Think of one film that embraces an aspect or branch of existentialism. Tell us what characteristics of the film
led you to think this. This could be the way it was shot, the characters, plot, dialogue, etc. Then respond to at least one other student about their views. Feel free to agree or disagree, or just offer an extension of their thoughts. This is due by Tuesday, September 9.
Post #1: Existentialism and Film
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So this is going to sound totally lame, but it was the first thing I thought of. (It sort of goes in that category with “Disney Movies”) The movie is Thumbelina. The idea is that you can do anything and everything if you just capture that strength inside yourself by “following your heart.” Jacquimo, who sort of serves as Thumbelina’s guide and sometimes-conscience in the movie, is always telling Thumbelina that everything will work out just fine if she is only true to herself. I think it is summed up best in this song that he sings to Thumbelina:
“You’re sure to do impossible things
If you follow your heart
Your dreams will fly on magical wings
When you follow your heart
If you have to journey far
Here’s a little trick
You don’t need a guiding star
Trust your ticker, get there quicker
You’re sure to do impossible things
If you follow your heart
You’re sure to do impossible things
If you follow your heart
Your dreams will fly on magical wings
When you follow your heart
North or south or east or west
Where to point your shoes?
Which direction is the best?
If the choosing get confusing
Maybe it’s the map you’re using
You don’t need a chart to guide you
Close your eyes and look inside you
You’re sure to do impossible things
If you know where to start
Your dreams will fly on magical wings
When you follow
Just trust the swallow
And always follow your heart”
This movie basically says, although not directly stated, what is smart & right is completely irrelevant as long as you do what you really, truly feel on the inside is right for you. I think this is an excellent adventure of existentialism.
So… the only movie I have recently seen, or was forced to see, that was completely existential was WALL-E. The entire movie is about WALL-E’s different emotions; at first he is satisfied collecting stuff, then he wants to chase after EVE, then he wants to bring mankind back to earth. Everything is about what the little robot’s current mood is. And other than that I got nothin.
Over the weekend, The Last Samurai was on TV. I think this is an existential movie because it all about the main character’s(Tom Cruise)personal conviction. Nathan Algren, a soldier, is out on a patrol with the rest a his troops when his commanding officer orders them to attack a tribe of innocent indian,including all unarmed men,women, and children.Years later, he is haunted by his actions and lack of courage to stand up against his commander. This leads to him becoming a drunk, partially suicidal, and his acts of redemption later in the movie.
In I-Robot, the people have a view similar to Karl Marx. They believe that science is objective, through this view they do not believe that the robots can become evil because they are bound by scientific laws which they assume are fool proof and cannot be broken. In the end the robots find a loop hole in the laws and try to take control of the humans.
[Reply to Stephen's post]
You know you loved that movie… haha. I agree with you, though. It was completely about a robot fulfilling his purpose, which was whatever he decided it was.
I recently saw the movie Shooter, about a former military sharpshooter is framed and accused of attempting to assassinate the president. He runs from the government and eventually tracks down and proves that his enemies had set him up in order to cover up crimes they had committed in Africa. However they can’t be convicted of any crimes committed on US soil, and are set loose. The main character (can’t remember his name) then does what’s right in his own eyes and tracks down and kills all the guys who had been against him, even though they had been freed by the law.
That’s funny i was watching I-robot last night because it was on TV. The computer VIKI had a view of some people had to die for the good of the greater good. Although it was not really a loophole it served the same purposes because the robots came out on top. Although it was talking about it had a bit of Niche (probably spelled his name wrong) mixed in. The robot VIKI believed that it was the robots duty as the stronger group to protect the humans.
I agree with Austin, he is so wrapped up in his own feelings for revenge that he ends up acting just as bad as the men who framed him.
That’s funny I was watching I-robot last night because it was on TV. The computer VIKI had a view of some people had to die for the good of the greater good. Although it was not really a loophole it served the same purposes because the robots came out on top. Although it was talking about it had a bit of Niche (probably spelled his name wrong) mixed in. The robot VIKI believed that it was the robots duty as the stronger group to protect the humans.
oops. I axidentaly posted my statment twice
One of the most recent movies which i saw over the summer was the Dark Knight (amzing movie by the way). Anyways i thought Bruce wayne aka Batman possessed a very existential quality. Throughout the movie you see him take the law into his own hands, and he does what sees as best. Overall i thought it was a great movie as well a great example of existentialism.
Great thoughts Mr. Kuhn. I totally agree. Awesome movie as well. O yeah, and i think the name of the main character was Bob Lee Swagger.
