Two Philosophers Drink Beer & Discuss Film

In this episode, we examine the 2013 film 'Her', directed by Spike Jonze and starring Joaquin Phoenix with Scarlett Johansson, Amy Adams, Rooney Mara, and Olivia Wilde. Our conversation highlights a mood of loneliness as central to the film and explores Hannah Arendt's view that loneliness constitutes one of the main characteristics of modern life. We then consider the manner in which, what Shoshana Zuboff labels, 'surveillance capitalism' functions as an central aspect of the operating system that Theodore becomes romantically involved with in the film. Our discussion concludes by referencing, friend of the show, Isabel Millar to demonstrate how the concept of 'intelligence' has been largely misunderstood by much of the current thinking on the issue of artificial intelligence, before offering some final reflections on what Samantha's sexuality intimates about her as an individual subject. Follow us on twitter.com/twophilpodcast or instagram.com/twophilpodcast to get involved with the discussion.

In this episode, we consider the 1996 cult classic 'Trainspotting', directed by Danny Boyle and starring Ewan McGregor. Our discussion consults the early writings of Emmanuel Levinas to offer an existential phenomenological analysis of addiction, before considering some of the more totalitarian aspects of the society depicted in the film with reference to Francis Fukuyama, Ayn Rand, and Herbert Marcuse. Greg also makes a surprising revelation that may threaten the very premise of our show! Follow us on twitter.com/twophilpodcast or instagram.com/twophilpodcast to get involved with the discussion.

In this episode, we discuss the 2014 film 'Calvary', directed by John Michael McDonagh and starring Brendan Gleeson. Our discussion highlights, as central to this film, an examination of whether or not Christianity holds any relevance for today's society. Along these lines, we start by outlining the contemporary situation of nihilism that each of the characters seem to occupy in the film. We then explore the difference between Christianity, as a particular worldview with an accepted doctrine upheld by the church establishment, and the phenomenology of Christian life, which offers a way of describing specific lived experiences independent from any ideological system of thought and which cannot be accounted for within a traditional Greek philosophical framework. Our discussion concludes by considering the lived experience of forgiveness as a value from the biblical tradition that Calvary deems to still hold significance for our time. These reflections are accompanied by a couple of basic lagers from Hüfi and Tuborg. Follow us on twitter.com/twophilpodcast or instagram.com/twophilpodcast to get involved with the discussion.

In this episode, we consider the 2014 film 'Interstellar', directed by Christopher Nolan and starring Matthew McConaughey with Anne Hathaway and Jessica Chastain. Our discussion critiques the manner in which the film appears to support a notion of scientific progress that falls in line with the political projects of imperialist expansion and extractive capitalism. Following an historical exploration of these themes, we consult Karl Popper to help us properly understand the scientific method in order to determine the exact character of scientific knowledge claims. Once this has been ascertained, our discussion concludes by presenting an alternative view of scientific progress that remains apolitical and achieves its validity from a consensus among impartial observers of inductive data. These reflections are washed down with a Corona Extra as well as a gluten free lager from Foxes Rock. Follow us on twitter.com/twophilpodcast or instagram.com/twophilpodcast to get involved with the discussion.

In this episode, we discuss the 2019 film 'The Farewell', directed by Lulu Wang and starring Awkwafina. Our conversation ponders the ethics of lying, the link between the awareness of one's own death and personal identity, the clash of Western and Eastern cultures in the film, as well as the idea that all communities and traditions are founded upon, what Plato called, a noble lie. These reflections are accompanied by some beers from Bryghuset Braustein and Wicklow Wolf Brewing Company. Follow us on twitter.com/twophilpodcast or instagram.com/twophilpodcast to get involved with the discussion.

In this episode, we consider the 2017 film 'Get Out', directed by Jordan Peele and starring Daniel Kaluuya, with Allison Williams and Lakeith Stanfield. Our discussion primarily analyses the film in relation the concepts of race, language, and colonialism as expounded by Frantz Fanon in his seminal work 'Black Skin, White Masks'. Nevertheless, we also examine the particular manner in which consciousness is depicted in the film with the help of Edmund Husserl's research in phenomenology. Along these lines, we explore the concept of embodiment and question the possibility of transferring consciousness from one body to another. These reflections are accompanied by a couple of tasty beers from Nørrebro Bryghus and 9 White Deer Brewery. Follow us on twitter.com/twophilpodcast or instagram.com/twophilpodcast to get involved with the discussion.

