Werner Herzog, legendary German filmmaker, talks about AI poetry, email etiquette, LA being like ancient Rome, a WWII soldier who hid in the jungle for 29 years, therapy, trauma, David Blaine, and going into orbit.
Werner Herzog warns against the dangers of AI invasion into military technology and mass surveillance, emphasizing the importance of human control over technology.
Herzog values the power of forgetting and oblivion, cautioning against excessive self-analysis and advocating for the burying of certain memories.
Herzog is deeply moved by the tragic story of Unoda, a Japanese soldier who believed World War II was still ongoing, highlighting the profound impact of misunderstanding and the importance of dignity in the face of adversity.
Deep dives
Key Point 1: Werner Herzog's memoir and eventful life
Werner Herzog recently published his memoir, titled Every Man for Himself and God Against All, which chronicles his extraordinary life as a German filmmaker, actor, opera director, and author. The memoir explores various aspects of Herzog's life, from his early poverty-stricken years in a small Bavarian village to his adventurous travels throughout Europe and North Africa. It also delves into his filmmaking career, including his collaboration and tumultuous relationship with actor Klaus Kinski, their notable films together, such as Aguirre, Wrath of God and Fitzcarraldo, and the challenges faced during the production of the latter. The memoir offers insights into Herzog's eventful life, filled with sublime, disturbing, and unhinged experiences.
Key Point 2: Herzog's thoughts on technology and artificial intelligence
In the podcast, Herzog expresses his fascination with technology, particularly artificial intelligence (AI). While he acknowledges the immense possibilities and advancements in AI, he also highlights the dangers of its invasion into military technology and mass surveillance. Herzog cautions against the potential for AI to create artificial parallel truths, spread fake news, and invade personal privacy. He discusses an experiment where AI-generated poems surpassed the quality of traditional poetry. Furthermore, he shares his skepticism about delegating thinking and creativity to artificial intelligence and emphasizes the importance of maintaining human control over technology.
Key Point 3: Herzog's perspective on self-knowledge and psychoanalysis
The podcast also touches on Herzog's perspective on self-knowledge and psychoanalysis. Herzog expresses his belief that excessive self-analysis and delving into every recess of one's soul can be detrimental. He values the power of forgetting and oblivion, arguing that some memories are better left buried. While acknowledging the importance of addressing trauma and conflict, he raises skepticism over the prolonged rumination and excavation of past experiences. Herzog distinguishes between necessary self-knowledge and the potential pitfalls of excessive introspection and psychoanalytic practices.
Werner Herzog discovers inspiration in meeting Unoda
After meeting Unoda, Werner Herzog felt inspired to write about his unique story. Although he did not initially intend to write about Unoda, 18 years later he revisited his notes and decided to document the experiences and discourses they had. The writing process was intense but ultimately came together smoothly, thanks to Herzog's experiences with Unoda and in the jungle. Unoda's story resonated with Herzog due to its size and uniqueness, similar to the story of Joan of Arc.
Herzog explores the tragedy and details within Unoda's story
Herzog understood the tragic nature of Unoda's story, particularly the misunderstanding that led him to fight a fictional war for decades. While Unoda spent a significant portion of his life fighting in vain, Herzog recognized the deep tragedy in his experiences. Furthermore, Herzog highlighted the sensitivities surrounding the events in the Philippines but acknowledged Unoda's refusal to dwell on it. Unoda's dignified and clear attitude, along with his quiet dignity, left a lasting impression on Herzog.
Adam talks with legendary German filmmaker, writer and actor Werner Herzog about AI poetry, email etiquette, why LA is like ancient Rome, the Japanese soldier who hid in the jungle believing the 2nd World War was still happening for 29 years, the value of therapy and whether trauma and conflict are best dealt with or buried, what his problem is with David Blaine and why someone needs to send Werner into orbit.
Conversation recorded remotely on 8th December 2023
Thanks to Séamus Murphy-Mitchell for production support and conversation editing.
Retreating from Kuwait after the first Gulf War, the Iraqi army sets fire to the country's oil fields. In this documentary, filmmaker Werner Herzog films the raging flames while narrating from the perspective of a confused alien visitor, musing on the strangeness of the landscape.
