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Most helpful customer reviews
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Walking and talking philosophy,
This review is from: Examined Life (DVD)
Astra Taylor has put together the thoughts of nine contemporary thinkers in a most accessible and fascinating way. Each of them, from Appiah to Zizek, speaks to us not from a podium or comfortably seated as in too many talking heads docs, but while walking or riding through their chosen turf.This peripatetic approach gives their words and thoughts an immediacy that is totally engaging. Taylor is smart enough not to leave her presence and that of her crew totally out of the picture. This definitely adds to the viewer's sense of being part of the total experience. Even if you think you don't need a philosophical "reality check," this film will invigorate your mind and quite simply increase your joy in living. [Taylor has also produced wonderful films on that wild man of Lacanian thought, Slavoj Zizek which are well worth watching.]
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta) Amazon.com:
4.2 out of 5 stars (9 customer reviews) 16 of 16 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Good Questions with Good Philosophers,
By M. DeWitt - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Examined Life (DVD)
I shall first mention that I have not seen the bonus features.Now with that procedural matter out of the way--I would like to comment that this film is wonderful. It does not lend itself to a detailed study of the philosophers that appear in the film. Rather, small doses of the personalities and individual styles of each of the philosophers is presented in the snippets--sometimes in unexpected ways. The very intelligent Martha Nussbaum comes across as being slightly detached and cold. The often combative and difficult writing of Judith Butler is erased or at least belied by her interactions with the sister of the director. This film is good because it gives multiple perspectives, though favouring continental thought, about what it means to lead an examined life. What does it mean to become a philosopher and most importantly what does it mean to philosophize? These thinkers deal with these difficult questions, and perhaps it is these questions that are the root and possibility of philosophy itself. This is not a film for people looking to learn about a particular philosophy. The film is heavily edited and does not go into detailed arguments about each line of thinking. The film is great for style. Avital Ronell, the dark lady of deconstruction, talks in the language of Derrida and Heidegger as she walks in a "hermeneutic" path of circling ideas. Cornel West gives his sporadic and enthusiastic responses in the back of a cab. Nussbaum walks along straight paths and over bridges. Michael Hardt talks about revolution while rowing a boat( an upper class pastime) while surrounded with the tools of the proletariat(bull dozers). Zizek is surrounded by garbage (a classic move) moving with his tic-ish hand gestures and nose rubs. Singer walks on Fifth Avenue commenting on consumer society. Overall, a great film for someone interested in philosophy and learning about the philosophers' styles. (Though Heidegger cautioned us against biographies of the thinkers, remember all we need to know is that Aristotle was born. He thought. He died...). 14 of 15 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Philosophers, Ethicists and Other Contemporary Prophets Take to the Streets,
By David Crumm "Editor of ReadTheSpirit magazine" - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Examined Life (DVD)
I know that "Examined Life" is fascinating to viewers from a wide range of ages, because I'm fascinated in my mid-50s by the questions filmmaker Astra Taylor raises among these top philosophers. Then, in addition, I showed portions of this film to a high school class and they were intrigued. Because our time was limited, I fast-forwarded through one sequence, which led one boy to pop up with: "Wait. We'll miss what she's saying if you do that." If you're familiar with high school classes, you'll know that's a surprising response to a documentary about philosophers.After class, a girl in the group asked if she could borrow the DVD to see the film from start to finish. There were no grades involved in this. She was genuinely hooked by these heady questions raised by men and women from a wide range of philosophical disciplines--literally walking and talking in the streets. That's a sign of Taylor's success with her guerrilla, street-level, quick-hit version of life's big philosophical questions. One example of the film's almost break-neck pace is that Cornell West is filmed while riding in a car cruising down a street in Manhattan as if he might jump out at the next corner and vanish. So, he seems to pile his words of wisdom quickly on top of each other. What??? We wonder: Did Cornell West just summarize several thousand years of human civilization in less than 3 minutes? Zoom! And we're on to the next philosopher. This is fun, mind-bending stuff. If you don't care for one philosopher's digression into George W. Bush's morality--hey, don't worry. You'll be across town on a different street--or maybe in an airport--or maybe somewhere else--with yet another philosopher in just a moment. Great film. If you watch it with friends or a discussion circle, you'll have no shortage of stuff to talk about--and to (politely and compassionately, I hope)--debate! 4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Very Enjoyable and Accessible,
By Films McMoviewatcher - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Examined Life (DVD)
I thoroughly enjoyed this film. For the most part, the ideas were presented clearly and in plain English (a rarity when it comes to philosophy) and the philosophies were enlivened by the diverse personalities of the presenters.What I enjoy about Philosophy is finding new ways to think about things and there were plenty of these to be had in this film. |
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