In this episode, we are joined by Dr Isabel Millar to analyse the 2018 film 'High Life', directed by Claire Denis and starring Robert Pattinson with Juliette Binoche, Mia Goth, and André 3000. Our discussion focuses on the psychoanalytic aspects of the film, particularly in relation to the concepts of taboo, sexuation, jouissance, the gaze, and time. We also reflect upon the significance of these concepts with respect to a central feature of the film, namely, the black hole. Over the course of our conversation, we make reference to many thinkers, including Jacques Lacan, Sigmund Freud, Jacques Derrida, Martin Heidegger, Georges Bataille, Søren Kierkegaard, Joan Copjec, and Todd McGowan. Follow us on twitter.com/twophilpodcast or instagram.com/twophilosopherspodcast to get involved with the discussion.

In this episode, we consider the film 'American Psycho' from 2000, directed by Mary Harron and starring Christian Bale as the infamous Patrick Bateman. Our discussion attempts to make sense of the fact that Bateman's two heroes are Donald Trump and Ted Bundy. We thus reflect upon the relationship between capitalism and sadism. In doing so, we make reference to Karl Marx, Theodor W. Adorno, Sigmund Freud, Edward Bernays, Dan Stein, Jon Ronson, Matthew McManus, Fredric Jameson, and Gilles Deleuze. Our conversation is accompanied by some beers from Station Works Brewery and Privatbrauerei Kaiserdom. Follow us on twitter.com/twophilpodcast or instagram.com/twophilosopherspodcast to get involved with the discussion.

In this episode, we consider the 1993 film 'Groundhog Day', directed by Harold Ramis and starring Bill Murray with Andie MacDowell. We begin by highlighting the manner in which the film incites thoughts relating to the monotony of everyday life in the modern world, before moving on to an exploration of Arthur Schopenhauer's ontological pessimism in relation to Friedrich Nietzsche's existential optimism. Central to our discussion here are Nietzsche's concepts of the eternal recurrence of the same and amor fati. We conclude by offering some reflections on the relationship between art and ethics in the film. Our conversation is accompanied by some beers from Bryggeriet S.C. Fuglsang and Van Pur Brewery. Follow us on twitter.com/twophilpodcast or instagram.com/twophilosopherspodcast to get involved with the discussion.

In this episode, we discuss the 2017 film 'A Fantastic Woman', directed by Sebastián Lelio and starring Daniela Vega. Our discussion focuses on the question, what is gender? We begin with a critique of the biological essentialist understanding of gender. Here, our conversation references Talia Mae Bettcher, Gloria Anzaldúa, Immanuel Kant, and Sandy Stone. The second half of this episode analyses Judith Bulter's understanding of gender as performativity. These reflections are accompanied by a couple of beers from 9 White Deer Brewery and Kissmeyer Brewing. Follow us on twitter.com/twophilpodcast or instagram.com/twophilosopherspodcast to get involved with the discussion.

We're back for Season 2 of Two Philosophers Drink Beer & Discuss Film, with Episode 21 on 'The Matrix' from 1999, directed by The Wachowskis and starring Keanu Reeves and Carrie-Anne Moss. Our discussion focuses on the philosophical question, what is reality? Toward the conclusion of this discussion, we also offer some reflections on Robert Nozick's famous 'experience machine' thought experiment. Our conversation is accompanied by some beers from Svaneke Bryghus and The Foxes Rock. Follow us on twitter.com/twophilpodcast or instagram.com/twophilosopherspodcast to get involved with the discussion.

This is the final episode of Season 1 of Two Philosophers Drink Beer & Discuss Film. In it, we consider the 1982 film 'Blade Runner', directed by Ridley Scott. Our discussion identifies, as central to the film, a dramatic examination of the philosophical question, 'What does it mean to be human?' We thus demonstrate how the film problematises this question through its replicant characters who, owing to their existential condition, challenge many of the answers given to it throughout the history of philosophy. Included in our discussion are explorations of the stoic and scholastic definitions of the human being, Nietzsche's account of the human being as the Übermensch, Heidegger's description of the human being as a 'being-for-death', the modern philosophical idea that empathy constitutes the essence of the human being, as well as Descartes's defense of the human being as a 'thinking thing'. This conversation is accompanied by some beers from Amager Bryghus and Brauerei Schloss Eggenberg. Thanks so much for listening and getting involved during Season 1. We'll keep you all updated about when we'll return for Season 2 on twitter.com/twophilpodcast and instagram.com/twophilosopherspodcast.

In this episode, we consider the 1998 film 'The Big Lebowski', directed by the Coen Brothers and starring Jeff Bridges with Julianne Moore. We start by contextualising the film in relation to the Gulf War, before outlining and assessing the idleness of The Dude as a critique of American imperialism. We conclude by analysing the character of Walter with respect to the different political elites of the film as well as America's general international policy of military interventionism. These reflections are accompanied by some rather underwhelming beers by Miller Brewing Company and Hüfi Beer. Follow us on twitter.com/twophilpodcast or instagram.com/twophilosopherspodcast to get involved with the discussion.

