Psychotherapy Knocked off the Altar: A Humorous Demystification of Psychoanalysts in Woody Allen’s Films

Modern Media Studies

MMS, Vol. 2, No. 1, 2026, pp.109-117.

Print ISSN: 3078-3151; Online ISSN: 3104-5049

Journal homepage: https://www.mmsjournal.com

DOI: Https://doi.org/10.64058/mms260110pkahd

跌落神坛的心理治疗：

伍迪·艾伦电影对心理医生形象的幽默祛魅

吴梦莎（Wu Mengsha），赵一墨（Zhao Yimo）

摘要：伍迪·艾伦的电影以其独特的幽默风格，成功地将心理医生这一形象从神坛上拉下。他镜头下的心理医生形象往往自私冷漠、满口深奥术语，却在解决实际问题时显得无能而平庸。这一刻画极大地消解了心理医生的权威地位，祛除了他们身上的专业光环，更揭示了心理治疗看似科学实为集体迷信的本质。而这一切都得益于伍迪·艾伦对幽默策略的熟稔运用。其幽默策略主要表现为并置不协调、笑话、反讽和重复等方面。

关键词：伍迪·艾伦电影；幽默策略；心理医生

作者简介：吴梦莎，广东外语外贸大学英语语言文化学院博士研究生，研究方向：当代美国文学。电邮：18819422184@sina.cn。赵一墨（通讯作者），广州应用科技学院文学与传媒学院助教，研究方向：电影文学。电邮：zhaoyimo2012@163.com。

Title: Psychotherapy Knocked off the Altar: A Humorous Demystification of Psychoanalysts in Woody Allen’s Films

Abstract: Woody Allen’s films, with their distinctive humorous style, have successfully demystified the image of the psychoanalyst. Under his lens, the psychoanalyst figure is often selfish and apathetic, full of obscure terminology, yet appears inept and banal when solving practical issues. This portrayal significantly dissolves the authoritative status of psychoanalysts, dispels their professional mystique, and moreover, reveals that the seemingly scientific nature of psychotherapy is essentially a collective superstition. This is all thanks to Allen’s skillful application of humor strategies, mainly manifested in incongruous juxtaposition, jokes, irony, and repetition.

Keywords: Woody Allen’s Films; Humor Strategies; Psychoanalyst

Author Biographies: Wu Mengsha, a Ph.D. candidate in the Faculty of English Language and Culture, Guangdong University of Foreign Studies, Guangzhou, China. Research interests: Contemporary American Literature. E-mail: 18819422184@sina.cn. Zhao Yimo (Corresponding Author), an Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Literature and Media, Guangzhou College of Applied Science and Technology. Research interests: Film Literature. E-mail: zhaoyimo2012@163.com.