This is a film about thinking, in which Peter Singer, Slavoj Zizek and Judith Butler are inviting to stroll through the world of philosophy. This movie is inviting to looking at everything very closely.
In the movie “Mask” – not including Jim Carrey, but with Cher – there is a scene in which the character “shows” to a blind girl colors. He puts in her hand an ice cube extracted from the refrigerator, and explains that it is blue. After a while he gives the girl hot item and makes it clear that it is red. Method enslaves simplicity. Touching scene with colours reminds me when I think of movies talking about flavors and fragrances, about cultural phenomena, the feelings about thinking. The film “Examined Life” is the document which handle the philosophy.
The unexamined life is not worth living – This is Socrates. Director of “Examined Life “, Astra Taylor reaches for the sentence of the Greek philosopher and the tradition of discussing during our walks. Aristotle and his students conducted disputes strolling through the streets of Athens. Astra Taylor invites eight contemporary philosophers for a walk in the park, the promenade along the coast, Fifth Avenue in New York. The filmmakers are moving from the philosophy of the university auditorium and the library to walk to her place in the fresh air and space, which is its natural environment. What we probably forget.
Astra Taylor chose to walk with Cornel West, Avital Ronell, Peter Singer, Kwarne Anthony Appiah, Martha Nussbaum, Michael Hardt, Slavoj Zizek, Judith Butler and Sunaura Taylor. Cream of modern philosophy itself. Each of the characters talks about something else, each appears in a place that is associated with the expression touched by topic. Peter Singer walks along Fifth Avenue luxury boutiques’ exhibitions and talks about money, shopping and consumerism. Cornel West is going with Taylor through the streets of Manhattan by car, and compares the philosophy of music:
“I am a blues thinker, jazz musician of the world of ideas” – he says. Judith Butler visits with disabled friend Sunaurą Taylor second-hand store with clothes – measuring jumpers and paying for it has become an integral part of the Butler’s argument on corporeality.
Most original place was chosen by the most original philosopher – Slavoj Zizek who talks about the reality in the hall landfills. During the walk in an orange reflective vest among the heaps of debris, looking for an old rusty refrigerator and he explains why each of these old, dirty worn items should be loved by ecologists.
Astra Taylor made four years ago the film “Zizek!”. Now she decided not only to portray the other great modern philosophy, but mainly to show what philosophy is, what is the philosophical thinking is. Strength of the philosopher is not when he sells thousands of books, written his thoughts on topics as general and abstract as possible, but whn he goes out and tells the world that is close to him. “Examined Life” is a successful attempt to show that philosophy is not outlandish snobbery or secret knowledge. Astra Taylor gave a video invitation to philosophy, an invitation to ask questions, find holes in all. It is also an invitation to discussion and reading.
Astra Taylor made the film which has many features which combine the documents, describes the problem difficult to describe, brings subjects that may intrigue the viewer and encourage them to seek self-development in other sources. After leaving the screening, I heard a dialogue:
- Interesting this.. philosophy, so human.
- I have Butler’s book, but never read. I guess it’s time to break.
Tags: 'Examined Life', Astra Taylor, Judith Butler, movie, Peter Singer, philosophy, Slavoj Zizek
