Philosophers,
Today we’re going to movies.
I firmly believe in the power of film and music—especially when combined—to reveal personal truths that even writing cannot illicit.
We’re going to consider the overture Also Sprach Zarathustra (German for Thus Spoke Zarathustra), and the classic film 2001: A Space Odyssey.
First, the classical overture Also Sprach Zarathustra was composed in late 1800s by Richard Strauss as a direct inspiration from reading Nietzsche’s philosophy. Chances are, you know this song and don’t even realize it.
Second, 2001 very much owes its creative instinct and inspiration to Nietzsche’s work in Zarathustra.
I just wrote a lot of big German sounding words, so let's put it in an organized timeline before we hit the film.
Nietzsche wrote the book Thus Spoke Zarathustra in four parts released between 1883 and 1885. In it, he proposes a new mythology, ethical construct, and human philosophy.
Richard Strauss, deeply inspired by the journey of humanity in Nietzsche’s book, composes Also Sprach Zarathustra in direct homage in 1896.
In 1968, Stanley Kubrick releases a ground-breaking sci-fi film challenging filmmaking, storytelling, and philosophy.
Here’s where it gets interesting.
Kubric uses the song Also Sprach Zarathustra 3 times in the film.
The first is in the opening 60 seconds of the film, setting the tone both ascetically and philosophically.
Next, he uses the song at a moment of profound evolution: when the cave-man learns to be like the lion—a predator.
Finally, the film concludes as the ancestor of the violent cave-man returns to earth.
He has had a direct encounter with mysterious god-like beings of pure energy while conducting a deep space mission.
As a result of this encounter, the man returns to earth only this time as a child—transformed with a message of liberation. He is what Nietzsche calls the ubermensch. In english, the Superman.
Together, these scenes tell an interesting story that is hiding just beneath the 1960’s cutting edge special effects and space-odyssey narrative.
It’s the story of self-discovery at the expense of one’s personal identity and social standing. It’s the Bhagavad Gita and Jesus of Nazareth. It’s (as the title of 2001 implies) Homer’s Odyssey.
But, as we’ll learn tomorrow, Nietzsche invites us into this story but also something even a bit beyond this classic hero’s tale—the story of the ubermensch.
So what does the ubermensch know that everyone else does not?
Find out in tomorrow’s post.
Until then,
Matt
References:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Also_sprach_Zarathustra
https://www.britannica.com/topic/Thus-Spake-Zarathustra
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Odyssey
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2001:_A_Space_Odyssey_(film)