Karen McCutcheon

The following paper is an exploration of Nietzsche’s philosophy, his metaphysics of Becoming and tragic wisdom asking the question in what way has his metaphysics influenced film to date and in what way? Nietzsche’s notion of truth as the conditions for encountering the real, as an »eternity« within Becoming form the background of the discussion as to whether his philosophy  in any way could enable film to be more real. How his ontology of Becoming relates to an ontology of film? It also asks the question how would Nietzsche’s notion of the »untimely«, no-time and the non-spatial (eternity) be further introduced to film in such a way that would render the film a more accurate representation of reality. This also includes an analysis of Nietzsche’s notion of tragic pathos and unconscious activity and how characters’ expression of such pathos leads to a better encounter with the real, and in turn renders film more truthful. The work of film director Haneke and the use of catharsis and non-verbal pathos in his films will be examined, as a possible example. The paper also looks at in what way is film traceable back to Greek tragedy, and in what way film could reconnect with it, what elements of tragedy could be brought to film-making.

Karen Mc Cutcheon research interests are on Nietzsche’s metaphysics of becoming and his philosophy of religion. She holds a PhD from Mary Immaculate College. Her PhD thesis »The Dance of Joy: Nietzsche’s Metaphysics of Becoming & Tragic Wisdom« primarily focused on the relationship between objectivity and subjectivity, and inquired into Nietzsche’s relation to reality. From 2006-2009 she was tutor of philosophy at the Mary Immaculate College.