May 28, 2013
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Jorn K. Bramann
I mentioned Jorn K. Bramann's essay on "Network" yesterday.
Today, I just want to point you to THIS PAGE with links not only to a slew of other essays on notable movies, but also philosophical essays related thereto. The clarity of Dr. Bramann's writing is remarkable, and last night I sent him a fan letter telling him how much I loved his writing. You will too, if you give it a try.
(Late Tuesday edit)
For example, "Network" is linked to Plato's "Republic," and it's quite remarkable how Dr. Bramann so lucidly ties the theme of one (a ratings-driven network catering to the lowest common denominator viewer who will swallow whatever the boob tube offers them) vs. the democracy or oligarchy choice when it comes to designing the ideal republic.
I've treated myself to a lot of reading since I discovered Dr. Bramann. Buster Keaton's brilliant silent film, "The General," builds comedy out of a series of events that follow each other AS IF causally related, while the incredible dissertation on mathematics, "Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus" by Ludwig Wittgenstein, makes the point that while it is mathematically true to say, " 'If P then Q' implies only that if P is true then Q is true," that statement does NOT imply that there is any causality between P and Q. What a wonderful treat to read both analyses one after the other.
"Modern Times," a Charles Chaplin masterpiece, is an echo of (you guessed it) Karl Marx's "Economic and Philosophical Manuscripts of 1844."
Most of these treatises are quite long, and there are at least one or two of them seriously marred by typographical errors, but as I've said earlier, Dr. Bramann is a gifted writer and teacher whose prose is easy to understand.
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On Another Subject
Check out especially the Shivas Irons segment (No. 5), based on "Golf in the Kingdom" as discussed by that book's author, Michael Murphy. You don't have to thank me now. You can thank me later.
Comments (3)
I have seen a few of these films and love The Dead Poets Society. I enjoyed the writing of Dr. Bramann. Many years ago, I heard Howard Zinn on Link TV and was so impressed with his words and the way he spoke the truth, that I sent him and email. Do you know he responded to me the very next day with the most gracious words.
I hope you get an email or response from Dr. Bramann.
I wish I had time to check out all the links you so faithfully provide on various subjects/issues, etc. I vaguely remember watching Dead Poets Society when it was on a cable channel. I think it's great to let someone know that you are a fan and that you appreciate that person's writing. I hope you and Barbara enjoyed the holiday. ~~Blessings 'n Cheers
@ZSA_MD - No response from Dr. Bramann yet, but I'm used to not having my fan mail responded to.
Because of your comment (and Donna Lou's), I've decided to read his review of "Dead Poets Society" next. I too loved that movie. It's my favorite of all of Robin Williams' movies. Dr. Bramann links it to Ralph Waldo Emerson's essay on "Self-Reliance."
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