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uncanny valley
The uncanny valley is the psychological phenomenon where humanoid figures that are almost—but not quite—convincingly human trigger discomfort, revulsion, or existential unease in viewers. It occurs at the threshold where something appears familiar enough to seem alive but strange enough to feel wrong.
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In the Psycheverse
Psyche uses the uncanny valley as a lens for discussing why certain cultural moments—particularly the Cats movie and its CGI design choices—provoke visceral, near-spiritual reactions in audiences. The concept becomes a springboard for examining how aesthetics intersect with consciousness and collective discomfort, treating the uncanny not just as a film criticism tool but as a genuine psychological and philosophical phenomenon worth interrogating.
🐇 Rabbit Hole
Topics that frequently appear alongside uncanny valley
film criticismFilm criticism examines movies through analysis of narrative, visual style, cinematography, performance, and artistic choices. It evaluates films as cultural texts worthy of aesthetic and thematic discussion.Cats movieCats is a 2019 live-action/CGI musical film adaptation of Andrew Lloyd Webber's stage musical, notable for its controversial visual effects and design choices. The film features human actors rendered as anthropomorphic cats using digital technology, creating a distinctive and widely debated aesthetic.CGI and visual effectsCGI and visual effects are digital technologies used to create or enhance imagery in film and television, ranging from photorealistic rendering to stylized animation.live-action adaptationA live-action adaptation is a film or show that translates animated, illustrated, or literary source material into a version featuring real actors and practical or digital effects rather than traditional animation.
At a Glance
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