Scene Comparison Analysis

Ludovico Treatment- A Clockwork Orange

Torture of Therapist- The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

As spectators we find our experiences in film pleasurable, or we wouldn't watch these films. Alignment is a big factor in both of these scenes. Both can be considered quite graphic and hard to watch, but we align with Rooney Mara's character and her actions, but we can't say the same for the doctors treating Alex. Alignment and acceptance is made for Lisbeth (Mara) because the therapist being tortured and abused in the scene has previously done similar acts to her. The shocking factor of this is the brutal acts, but on top of that a woman is doing this to a man. Presently in film, we would say that women mostly play the part of the victim. We are encouraged to accept Lisbeth's actions and her revenge onto the therapist.

The doctors as far as we are concerned are just fulfilling their functional role of being doctors. We don't therefore blame them for what is happening in this scene. The treatment itself is shocking and therefore we align with the character receiving it, Alex. The ever frequent still close up of Alex watching creates the results of the treatment, which is accompanied eventually by his shouts and pleas to the doctors to stop the viewing. 

Both of these scenes in my opinion aren't affected by historical context, as both are shocking just as much now as they were when they were originally released.