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Searching for Wisdom In Movies

From the Book of Job to Sublime Conversations

  • Book
  • © 2017

Overview

Authors:
  1. Richard Gilmore

    1. Concordia College, Moorhead, USA

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  • Engages deeply with a wide range of films, from modern classics to cult favorites
  • Accessible yet advanced: Holds value for scholars of communications, media studies, film, and philosophy as well as educated, interested lay readers
  • Offers line-by-line, philosophical analysis of 'sublime conversations' from such varied films as North by Northwest, Pulp Fiction, Thelma and Louise, and The Manchurian Candidate

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Table of contents (9 chapters)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages i-xiv
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  2. Introduction: The Search for Wisdom

    • Richard Gilmore
    Pages 1-12

  3. The Coens on Comedy and Tragedy

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 13-13
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    2. The Coens’ Tragic Comedy: The Big Lebowski

      • Richard Gilmore
      Pages 15-43

    3. The Coens’ Comic Tragedy: A Serious Man

      • Richard Gilmore
      Pages 45-67

  4. Philosophy and Films as Spiritual Exercises

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 69-69
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    2. Maximus as Stoic Warrior in Gladiator

      • Richard Gilmore
      Pages 71-92

    3. Jack Crabb as Divagating Skeptic in Little Big Man

      • Richard Gilmore
      Pages 93-114

    4. The Strange Attractions of the Epicurean Swerve in My Dinner with André

      • Richard Gilmore
      Pages 115-137

  5. Sublime Conversations

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 139-139
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    2. Sublime Conversations in Movies

      • Richard Gilmore
      Pages 141-164

    3. At the Limit of Sublimity: Transcendental Conversations in Bresson, Ozu, Godard, and Bergman

      • Richard Gilmore
      Pages 165-205

  6. Conclusion

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 207-207
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    2. The End of the Search

      • Richard Gilmore
      Pages 209-213

  7. Back Matter

    Pages 215-219
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Keywords

About this book

In this volume, Richard Gilmore explores film as a channel through which to engage in philosophical reflection and analyzes the relationship between philosophy and film. This book argues that philosophy and film can and should be used for the amelioration of life’s difficulties and the promotion of life’s boons. Gilmore identifies how philosophy and film complement and enrich one another and explores their relationship by connecting classic wisdom texts to significant movies. For example, the volume analyzes the Coen brothers’ films The Big Lebowski and A Serious Man in light of The Book of Job. Gilmore considers the ancient idea of philosophy as “spiritual exercise” and a way of life. The volume concludes by examining what the author labels “sublime conversations” as the highest expression of philosophy. The book identifies and dissects these conversations in movies directed by the likes of Robert Bresson, Yasujirō Ozu, Jean-Luc Godard, and Ingmar Bergman, among others.

Reviews

“This book offers creative interpretations of a diverse range of films. Gilmore’s passionate writing inspires contemplation about our humanity and our potential for conversations.” (Jadranka Skorin-Kapov, Stony Brook University, USA; author of “Darren Aronofsky’s Films and the Fragility of Hope”)

“Searching for Wisdom in Movies is a bracing contribution to the philosophy of film. Richard Gilmore provides a strikingly original way to think about how film can contribute to philosophy—indeed, can be philosophy. Philosophers as well as cineastes will find Gilmore’s explorations of the erotic, the ridiculous, the tragic, and the sublime in film both insightful and thought-provoking.” (Dan Flory, Montana State University, USA; author of “Philosophy, Black Film, Film Noir”)

Authors and Affiliations

  • Concordia College, Moorhead, USA

    Richard Gilmore

About the author

Richard Gilmore is Professor and Chair of the Philosophy Department at Concordia College, USA. He is the author of Philosophical Health: Wittgenstein’s Method in Philosophical Investigations, Doing Philosophy at the Movies, and Postmodern Movies: Neo-Comic Tragedies, Neo-Noirs, Neo-Westerns. 

Bibliographic Information

  • Book Title: Searching for Wisdom In Movies

  • Book Subtitle: From the Book of Job to Sublime Conversations

  • Authors: Richard Gilmore

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-39895-2

  • Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan Cham

  • eBook Packages: Religion and Philosophy, Philosophy and Religion (R0)

  • Copyright Information: The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s) 2017

  • Hardcover ISBN: 978-3-319-39894-5Published: 17 October 2016

  • Softcover ISBN: 978-3-319-81992-1Published: 16 June 2018

  • eBook ISBN: 978-3-319-39895-2Published: 12 October 2016

  • Edition Number: 1

  • Number of Pages: XIV, 219

  • Topics: Philosophy of Man, American Cinema and TV

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