The Philosophy of David Cronenberg (Philosophy Of Popular Culture)

Initially regarded as a cult figure with a strong following amongst sci-fi and horror film fans, Canadian filmmaker David Cronenberg emerged as a major and commercially viable film director with mainstream hits such as A History of Violence (2005) and Eastern Promises (2007). With his unique ability to present imagery that is both disturbing and provocative, Cronenberg creates striking films, noteworthy not just for their cinematic beauty but also for the philosophical questions they raise. The Philosophy of David Cronenberg examines Cronenberg's body of work, from his breakthrough Scanners (1981) through his most recognizable films such as The Fly (1986) and more recent works. Editor Simon Riches and a collaboration of scholars introduce the filmmaker's horrific storylines and psychologically salient themes that reveal his pioneering use of the concept of "body horror," as well as his continued aim to satirize the modern misuse of science and technology. The Philosophy of David Cronenberg also explores the mutation of self, authenticity and the human mind, as well as language and worldviews. While Cronenberg's films have moved from small-market cult classics to mainstream successes, his intriguing visions of humanity and the self endure. Front Cover 1 Title Page 4 Copyright Page 5 Contents 6 Introduction 8 Part 1 14 The Fly and the Human: Ironies of Disgust 16 Tragedy and Terrible Beauty in A History of Violence and Eastern Promises 31 Cronenberg as Scientist: Antiessentialism, Sex as Remixing, and the View from Nowhere 43 What Happens to Brundle? Problems of Teleportation and Personal Identity in The Fly 60 Part 2 74 eXistenZial Angst 76 "Freaks of Nature:" Extrasensory Perception and the Paranormal in the Films of David Cronenberg 84 Deception and Disorder: Unraveling Cronenberg's Divided Minds 98 Psychological Determinism in the Films of David Cronenberg 120 Self-Creation, Identity, and Authenticity: A Study of A History of Violence and Eastern Promises 132 Part 3 148 The Fiction of Truth in Fiction: Some Reflections on Semantics and eXistenZ 150 Re(ct)ifying Empty Speech: Cronenberg and the Problem of the First Person 162 The Politics of Mad Science in The Fly and Dead Ringers 182 From "Impassioned Morality" to "Bloodless Agnosticism:" A Philosophy of David Cronenberg through the Burroughs/Ballard Axis 204 Contributors 224 Index 228 Series Page 232 Law and Society in the South reconstructs eight pivotal legal disputes heard in North Carolina courts between the 1830s and the 1970s. Each case offers a vivid portrait of the laws, litigants, lawyers, judges, and affected communities, providing a better