<i>Nanook of the North</i>as Primal Drama

Abstract

The approach Robert Flaherty took to devise and shape his classic film, Nanook of the North [1922], served to codify the emergence of a new film genre, which I have defined in this article as primal drama. The film's popular reception and iconic status are assessed in terms of its precursors and the way it engages with themes associated with evolutionary theory, the role of space and place, and the historical context in which it was made. In analysing the film, I seek to interrelate film studies texts and archival research with literature on behavioral psychology, genetics, and cultural geography.