13.1.21 Reflections on Examined life, Astra Taylor, 2008
'Examined Life pulls philosophy out of academic journals and classrooms, and puts it back on the streets. In Examined Life, filmmaker Astra Taylor accompanies some of today's most influential thinkers on a series of unique excursions through places and spaces that hold particular resonance for them and their ideas. Peter Singer's thoughts on the ethics of consumption are amplified against the backdrop of Fifth Avenue's posh boutiques. Michael Hardt ponders the nature of revolution while surrounded by symbols of wealth and leisure. Judith Butler and a friend stroll through San Francisco's Mission District questioning our culture's fixation on individualism. And while driving through Manhattan, Cornel West - perhaps America's best-known public intellectual - compares philosophy to jazz and blues, reminding us how intense and invigorating a life of the mind can be. Offering privileged moments with great thinkers from fields ranging from moral philosophy to cultural theory, Examined Life reveals philosophy's power to transform the way we see the world around us and imagine our place in it.' (IMDb, 2008)
The philosophers featured are Cornel West, Avital Ronell, Peter Singer, Kwame Anthony Appiah, Martha Nussbaum, Michael Hardt, Slavoj Žižek, and Judith Butler, who is accompanied by Taylor's sister and disability activist Sunny (Sunaura Taylor).
I was most struck with the idea of condensing a philosopher's thought into a ten minute 'presentation', especially in the settings that were chosen. Philosophy is often seen as being inaccessible to the masses, but this was an attempt to make it more accessible and also to present it as applied philosophy. Interetsing how the visual settings changed the way I understood some of the things that were said. Some of the speakers were easier to understand than others. I did take detailed notes, but in the end, I think that the experience of listening to condensed philosophy, in bite sized pieces, in two sittings of 45 mins each was like a potted history of philosophy... not fully intelligible, but enlightening, nonetheless. Maybe it would have been different if I'd just listened to one section at a time and then researched and reflected on that area of philosophy/ Another time, maybe? I think the whole film captures something interetsing and makes the field of philosophy more dynamic, even if a lot of it is still too complex for a 10 minute chat.
Here are some of my thoughts:
A version about art? I was wondering what a similar style documentary about art would be and who would feature in it? What would it cover?
My own 10 minute presentation: I've been preparing a 10 min presentation for my latest module MF7004, about the position of my practice in contemporary art. It's extremely hard to condense complex ideas and knowledge into such a short time. It was interesting to see how each participant did it though. Some were more intelligible than others; some spoke far too quickly. But HOW can one communicate such complex ideas, after centuries of academic study in just 10 minutes?
Reading vs listening and watching: I am an avid and capable reader but seeing and listening did make this more accessible, but it's limited. I have watched many more You tube videos in this module ( Robert suggested that I should when I said that I missed the library!) Generally, if I can't read something (ie the library is closed!) or if I need a quick overview, You Tube videos are very helpful.... however, the visuals can be very limited eg talking heads so sometimes, it's easier just to listen. The artist talks set up at Uni allow up to an hour, with a visual presentation and questions. I think that's a much more reasonable time to try to cover a complex topic, or to describe a practice.
Language: The language of a specialist subject can be so exclusive! I understand, of course, why it's necessary to have that language, but so many references to so many things that I know nothing about would maybe alienate me, if I were not me! It actually makes me wish that I'd studied philosophy.... Again, as a parallel, I'm thinking about the language of art... and about communication. I often feel that I have to choose my words very carefully when talking about my work so that I communicate effectively, and don't scare people away or intimidate them. I am aware that I am learning a new language of art and that I'm becoming more fluent... but with whom can I speak that language? Having spent so many years of my life teaching people with learning difficulties, clear communication is part of my fabric....but in certain situations, I need to be able to talk the language of art...art bollocks? Maybe I just need more practice, and maybe I need to take the opportunities I have whilst at Uni to talk with my peers and tutors....
IMDb (2008) Examined life, plot summary, Available at: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1279083/plotsummary?ref_=tt_ov_pl (Accessed 13 January 2021)
The philosophers featured are Cornel West, Avital Ronell, Peter Singer, Kwame Anthony Appiah, Martha Nussbaum, Michael Hardt, Slavoj Žižek, and Judith Butler, who is accompanied by Taylor's sister and disability activist Sunny (Sunaura Taylor).
I was most struck with the idea of condensing a philosopher's thought into a ten minute 'presentation', especially in the settings that were chosen. Philosophy is often seen as being inaccessible to the masses, but this was an attempt to make it more accessible and also to present it as applied philosophy. Interetsing how the visual settings changed the way I understood some of the things that were said. Some of the speakers were easier to understand than others. I did take detailed notes, but in the end, I think that the experience of listening to condensed philosophy, in bite sized pieces, in two sittings of 45 mins each was like a potted history of philosophy... not fully intelligible, but enlightening, nonetheless. Maybe it would have been different if I'd just listened to one section at a time and then researched and reflected on that area of philosophy/ Another time, maybe? I think the whole film captures something interetsing and makes the field of philosophy more dynamic, even if a lot of it is still too complex for a 10 minute chat.
Here are some of my thoughts:
A version about art? I was wondering what a similar style documentary about art would be and who would feature in it? What would it cover?
My own 10 minute presentation: I've been preparing a 10 min presentation for my latest module MF7004, about the position of my practice in contemporary art. It's extremely hard to condense complex ideas and knowledge into such a short time. It was interesting to see how each participant did it though. Some were more intelligible than others; some spoke far too quickly. But HOW can one communicate such complex ideas, after centuries of academic study in just 10 minutes?
Reading vs listening and watching: I am an avid and capable reader but seeing and listening did make this more accessible, but it's limited. I have watched many more You tube videos in this module ( Robert suggested that I should when I said that I missed the library!) Generally, if I can't read something (ie the library is closed!) or if I need a quick overview, You Tube videos are very helpful.... however, the visuals can be very limited eg talking heads so sometimes, it's easier just to listen. The artist talks set up at Uni allow up to an hour, with a visual presentation and questions. I think that's a much more reasonable time to try to cover a complex topic, or to describe a practice.
Language: The language of a specialist subject can be so exclusive! I understand, of course, why it's necessary to have that language, but so many references to so many things that I know nothing about would maybe alienate me, if I were not me! It actually makes me wish that I'd studied philosophy.... Again, as a parallel, I'm thinking about the language of art... and about communication. I often feel that I have to choose my words very carefully when talking about my work so that I communicate effectively, and don't scare people away or intimidate them. I am aware that I am learning a new language of art and that I'm becoming more fluent... but with whom can I speak that language? Having spent so many years of my life teaching people with learning difficulties, clear communication is part of my fabric....but in certain situations, I need to be able to talk the language of art...art bollocks? Maybe I just need more practice, and maybe I need to take the opportunities I have whilst at Uni to talk with my peers and tutors....
IMDb (2008) Examined life, plot summary, Available at: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1279083/plotsummary?ref_=tt_ov_pl (Accessed 13 January 2021)