Žižek And So On cover image

Žižek And So On

Psychocinema w/ Helen Rollins

Mar 25, 2025
In this discussion, filmmaker Helen Rollins, an expert in film and psychoanalysis from Northern Ireland, shares insights from her groundbreaking book, Psychocinema. She explores how watching films is a psychoanalytic experience, revealing hidden truths about desire and subconscious cues. Topics include the tension between personal creativity and capitalism, the evolving nature of cinematic storytelling, and the intersection of class and the 'gaze' in film. Rollins critiques the commodification of art and sheds light on the challenges faced by independent filmmakers today.
01:09:22

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • The podcast explores how everyday visual details, like unmade beds, challenge perceptions of intentionality in filmmaking and media representation.
  • It emphasizes the transformation of public spaces in the digital age, where privatized experiences complicate authentic public engagement amid capitalist commoditization.

Deep dives

The Fascination with Staging and Intention in Visual Media

The discussion begins with the intriguing notion of how everyday visual details, such as an unmade bed, can evoke questions about intentionality in filmmaking and media presentation. This observation highlights the convoluted relationship between what is perceived as staged versus incidental, prompting a reflection on the viewer's desire to locate hidden meanings. The speaker notes how this tendency reflects a conspiratorial impulse, suggesting that audiences often resist the idea of randomness in favor of attributing intent to visual choices. This dynamic plays an essential role in both film creation and analysis, questioning the boundaries between conscious artistic choices and the inherent messiness of reality.

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