In this episode, we consider the 2015 film 'Room', directed by Lenny Abrahamson and starring Brie Larson with Jacob Tremblay. We start by drawing some parallels between the film and Plato's famous allegory of the cave, before exploring some of the ways that the film critiques this understanding of reality. We conclude by highlighting the difference between abstract geometric space and our concrete lived experience of space in order to make sense of Jack's claim that room, the small shed where he was imprisoned for the vast majority of his life, constitutes a place of boundless possibility. These reflections are accompanied by some beers by Mikkeller and Crabbie's. Follow us on twitter.com/twophilpodcast or instagram.com/twophilosopherspodcast to get involved with the discussion.

In this episode, we discuss the 2018 film 'Woman At War', directed by Benedikt Erlingsson and starring Halldóra Geirharðsdóttir. We start by highlighting the dangers involved with the Western appropriation of Buddhism as a response to injustice and suffering, before considering how the issue of climate change makes us reassess the legal principle on which modern democratic republics are founded. We conclude by considering the musical accompaniment of the film in line with the ancient Greek idea of the muses as well as the dramatic chorus of Greek tragedy. These reflections are accompanied by some beers by Einstök Brewery and 9 White Deer Brewery. Follow us on twitter.com/twophilpodcast or instagram.com/twophilosopherspodcast to get involved with the discussion.

In this episode, we examine the 2015 film 'The Lobster', directed by Yorgos Lanthimos and starring Colin Farrell with Rachel Weisz. We begin by consulting Hannah Arendt to help us understand how bureaucracy can easily transform into tyranny, before considering how the film relates to three different stories from ancient Greek mythology: Echo & Narcissus, Oedipus, and Icarus. We conclude with some reflections on veganism and animal rights. This conversation is accompanied by beers from 9 White Deer Brewery and Brouwerij de Molen. Follow us on twitter.com/twophilpodcast or instagram.com/twophilosopherspodcast to get involved with the discussion.

In this episode, we consider the 1994 film 'Pulp Fiction', directed by Quentin Tarantino. Our discussion highlights the lack of a stable source of meaning in the film with reference to Jean-François Lyotard's description of the postmodern condition, before contemplating the ethical possibilities of this contemporary situation in relation to the famous scene at Jack Rabbit Slim's diner. We also evaluate the character of Jules Winnfield's reformation in the film relative to Max Weber's views on the protestant work ethic as being a prerequisite for the development of modern capitalism. These reflections are accompanied by some beers by Foxes Rock Brewery and Skovlyst Brewery. Follow us on twitter.com/twophilpodcast or instagram.com/twophilosopherspodcast to get involved with the discussion.

In this episode, we consider Spike Lee's 1989 classic 'Do The Right Thing'. Our discussion begins by highlighting the historical and pedagogical issues between philosophy and race, before continuing to explore the different ways that white supremacy manifests itself throughout the film. We reference several thinkers in this episode, including Archie Mafeje, Kwame Nkrumah, Enrique Dussel, Akala, Charles W. Mills, Renni Eddo-Lodge, Angela Davis, and James Baldwin. These reflections are accompanied by beers from Ørbæk Brewery and Station Works Brewery. Follow us on twitter.com/twophilpodcast or instagram.com/twophilosopherspodcast to get involved with the discussion.

In this episode, we consider the 1971 film 'A Clockwork Orange', directed by Stanley Kubrick. Our discussion comments on the violence depicted in the film with reference to the work of Michel Foucault and Jacques Derrida, before contemplating the relationship between morality and freedom in consultation with Thomas Aquinas and Immanuel Kant. We accompany these reflections with some beers from To Øl and 9 White Deer Brewery. Follow us on twitter.com/twophilpodcast or instagram.com/twophilosopherspodcast and let us know what you think about this film and episode.

In this episode, we consider the 2016 film 'Arrival', directed Denis Villeneuve and starring Amy Adams. Our discussion explores what the film reveals about the nature of language by examining the contemporary philosophical debate between 'designative-instrumental' and 'expressive-constitutive' theories of language. It also highlights Aristotle's stance against implementing a particular method of study prior to familiarising oneself with the topic of that study and concludes by analysing the manner in which linguistic experience offers us a different understanding of time than that of perceptual experience. These reflections are accompanied by a couple of beers from Beavertown Brewery and 9 White Deer Brewery. Follow us on twitter.com/twophilpodcast or instagram.com/twophilosopherspodcast to get involved with the discussion.

