Ken, I have one further suggestion: there is an interesting summary of the Oedipus Complex to be found in Frank Krutnik's book, In a Lonely Street: Film Noir, Genre, Masculinity. Chapter 6 ("Masculinity and its Discontents") not only does a good job describing the threat of castration, but, more importantly, does a great job discussing the cultural importance of this in terms of masculine power, male fantasies of transgression, and under-and over-valuation of women. You might take a look -- Krutnik very clearly argues the ideological "surplus" of the Oedipus Complex. Bethany Ogdon Hampshire College [log in to unmask] ---- Screen-L is sponsored by the Telecommunication & Film Dept., the University of Alabama.