Bulacan, Philippines
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
KEYWORDS
Haunting, Films, Woman, History, Memory