In this episode, we consider the 2004 film 'Eternal Sunshine of The Spotless Mind', directed by Michel Gondry, written by Charlie Kaufman, and starring Jim Carrey with Kate Winslet. Our discussion consults Augustine of Hippo in order to shed light on what the film reveals about the nature of memory, critiques Nietzsche's understanding of forgetfulness as a virtue, and references Plato to highlight true love as a type of the madness. We accompany these reflections with some beers by Wicklow Wolf Brewing Company and Grimbergen Brewery. Follow us on twitter.com/twophilpodcast or instagram.com/twophilosopherspodcast to get involved with the discussion.

In this episode, we consider the 2019 film 'Midsommar', directed by Ari Aster and starring Florence Pugh. This film was suggested by and features Maryam Ali, the winner of our first listener's choice competition. Our discussion examines both the lure and danger of so-called 'authentic communities', in relation to hippy collectives, cults, and national socialist movements. It also touches upon the current debate around the issue of euthanasia, psychedelic and transcendent experiences, as well as the problem of empathy and alternative forms of therapy. We accompany these reflections with some beers from Mikkeller and Wold Top Brewery. Follow us on twitter.com/twophilpodcast or instagram.com/twophilosopherspodcast to get involved with the discussion.

In this episode, we discuss 'Knives Out', directed by Rian Johnson. We consider this film as a commentary on the current political and social landscape of the United States by outlining the different facets of contemporary American society represented by each character in the film. Our discussion also highlights Angela Nagle's analysis of the alt-right movement in her book 'Kill All Normies' and touches on the current debate surrounding the issues of political correctness and the freedom of speech. These reflections are accompanied by beers from Peroni Brewery and Kissmeyer Brewing. We also announce the winner of our listener's choice competition for Episode 10. Follow us on twitter.com/twophilpodcast or instagram.com/twophilosopherspodcast to get involved with the discussion.

In this episode, we consider the 2017 film 'Mother!', directed by Darren Aronofsky and starring Jennifer Lawrence. Our discussion highlights the issue of the climate crisis with respect to the work of Carolyn Merchant, Silvia Federici, and Naomi Klein. It also examines the ambiguous relationship between the character of God and the earth in the Bible. Our reflections on this film are accompanied by a couple of beers from To Øl and Wold Top Brewery. Follow us on twitter.com/twophilpodcast or instagram.com/twophilosopherspodcast to get involved with the discussion.

In this episode, we consider Alex Garland's 2018 film 'Annihilation', starring Natalie Portman. Our discussion explores some of the different creation myths from the history of thought, the metaphysics of the Ancient Greek philosopher Heraclitus, the unhuman element of the human body, as well as a few snippets of wisdom from the Eastern tradition of Daoism. Follow us on twitter.com/twophilpodcast or instagram.com/twophilosopherspodcast to get involved with the discussion.

In Episode 6, we discuss the 2002 film 'One Hour Photo', directed by Mark Romanek and starring Robin Williams. Our conversation highlights Shoshana Zuboff's analysis of 'surveillance capitalism' as well as Søren Kierkegaard's existential critique of conceptual truth. Follow us on twitter.com/twophilpodcast or instagram.com/twophilosopherspodcast to get involved with the discussion.

In this episode, we discuss the 2002 film 'Minority Report', directed by Steven Spielberg and starring Tom Cruise. We do so in relation to the issue concerning the moral justification of punishment, whilst also touching on the free will/determinism debate. Follow us on twitter.com/twophilpodcast or instagram.com/twophilosopherspodcast to get involved with the discussion.

In this episode, we examine David Fincher's 1999 film 'Fight Club', starring Edward Norton. Our discussion touches on Friedrich Nietzsche’s proclamation that 'God is dead' as well as Sigmund Freud's reflections on the story of Oedipus. Follow us on Instagram to get involved with the discussion: instagram.com/twophilosopherspodcast

In this episode, we consider 'The Truman Show' from 1998, directed by Peter Weir and starring Jim Carrey. We do so in relation to Guy Debord's concept of 'the spectacle', whilst also making reference to the work of Jean Baudrillard. Follow us on Instagram to get involved with the discussion: instagram.com/twophilosopherspodcast

In this episode, we discuss the 2013 film 'Under The Skin' and examine it with respect to some of the concepts expressed in the philosophy of Simone de Beauvoir and Martin Heidegger.

For our inaugural episode, we discuss the 2019 film 'Parasite' and raise some points concerning the philosophers Karl Marx, G.W.F. Hegel, and Albert Camus. We also try some beers from Grimbergen Brewery and Mongozo. Follow us on twitter.com/twophilpodcast or instagram.com/twophilosopherspodcast to get involved with the discussion.