Apocalypse now: an acid trip, a story about insanity, or both?
Apocalypse Now is probably one of my favourite movies of all time. Not only does it include countless moments where, even after watching it many times, I still am not sure about the intentions of the creators, but it also explores human boundaries and the limits of sanity and rationality. “Every man has a breaking point, […]
Fire Coming Out of the Monkey’s Head
Dennis Hopper, one of the American countercultural icons to have featured in Apocalypse Now, had a checkered career in some the best and the worst that Hollywood had to offer. From a generation-defining role in Easy Rider, to playing the inimitably psychotic Frank … Continue reading →
Is everything we know ‘nothing’?
Nihilism is based on the Latin word meaning ‘nothing’. The position of nihilism plays a significant part in Philosophy when it comes to exploring the realm of nothingness. The idea that there is nothing at all, that we know nothing … Continue reading →
Time Before Death
Early on in The Idiot, Prince Myshkin tells the story of a man about to be executed who has an epiphany. When faced with the imminence of death, the convicted man felt time slow down to a point where “five … Continue reading →
The Reality of Death; Dostoevsky’s Experience vs. My Hope
In The Idiot, Dostoevsky communicates the moments before his execution, through Myshkin’s description of a scene for Adelaida to paint. He describes his surroundings in detail and becomes increasingly aware of the time that passes. He begins to regret the … Continue reading →
The Real Nastasya Filipovna
The exquisitely beautiful, proud, yet also stubbornly self-destructive Nastasia Filipovna Brashkova in The Idiot was based on the equally fascinating figure of Polina Prokofyevna Suslova, who in addition to being mistress of Fyodor Dostoevsky was also a short story writer in her own rights. Not only was she the … Continue reading →
The Idiot
I have finally finished reading Dostoevsky’s The Idiot, and I absolutely loved it. I really enjoyed the complex characters, especially the protagonist Myshkin and I also liked Nastasya Filipovna. I found him very interesting due to the fact that he is completely opposite of the Russian aristocrats during that time period. The Prince is supposed […]
Lt. Gustl
The wanderings of someone’s mind is a concept that I find immensely interesting but I don’t know if we would be better off if we all spoke whatever was on our minds. I think there is a lot to learn from streams of consciousness. In the story, Lt. Gustl has many thoughts and excuses for […]
Id in cartoon?
Sigmund Freud became famous in part thanks to his theory of the psyche and one of its component the id. But of course, understanding it is no easy task. Me in particular, I find reading his essays and books about … Continue reading →
Rousseau is Strong With the Force?
With the upcoming Star Wars movie, it only felt right to try to make some sort of connection between our readings and the prolific series. I find that traits of Rousseau’s work can be found in the the series especially … Continue reading →