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Jacob Ruby

11 posts

Lady Bird + Attention

In the 2017 film Lady Bird, Greta Gerwig offers a heartfelt portrait of a young woman. A coming-of-age semi-autobiographical tale set in Sacramento. The film has been celebrated for its authenticity, humor, and emotional depth. But beneath its carefully observed story of teenage rebellion and maternal aggravations lies a profound meditation on a theme central to the works of philosophers Simone Weil and Iris Murdoch: the inseparable link between love and attention.
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Ordet + Faith

The powerful ending scene from Ordet
Carl Theodor Dreyer's film Ordet released in 1955 as The Word stands out as a powerful portrayal of faith and doubt in the annals of cinema's history. One in which Dreyer explores the spaces that exist between these two enduring concepts and sets it all within a quaint Danish village where these contrasting beliefs clash head on.
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Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter…and Spring + Karma

In the film Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter... and Spring director Kim Ki Duk creates a story set around a floating monastery that serves as a backdrop for the cycles of life. We, the audience, see these cycles both through the changing of the seasons as well as through the different stages of life the characters experience. The film meditates on the essence of life, how nature changes through different seasons, and how this mirrors our own journey of desires and attachments leading towards
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Mulholland Drive + Illusion

Mulholland Drive is considered, by many, to be David Lynch’s masterpiece. Jean Baudrillard, a prominent postmodern philosopher, we will be exploring later, seems to be one who agrees with this sentiment. Baudrillard recounted this favorable opinion in his iconoclastic book, The Conspiracy of Art. This comment actually was a brief counterpoint as to why The Matrix was
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Blue Ruin + Resentment

Jeremy Saulnier’s film Blue Ruin offers a gritty, unflinching look at the consequences of seeking revenge. It is an anti-revenge, revenge tale that delves into the mind of its character, Dwight Evans, as he grapples with the complexity of resentment. Between two families the film explores themes including the cycle of violence and the futility of seeking retribution.
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Pulp Fiction + Redemption

Pulp Fiction, by Quentin Tarantino and Roger Avery came out of the 1994 Cannes Film Festival as a controversial yet clear winner of the Golden Palm with its style and complex storytelling. Beyond its surface appeal, to which it has in spades, lies a profound exploration of redemption and the rush of catharsis which inevitability follows. Pulp Fiction takes us on a journey through concepts such as Aristotle’s idea of catharsis and Fyodor Dostoevsky’s perspective on redemption revealing the moral layers within the narrative.
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Psycho + Dualism

In the film Psycho, by Alfred Hitchcock, we are not just led through a tale of suspense and terror, we are immersed in a profound exploration of human psychology. The chilling events that take place at the motel and the deep character study of Norman Bates offers a platform to delve into the interplay between the visceral violence and our unconscious minds. A theme deeply rooted in the psychological concept of duality. By examining Norman Bates’ complex persona through the perspectives of Sigmund Freud’s theories of psychoanalytics and Carl Jung’s study of archetypes we can uncover the layers of this dual identity.
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Paterson + Beauty

Jim Jarmusch’s movie Paterson is an understated masterpiece that uncovers remarkable beauty in the simplicity of life. The story revolves around the experiences of Paterson, a bus driver and poet living in Paterson, New Jersey. While the film may appear uneventful on the surface it is this quietness that holds its charm. For those who appreciate reflecting on life through cinema, Paterson provides a thoughtful exploration reminiscent of the philosophies of Henri Lefebvre and Martin Heidegger.
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The Big Lebowski + Taoism

The Big Lebowski as a Zen Philosopher
There are few characters who embody a laid-back philosophical vibe as effortlessly, as Jeffrey Lebowski, affectionately known as "The Dude." The cult favorite film The Big Lebowski by the Coen Brothers is renowned for its story and unique humor. Yet beneath its surface lies a connection to the Zen and Taoist philosophy.
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