Both movies premiered at the toronto international film festival. The film features eight influential modern philosophers walking around new york and other metropolises, discussing the practical application of their ideas in modern culture. Starting with socrates observation that the unexamined life is not worth living, examined life, astra taylor s second philosophizing. Astra taylor is the author of the peoples platform winner of the american book award and made two documentary films, zizek. A companion to astra taylors documentary film, the book features interviews with eight iconoclastic and influential philosophers. Examined life boldly takes philosophy out of the dark corners of the academy and into the streets, reminding us that great ideas are born through profound engagement with the hustle and bustle of everyday life, not in isolation from it.
From left, slavoj zizek, avital ronell, judith butler and cornel west discuss ideas in the documentary examined life. The companion to astra taylor s acclaimed documentary film, examined life features the full transcripts of taylor s conversations with eight iconoclastic and influential philosophers, conducted while. With kwame anthony appiah, judith butler, michael hardt, martha nussbaum. Aug 21, 2009 a companion to astra taylors documentary film, the book features interviews with eight iconoclastic and influential philosophers, conducted while on the move through places that hold special resonance for them and their ideas. Cornel west and other theoreticians in astra taylors. The makers of examined life, a 2008 documentary, concur. Astra taylor s most popular book is the peoples platform.
Judith butler and sunaura taylor went for a walk and engaged in a terrific conversation about disability as not merely some physical status but largely a social status, and that is also true for. Examined life goes from lost in thought to true dialogue. Excursions with contemporary thinkers, a 2009 companion book to astra taylors documentary film examined life, where she talks to influential philosophers about concepts as farranging as meaning, ethics and justice. May 06, 2019 astra taylor is the director of the documentary films what is democracy. Astra tayl or born september 30, 1979 is a canadianamerican documentary filmmaker, writer, activist and musician. That philosophy both requires and instills courage. Examined life boldly takes philosophy out of the dark corners of the academy and into the streets, reminding us that great ideas are born through profound engagement with the hustle and bustle. In addition, it tries to apply rationality in lives. This is one of the guiding questions of examined life, also available as a book a recent movie directed by astra taylor, which takes its title from platos apology, an unexamined life is not worth living. Democracy may not exist, but well miss it when its gone. Astra taylor is a writer, documentary filmmaker, and activist. You see, the thing to keep in mind for me is line 607b in book ten of platos republic, on the traditional quarrel of. Astra taylor is a filmmaker, writer, and political organizer.
A companion to astra taylor s documentary film, the book features interviews with eight iconoclastic and influential philosophers, conducted. Nov 20, 2009 examined life pulls philosophy out of academic journals and classrooms, and puts it back on the streets. Books by astra taylor author of the peoples platform. A companion to astra taylors documentary film, the book features interviews with eight iconoclastic and influential philosophers, conducted while on the move. The film features eight influential modern philosophers.
In this imaginatively wrought creation, she presents eight intellectuals each offering their own special perspective on philosophical matters of importance to them. Taylor will also sign copies of her latest book, democracy may not exist, but well miss it when its gone. Let a handful of modern philosophers separately philosophize about the. Astra taylors documentary film examined life took philosophy out of the academy and into the streets, reminding us that great ideas are born through profound engagement with the hustle and. Examined life is a 2008 canadian documentary film about philosophers directed by astra taylor. There is a wonderful premise guiding examined life, a new documentary by astra taylor, and its a straightforward one. Astra taylor has 20 books on goodreads with 6841 ratings. Taking back power and culture in the digital age and the new democracy may not exist, but well miss it when its gone. Jun 01, 2009 examined life boldly takes philosophy out of the dark corners of the academy and into the streets, reminding us that great ideas are born through profound engagement with the hustle and bustle of everyday life, not in isolation from it. Astra taylor has put together the thoughts of nine contemporary thinkers in a most accessible and fascinating way. It is directed by astra taylor, whose feature documentary portrait of world famous philosopher slavoj zizek, zizek. A companion to astra taylors documentary film, the book features. Oct 22, 2019 examined life is a film that reveals peoples philosophical view of the world.
Concerned that philosophy is generally regarded as the abstruse province of hairsplitting arguments conducted in an incomprehensible and arbitraryseeming jargon, filmmaker astra taylor, best known. You cant help but feel that director astra taylor fails at her own challenge of making an academic subject come truly alive as cinema. Cornel west examined life transcript isnt necessary with this essay. In examined life, filmmaker astra taylor accompanies some of todays most influential thinkers on a series of unique excursions through places and spaces that hold particular resonance for them. Cerebral celebrities entertain the big questions in astra taylors. Astra taylor is a writer, a documentary filmmaker, and an activist. Astra taylor s documentary film examined life took philosophy out of the academy and into the streets, reminding us that great ideas are born through profound engagement with the hustle and bustle of everyday life, not in isolation from it. This paper will examine three philosophers in the documentary. Her films include examined life, and her books include the peoples platform astra taylo. The tag line for astra taylor s examined life is philosophy is in the streets. The film features eight influential contemporary philosophers walking around new york and other. Astra taylor, the director, selects eight thinkers and gives them each ten minutes to. Examined life boldly takes philosophy out of the dark corners of the academy and into the streets, reminding us that great ideas are born through profound engagement with the hustle and bustle of.
