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Analyzing Identity in Finding Dory

The document is an analysis of the animated film 'Finding Dory,' focusing on Dory's quest to reunite with her parents while dealing with short-term memory loss. It explores psychological frameworks such as Attachment Theory and social communication theories, highlighting Dory's character development and her ability to connect with others despite her challenges. The analysis also examines Dory's personality traits and her journey of self-discovery throughout the film.

Uploaded by

hannah198695
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Topics covered

  • Memory Loss,
  • Dory's Journey,
  • Empathy,
  • Communication Theories,
  • Emotional Journey,
  • Fish Characters,
  • Personal Growth,
  • Attachment Theory,
  • Disney and Pixar,
  • Plot Development
60 views4 pages

Analyzing Identity in Finding Dory

The document is an analysis of the animated film 'Finding Dory,' focusing on Dory's quest to reunite with her parents while dealing with short-term memory loss. It explores psychological frameworks such as Attachment Theory and social communication theories, highlighting Dory's character development and her ability to connect with others despite her challenges. The analysis also examines Dory's personality traits and her journey of self-discovery throughout the film.

Uploaded by

hannah198695
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Topics covered

  • Memory Loss,
  • Dory's Journey,
  • Empathy,
  • Communication Theories,
  • Emotional Journey,
  • Fish Characters,
  • Personal Growth,
  • Attachment Theory,
  • Disney and Pixar,
  • Plot Development

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Movie Analysis: Finding Identity in ‘Finding Dory’

Hannah Cho

Kodiak College, University of Alaska

COMM 237: Interpersonal Communications

Jacelyn Keys

Fall 2023
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Movie Analysis: Finding Identity in ‘Finding Dory’

In the Walt Disney and Pixar Studios animated film “Finding Dory” (Stanton &

MacLane, 2016), we meet Dory, a bubbly blue tang fish who embarks on a quest to reunite with

her long-lost parents. Dory suffers from short-term memory loss and faces unique challenges as a

result, central to the film’s plot and character development, as her problematic memory affects

herself and those around her. This paper follows and outlines Dory’s journey chronologically,

starting with her self-identity in the waters of the Great Barrier Reef to her self-realizations as

she embarks on a new adventure to find her family. The paper aims to consider the psychology

frameworks of Attachment Theory and social communication theories of perception and self-

concept, self-disclosure, and uncertainty reduction. We explore how the themes intricately

weaves into the story and Dory’s unique ability to connect with sea critters to help her along the

way.

The film flashes back to Dory in her doe-eyed youth, as a forgetful baby blue tang who is

showered with love and affection from her parents. One day, she wanders off and finds herself

permanently lost, eventually growing into adulthood while remaining loyal to her mission to find

her parents. Following the events of “Finding Nemo” (Stanton, 2003), she becomes distracted

from her motivation to “just keep swimming” in search of her family. In a coincidental turn of

events, Dory re-embarks on her reunion quest as the protagonist of the film, with Marlin and

Nemo acting as her sidekicks for this new journey. In the beginning of the film, Dory closely ties

her self-identity to her short-term-memory challenges. Though a fully grown adult fish, Dory is a

laughing stock to young fish who view her peculiar short-term-memory as a shortcoming.

Despite her seemingly ditzy and scatterbrained nature, Dory shows herself an agile thinker and

capable. Her forgetful nature allows her to quickly adapt to new challenges and unfamiliar
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landscapes through clever and out-of-the-box thinking and her ability to connect with others. In

the frame of the Big Five personality traits, Dory is highly open, extroverted, and agreeable.

A big turning point for Dory’s character development is


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References

Wrench, J. S., Punyanunt-Carter, N. M., & Thweatt, K. S. (2020). Interpersonal Communication:

A Mindful Approach to Relationships. Milne Publishing.

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