(Dis)Continuities in Bond: A Bakhtinian Analysis of the 007 Films

Abstract

Two distinctly Bakhtinian elements are relevant to understanding both continuities and discontinuities across the various James Bond films. Firstly, Bakhtin’s so-called “adventure-time” chronotope has been explicitly linked, in film criticism, to the 007 movie series, particularly in relation to the lack of character development in these movies. This article analyses how the latest cycle of Daniel Craig 007 movies show, on the contrary, clear elements of such development, linked in turn to the greater chronotopic complexity of this recent cycle. Secondly, carnivalesque motifs (casinos, circuses, carnivals per se) have been a feature of 007 movies since their inception. This article traces the (re)appearance of such motifs across the 24 films, as well as arguing for a broader carnivalesque significance to these films, linked in turn to their comic nature. The emphasis here is placed on continuities between the Daniel Craig cycle and earlier Bond films.

Opsomming

Twee duidelik Bakhitiaanse elemente is relevant om beide kontinuïteite en diskontinuïteite in verskeie James Bond-films te verstaan. Eerstens, Bakhtin se sogenaamde “avontuurtyd”-chronotoop word in filmkritiek uitdruklik aan die 007-filmreeks gekoppel, veral met betrekking tot die afwesigheid van karakterontwikkeling in hierdie films. Hierdie artikel ontleed hoe Daniel Craig se nuutste 007-siklus in teenstryd hiermee wys hoe duidelike elemente van sulke ontwikkeling op sy beurt aan die groter chronotopiese kompleksiteit van die onlangse siklus gekoppel kan word. Tweedens, “karnaval”-motiewe (casino’s, sirkusse, karnavalle per se) kenmerk die 007-films sedert hul ontstaan. Hierdie artikel speur die (her)verskyning van sulke motiewe in die 24 films na sowel as argumenteer ten gunste van ’n meer algemene belang van “karnaval” in hierdie films wat aan hul komiese karakter gekoppel kan word. Hier word klem geplaas op die kontinuïteite tussen die Daniel Craig-siklus en die vroeër Bond-films.