Examined Life

Examined Life, directed by Astra Taylor, is a 2008 documentary film that ventures into the domain of modern philosophy and its application in the realm of contemporary life. The film boasts an ensemble of renowned philosophers including Kwame Anthony Appiah, Judith Butler, Michael Hardt, amongst others. These influential theorists attempt to illustrate how philosophy does not just dwell in the world of abstractions. Instead, it can, and most importantly, should be applied in everyday life, shedding light on its socio-political, ethical, and cultural implications.

As the title Examined Life implies, the film takes its cue from Socrates' ancient belief that "the unexamined life is not worth living." Following this, the film sets its course to chart the waters of modern philosophical discourse, pulling philosophy out of the ivory tower and sending it out into the streets, literally and metaphorically. This quest to reclaim philosophy from the depths of academia and back into public dialogue forms the crux of this intellectual documentary.

The film adopts an experimental visual format, placing philosophers in different real-world scenarios while they discuss their ideas and theories. Notably, the interview style is freeform and conversational, not confined to stringent Q&As, making it insightful yet easily digestible.

Kwame Anthony Appiah, one of the featured thinkers, explores the concept of cosmopolitanism, of being a human being amid a densely interconnected world. He does so while touring the arrivals terminal at an international airport, emblematic of globalization.

Another significant contributor, Judith Butler, a feminist philosopher, in a fascinating conversation with gender variant artist, Sunaura Taylor, takes her philosophical exploration to the bustling streets of San Francisco. Together they discuss disability, social organization, mobility, and the structures of accessibility, doing so while navigating city streets illustrating a theory-footnote-reality intersection.

Michael Hardt, of Hardt-Negri fame for their work on Empire and Multitude, takes his discourse on revolution, power, and democracy to the iconic Central Park. His reflective journey through the park creates this amalgamation of nature and man's craft, mirroring his synthesis of ideas ranging from political theory to social activism.

Director Astra Taylor intersperses the film with her appearances, creating a conduit between the audience and the eminent philosophers. She does this brilliantly avoiding any didactic framing and allows the audience to engage with the subjects on their own terms. This approach retains the documentary's accessibility even while exploring complex philosophical ideas.

The film embodies a wide array of philosophical themes- ethics, society, politics, and more. It sets out to bridge the gap between society and philosophy, underlining the relevance of these conjectures in real-life scenarios. However, it doesn't dumb down any of its content. It instead offers an engaging, thought-provoking insight into how philosophers see the world, without straying away from their theoretical foundations.

Visually, the film optimizes the format of a documentary to the fullest, providing interesting backdrops that metaphorically reflect the philosophers' theories. In one sequence, Slovenian philosopher Slavoj Zizek takes us to a garbage dump while discussing ecology and ideology, synchronizing the muck-ridden site with the dark side of our consumer culture. Taylor's controlled, and carefully crafted videography amplifies this visual rhythm, making the film as aesthetically captivating as intellectually stimulating.

Examined Life’s strength lies in exploring theoretical themes through a conversational approach while involving viewers in its intellectual quest. By tying the philosophers' ideas to a tangible presence and location, Taylor enables the viewers to have a richer, more dimensional understanding of these complex theories.

Despite its intellectual intensity, Examined Life is no academic barrage of pontifications. Rather, it's an invitation, offering viewers a chance to participate in philosophy as it unfolds in the real world. It is a philosophical journey everyone is invited to embark on. The film's ultimate takeaway is that philosophy is not just an abstract academic pursuit but an existential endeavor, a necessary tool used to navigate, examine, and comprehend the life we lead.

In conclusion, Examined Life is an intellectually stimulating film that effectively democratizes philosophy, making the seemingly complex world of ideas and theories a relatable part of everyday life. Taylor has crafted a uniquely accessible documentary blend of philosophical ideas and real-world relevance with renowned philosophers bringing these concepts to life in a universally appealing manner.