Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:24:32 — 77.5MB)
On Darren Aronofsky's philosophical 2017 film about humanity's relationship to nature. We discuss the philosophical content of the film (Gnosticism, anyone?) and explore the relation between meaning and the sensuous aspects of an artwork. Can a work be both allegorical and yet have fully fleshed out characters and the other elements that make a film feel real? This was a very polarizing film; how do the circumstances of viewing affect reception? Mark and Wes are joined by filmmaker Tim Nicholas (watch and read his work).
As always with these filmic episodes, you should really see the film
This was selected as a good case study to explore what we'd learned about authorial intent in our last episode. Aronofsky is a quintessential auteur, and he's been very forthcoming about the meaning of the film, and we prepared for this in part by watching many clips, reviews, and interviews of him talking about it. Certainly having some idea of what to expect helps one to enjoy this film (which we all agree is very good despite pissing off many people), but is having the author tell you what it is the best way to achieve that?
Tim at one point quotes David Bordwell. Here's the article that quote is from, and here's an article Tim wrote on Bordwell for the PEL blog. Late in the discussion Mark refers to Aronofsky's previous film, Noah.
End song: “The Day of Wrath, That Day,” by Sarah McQuaid, as interviewed on Nakedly Examined Music #72.
Please support PEL! Citizens and $5 Patreon supporters will get access to a bonus discussion on identity politics this week.
Next should be Welles, The Magnificent Ambersons.
Great stuff. Looking forward to a PEL discussion on environmental ethics sometime soon!
What would we read?
Arne Naess or http://psu-us.academia.edu/TedToadvine
Where’s that hobby-horse of mine? Oh, here it is:
Where is anyone getting the idea that once we accept that the meaning of a text is identical with what its author intended, that we we somehow run out of things to say — much less that we would be reduced to finding some interview with the creator and then have to shut up? Does that comport with anyone’s experience of talking about art or rival interpretations, even among the intention-minded?
For anyone curious about the layout of the house: https://noahbaker.work/mother