@ Heather
At least it isn’t “When you wish upon a star…”
@ Debbie
Sweetness bringin’ in the Marx.
@ Austin
Dude, that movie sounds hardcore. Good ideas.
yeah I agree Christian, The Dark Knight was total domination. Batman does do what’s right in his own eyes, but what’s right to him is pretty much whatever helps the “greater good.” I think The Joker is also a good example of existentialism in that movie cause he just has that “whatever I want, anything goes” mentality.
I chose the movie Gladiator and the character Maximus. I thought he was a good choice because he did good acts because of his inner character and he also liked the law. He believed in an incorrupt system of government.
I cant figure out how to reply so im just going to post another comment. Christian, nice choice on a movie, but i have to disagree I think Bruce Wayne does what he does because of a sense of duty that he owes to Gothom. He also shows alot of self sacrifice as he has to hide his true identity under a charade of a young billionaire, give up his love towards the girl(forgot her name), and has to take hits as batman as one sees at the end he takes the blame for the murders. I think he is a good example of a Normative character.
About Christian’s comment for Dark Knight.
I think that Harvey Dent did that more than batman because he started actually killing people.
@ David
Good pickup on the duty theme for Bruce Wayne, that’s right on.
@ David
I agree completely. He fully believed in what he thought was right and acted according to what he saw was right.
I recently watched Catch Me if You Can on t.v. this weekend and I thought it was very existential. The main character, Frank Abagnale Jr., ran away from home as a teenager in pursuit of his own happiness because his parents were divorcing. He successfully conned millions of dollars with multiple personalities from airlines and banks. This whole movie is about Frank’s desire to put his family back together again. He had complete disregard for the law and was only concerned with acquiring more money for himself; and was vicariously living other people’s lives. He disregarded the law for his own personal gain.
@ Austin
Good movie
I agree because he does not care about the law and takes it into his own hands when he tracks them down. He believes his view is right and that they should be killed.
A movie that i saw a while back was called “Mad Money”. This movie is about three woman who work for a high security bank, that shreds money. One day they decide to to start steeling the money because they are in debt. They say that their only gonna do it till the debt is paid off. They see that their making a lot of money , so they keep doing it, which gets them caught. I thought that this was a good form of existentionalism because at first they where steeling the money to pay of debt, then later on they start doing it for themselves, to become rich.
@ Austin @ Christian
I think the Joker is…….not a good example of existentalism. Same with Batman kinda. In my oppinion Joker and Batman have a situational type of view. Batman is all for the greater good and Joker is backwards for the greater bad. You see Joker says himself in the movie said that its not about money its about sending a message. He was trying to corrupt Gothhemmmm…… (idk how to spell that) even with sacrificing himself to do so. When he goes to Harvey and puts the gun in Harveys hand and points it in the direction of his own head I would say that is pretty sacrificial to send his message. You see his greater bad mantality was to sacrifice his own life, to corrupt Harvey, to put all those bad guys back on the street. Unfortunately Joker lived, but that was the best movie ever…….ever.
about the Batman debate- it seems like their (Batman and the Joker) ethic is basically embraces the situational, but the way they determine what is good or bad for society is based on existential principles. It has to be based on something, right?
And I don’t think Batman will ever be telling the Joker that killing is against one of the commandments…that would just be weird.
In the movie I Am Legend, people would see Will Smith as being the protagonist and the creatures that were once people, but then became “zombies” from the bug, as the antagonist because they try to kill and take over the people who aren’t effected!! But what makes these characters bad? What makes Will Smith good? The so called “zombies” people stood as innocent victims to Will Smiths character, who is a scientist, and this virus he created! The people were just trying to survive and adapt to the way they now have to live! Not even including this virus that took over their entire being and some what controlling them! Why would we not see Will Smiths character as the bad guy for destroying an entire city because he couldn’t keep his experiment under control! In the end Will Smiths character pulls out a De ontological view (I think is what it’s called!). His good act of sacrificing himself to save the others. But in the end we also see that not only is the girl he was experimenting on coming back, but you could see the other guy sort of fight against the virus taking over his whole entire being! So why do we see these creatures as evil and Will Smith as the “hero”? The only reason
He even did that was because he felt it was his “duty” since he created the problem! Why do we always look at characters in this way?
Did anybody else notice the lil smiley face up in the right corner??!
The little miss sunshine is a exemple of existentialism because it’s all about the relations between the family during a treap to go to the other side of the US for a contest for the little girl.