Philosophy of Watching Movies
I’ve mentioned before that the spirit of truth speaks to humanity through stories and especially movies. Watching movies is an activity I recommend for the average, modern person looking to access the deeper level of philosophy which overlaps with the spiritual.
The modern person will consume movies in a worldly way, similar to how they consume food. It’s ingested, some energy is experienced, and it’s excreted out within a day or two.
In contrast, a great film is meant to be consumed like your taking communion — it’s supposed to be transformative. Like communion, there is a feminine element to it, in that you submit and let go of your agency when the movie induces a higher state of consciousness.
The practical mind doesn’t like this and resists it. It wants you back to your normal state of consciousness associated with daily life. In order to gain the full benefit of a great film, you will have to be strategic about managing your practical mind.
The best way to do this is to get your life in order before watching the movie. Upon reflection, you can probably identify an issue(s) in your life and something practical you can do about it. This way, after watching a great movie, when you make your stand against the practical mind trying to fully re-enter daily life, you can remind the practical mind of your previous contribution.
After this, the practical mind should ease up and allow you to grasp at the higher state of consciousness associated with the spiritual and with transformation. Most movies are not worth taking a stand against the practical mind over, but it’s necessary to be ready.
“There is something else which has the power to awaken us to the truth. It is the works of writers of genius. They give us, in the guise of fiction, something equivalent to the actual density of the real, that density which life offers us every day but which we are unable to grasp because we are amusing ourselves with lies.” ― Simone Weil
The film industry, like music and show-business in general, is designed as much to debase as to uplift the condition of (western) man, probably more so to debase when you consider the complete dross that is 97%+ of output. It is contradictory of course. Most of your recommendations are based on far
We're in the age of dystopian films that instill a sense of hopelessness. Squid Game, Black Mirror, Ex Machina, Leave the World Behind, Get Out, Joker, etc. It's depressing, to say the least.
I have a good one from Magnolia. I'll give some context.
Donnie (William H. Macy) is a sap. He was a small-time celebrity as a kid; the champion on a trivia gameshow. Now he's an adult, and his fifteen minutes of fame are over. He never really grew up. He just got fired from his sales job and is infa
Kind of like this.
Growing up watching movies which depicted the hero’s journey, these movies stayed with me. I gradually began to identify with the hero more and more.
I lacked the language and self awareness, but at the edge of my awareness, I could sense discomfort, unease, and anxiety. I didn’t feel good most of the time.
Identifying with the hero made me feel better and gave me hope. It was as simple as that for me.
^ These are the kind of movies when they are done you walk out of the theater feeling 10 feet tall. I've never felt that watching a movie at home.
however, there is no hope... you're on a one way unavoidable trip to oblivion.
the only question being, when... and in that way, you should feel comfort in it not happening in your very short lifetime.
there is no one coming for you... there is no one that is going to save you... there is no salvation for anyone or thing in this garden of Eden that we have accidentally inherited for the next few millennia.
be happy, and enjoy the ride in the first class suite while you're on board because at some point, this train will stop.
however, there is no hope... you're on a one way unavoidable trip to oblivion.
the only question being, when... and in that way, you should feel comfort in it not happening in your very short lifetime.
there is no one coming for you... there is no one that is going to save you... there is no salvatio
Which is more real - life or death?
Don’t answer this question based on what you think or believe in your head. Feel around at the deepest level of your being until you can find the answer.
I don't understand this thread. Are we just naming films we like? True Romance.
