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Taking philosophy out of the books and classrooms and into the streets, Examined Life accompanies some of today s most influential thinkers including Slavoj i ek and Judith Butler - in ordinary places and spaces that reflect and resonate their ideas. This film offers privileged moments with great thinkers from fields ranging from moral philosophy to cultural theory and explores the way we see the world and philosophy s ability to influence it.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
We watched part of this in a film & philosophy class after discussing in what ways film can contribute or relate to philosophy. Is it pointless to try and tackle such complicated material in 80 minutes? I'd argue no: Examined Life works great as an introduction to philosophy and catalyst for further intellectual exploration.
I'd say that the film does a good job of presenting the subject in a dynamic and stimulating way, particularly to those who have no previous schooling - although you would benefit from an understanding of rudimentary philosophical terms and ideas. The music is great, the transition between philosophers is well executed, and the philosophers themselves have obviously been chosen for their passion and eloquence, making it a joy to listen to them even if you don't agree with what they're saying! The film really does achieve that balance of education and entertainment that should appeal to laymen and experts alike, and I strongly recommend viewing it with another person so that you're excited curiosity has an outlet once the credits roll.
I'll finish this review with a quote from Cornel West, undoubtedly the most riveting speaker of the bunch, who expresses what I hadn't heard expressed before, but which I can relate to entirely!:
"There's a certain pleasure of the life of the mind that cannot be denied. It's true that you might be socially isolated, because you're in the library, at home, so on, but you're intensely alive, in fact you're much more alive than the folks walking these streets in New York in crowds...if you read John Ruskin or Mark Twain, Herman Melville, you almost have to throw the book against the wall because you're so intensely alive you need to take a break!"
I'd say that the film does a good job of presenting the subject in a dynamic and stimulating way, particularly to those who have no previous schooling - although you would benefit from an understanding of rudimentary philosophical terms and ideas. The music is great, the transition between philosophers is well executed, and the philosophers themselves have obviously been chosen for their passion and eloquence, making it a joy to listen to them even if you don't agree with what they're saying! The film really does achieve that balance of education and entertainment that should appeal to laymen and experts alike, and I strongly recommend viewing it with another person so that you're excited curiosity has an outlet once the credits roll.
I'll finish this review with a quote from Cornel West, undoubtedly the most riveting speaker of the bunch, who expresses what I hadn't heard expressed before, but which I can relate to entirely!:
"There's a certain pleasure of the life of the mind that cannot be denied. It's true that you might be socially isolated, because you're in the library, at home, so on, but you're intensely alive, in fact you're much more alive than the folks walking these streets in New York in crowds...if you read John Ruskin or Mark Twain, Herman Melville, you almost have to throw the book against the wall because you're so intensely alive you need to take a break!"
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
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9 reviews
16 of 16 people found the following review helpful
Good Questions with Good Philosophers
30 Dec 2009
Format: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...).
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
Philosophers, Ethicists and Other Contemporary Prophets Take to the Streets
23 Feb 2010
Format: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!
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
Very Enjoyable and Accessible
21 Feb 2010
Format: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.
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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