Jef Sewell, a filmmaker and co-creator of the documentary "All Illusions Must Be Broken," dives deep into the legacy of cultural anthropologist Ernest Becker. They discuss the influential thesis of our unconscious fears of mortality and its relevance today. Sewell explores how modern culture evades death and the pursuit of 'immortality projects' through art and creativity. He also shares insights on the impact of childhood upbringing in a consumer culture and reflects on the transformative journey of filmmaking, revealing the power of storytelling to shape our understanding of life.
45:43
forum Ask episode
web_stories AI Snips
view_agenda Chapters
menu_book Books
auto_awesome Transcript
info_circle Episode notes
insights INSIGHT
Denial of Death
Much of human behavior is driven by an unconscious desire to ignore mortality.
People attach themselves to things to avoid the reality of their eventual extinction.
insights INSIGHT
Nature vs. Culture
The film explores the eclipse of nature by culture, focusing on why children prefer virtual environments.
Ernest Becker's ideas explain this cultural trend of increasing human denial and the repression of mortality.
insights INSIGHT
Human Duality
Humans are split between a symbolic self (identity) and the animal body (facing death).
Modern society's move away from nature deprives children of experiences that foster existential understanding.
Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode
The Science of Getting from Where You Are to Where You Want to Be
Katy Milkman
In this ground-breaking book, Katy Milkman reveals a proven path to help readers move from where they are to where they want to be. Drawing on her original research and the work of her world-renowned scientific collaborators, Milkman shares strategic methods for identifying and overcoming common barriers to change, such as impulsivity, procrastination, and forgetfulness. The book offers innovative approaches like 'temptation bundling,' using timely reminders, and creating 'set-it-and-forget-it systems' to make change more achievable. It emphasizes the importance of tailoring solutions to specific roadblocks and using science to stack the deck in favor of successful change.
The Denial of Death
Ernest Becker
In 'The Denial of Death', Ernest Becker discusses the psychological and philosophical implications of how people and cultures react to the concept of death. He argues that human civilization is a defense mechanism against the knowledge of our mortality, and that this denial is a necessary component of functioning in the world. Becker's work challenges traditional Freudian thought by positing that the primary repression is not sexuality, but rather the awareness of death. He also explores how this fear of death leads to the creation of 'hero systems' and symbols that help individuals transcend their mortality, and how this can result in violence and conflict when different immortality projects clash[2][5][4].
Last Child in the Woods
saving our children from nature-deficit disorder
Richard Louv
In this influential work, Richard Louv links the lack of nature in children's lives to rising trends in obesity, attention disorders, and depression. The book brings together research indicating that direct exposure to nature is essential for healthy childhood development and physical and emotional health. Louv provides practical solutions and simple ways to heal the broken bond between children and nature, many of which can be implemented in everyday life. The book has inspired a movement to reconnect children with nature and has led to the creation of the Children & Nature Network[1][4][5].
Shogun
James Clavell
Shōgun is a historical novel that chronicles the end of Japan's Azuchi-Momoyama period and the dawn of the Edo period. The story centers around John Blackthorne, an English navigator who becomes shipwrecked in Japan and becomes embroiled in the complex political dynamics of the region. Blackthorne must navigate a foreign culture, learn the language, and adapt to the customs of feudal Japan, all while being caught in the midst of a power struggle between powerful daimyōs, particularly Toranaga and Ishido. The novel explores themes of cultural clash, adaptation, political intrigue, and personal transformation, providing a vivid portrayal of the collision between Eastern and Western cultures[3][5][2].
It’s been 50 years since Ernest Becker’s breakthrough book The Denial of Death was first published, and its thesis has become more relevant than ever. Filmmaker Jef Sewell is the co-creator of a new documentary about Becker called All Illusions Must Be Broken. It features never-before-heard audio of the enigmatic anthropologist and puts his theories in a modern context.
Host: Sean Illing (@seanilling), host, The Gray Area
The Gray Area with Sean Illing 
