Ever wonder about the relationship between film and skepticism?
While hanging out at the
Reverie Coffee Shop on 848 Cole Street on Sunday, I got to talk to a friend that I hadn't hung out with in 6 years. This guy has seen more than 2500 films and has reviews of about 1000 of them stored in a database. He has a new theory that fits all the films, but he tries to view films that will throw his theory off kilter. He
continually does this. He came to me to see if any of the philosophy I knew could help out in this film theory making.
Matt, a Spinoza's Coater, was sitting next to me. I had to nudge him, and say, "Matt, we've got a natural skeptic right here." Skeptics are
continually investigating. Much of his approach to film and theory immediately reminded me of Sextus Empiricus'
Outlines of Skepticism, and the definition of skepticism:
"an ability to set out oppositions among things which appear and are thought of in any way at all, an ability by which because of the equipollence in the opposed objects and accounts we come first to suspension of judgement and afterwards to tranquility." (
Outlines of Skepticism, I.8 )
India produces 1000 films every year. I'd hate to guess how much the porn industry in Los Angeles produces. Anyway, if you haven't seen all the films, then you can't really come up with an all encompassing film theory. So, each new film you see is liable to overthrow whatever theory you had. The relation between film and skepticism is one of rate of production. The rate of production for films outpaces our ability to make all encompassing theories about them. So, skepticism is the way to go.
By the way, the Reverie Coffee Shop has a beautiful garden for talking to skeptics and those of other philosophical ilk. Also, the salads and piadinas are top notch. Dio made my turkey, pancetta, gorgonzola salad which was totally delicious, and cost just under $8. A bargain if you ask me.