Taylor was born in winnipeg, manitoba, in 1979 and grew up in athens, georgia. Philosophy reconnects with daily life in these conversations with eight renowned thinkersthe uncut interviews from the documentary film examined life. He is interviewed on his way to the station by astra taylor who is the director of the film. This companion volume features the complete and uncut interviews with eight influential philosophers, all. It presents the examined life summary, analyses 3 philosophers from the documentary. Examined life by astra taylor astra taylor, cornel west. Examined life filmedition suhrkamp by filmeditionsuhrkamp.
Jun 16, 2010 how do you take philosophy from book to film form. She is the director of the philosophical documentaries what is democracy. In examined life, filmmaker astra taylor accompanies some of todays most influential thinkers on a series of unique excursions through places and spaces that. In examined life, the princeton professor cornel west, above, speaks to the films director, astra taylor from the back seat of a car in new york rush hour. Still in her twenties, documentarian astra taylor has already brought a philosophical bent to nonfiction filmmaking and is looking to push the form in new and exciting directions. This companion volume features the complete and uncut interviews with eight influential philosophers, all conducted while on the. Astra taylor born september 30, 1979 is a canadianamerican documentary filmmaker, writer, activist and musician. Excursions with contemporary thinkers taylor, astra on. Herma hill kay distinguished professor of law, university of california, berkeley, school of law. A companion to astra taylor s documentary film, the book features interviews with eight iconoclastic and influential philosophers, conducted while on the move through places that hold special resonance for them and their ideas. Cornel west on truth part 1 stop smiling magazine books.
Each of them, from appiah to zizek, speaks to us not from a podium or comfortably seated as in too many talking heads docs, but while walking or riding through their chosen turf. Astra taylor present for a discussion following the screening, along with stephen duncombe. The idea that piracy is an effective form of resistance, a direct attack on the corporate empire, is confirmed by the reaction it has provoked. Examined life pulls philosophy out of academic journals and classrooms, and puts it back on the streets. Astra taylors documentary film examined life took philosophy out of the academy and into the streets, reminding us that great ideas are born through profound engagement with the hustle and bustle of everyday life, not in isolation from it. Socrates examined life pulls philosophy out of academia and classrooms and puts it back on the streets. She is a fellow of the shuttleworth foundation, for her work on challenging predatory practices around debt. Astra taylor s documentary film examined life took philosophy out of the academy and into the streets, reminding us that great ideas are born through profound engagement with the hustle and bustle of everyday life, not in. Astra taylor is a writer, documentarian, and organizer. Peter singers thoughts on the ethics of consumption are amplified against the backdrop of fifth avenues posh boutiques. Mar 22, 20 cornel west excerpts from examined life, a 2008 documentary film directed by astra taylor. Jun 30, 2009 examined life boldly takes philosophy out of the dark corners of the academy and into the streets, reminding us that great ideas are born through profound engagement with the hustle and bustle of everyday life, not in isolation from it. Philosophy reconnects with daily life in these conversations with eight renowned thinkersthe uncut interviews from the documentary film examined life astra taylors documentary film examined life took philosophy out of the academy and into the streets, reminding us that great ideas are born through profound engagement with the hustle and bustle of everyday life, not in isolation from it.
T aking its title from socratess famous maxim about the unexamined life not being worth living though without discussing it in any way astra taylor s freewheeling documentary interviews. Astra taylor, the director of this unusual and compelling documentary, understands the connection between walking and thinking. Her films include examined life, and her books include the peoples platform. The film attempts to bring some of the worlds most influential philosophers to a popular audience. Examined life pulls philosophy out of academic journals. Examined life by astra taylor overdrive rakuten overdrive. The eminent martha nussbaum, ernst freund distinguished service professor of law and ethics at the university of chicago, speaks on the aristotelian foundations of her capabilities approach and. Astra taylor is the director of the documentary films zizek. Cornel west in director astra taylor s examined life.
Examined life by astra taylor, 9781595584472, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. This accompaniment to taylors documentary film of the same name, which premiered at the toronto international film festival in 2008, is a peripatetic effort to bring philosophy to the streets. Astra taylor s documentary film examined life took philosophy out of the academy and into the streets, reminding us that great ideas are born through profound engagement with the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Oct 06, 2010 judith butler and sunaura taylor went for a walk and engaged in a terrific conversation about disability as not merely some physical status but largely a social status, and that is also true for. Taylor is the author of examined life the new press, the companion book to the film, and the. Feb 22, 2009 in examined life, the princeton professor cornel west, above, speaks to the films director, astra taylor from the back seat of a car in new york rush hour. Astra taylor s documentary film examined life took philosophy out of the academy and into the streets, reminding us that great ideas are born through profound engagement with the hustle and. In examined life, filmmaker astra taylor accompanies some of todays most influential thinkers on a series of unique excursions through places and spaces that hold particular resonance for them and their ideas. Examined life interweaves fascinating walks with philosophers through places that hold special resonance for them and their ideas crowded city streets, deser. Examined life directed by astra taylor an unusual and compelling documentary featuring eight thinkers musing on philosophical matters as they walk in various creative places. Astra taylor, an acclaimed essayist the new york times, the new yorker, the nation and filmmaker zizek. In examined life, filmmaker astra taylor liberates philosophy from the sterile world of academia through entertaining and thoughtprovoking excursions with some of todays most famous and influential thinkers. Jul 14, 2009 philosophy reconnects with daily life in these conversations with eight renowned thinkersthe uncut interviews from the documentary film examined life. Pulls philosophy out of academic journals and classrooms, and puts it back on the streets.