Fiction: The Truth of Idealism and Realism
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Jela Krečič
Abstract
For some time, we have been witnessing a turn to realism in popular culture. By contrast, the distinguishing mark of classical Hollywood cinema was to place an idealizing frame before reality to produce the effect of truth. Thus, my main thesis is that this disavowal of the artistry of idealization in Hollywood, which can also be traced to the currently widespread philosophical endorsement of realism, has little to do with the real or the truth. Accordingly, I aim to prove that genres, especially classical Hollywood comedy not only create challenging theoretical and political ideas but also provide a new perspective on the dispute between realism and idealism. An analysis of the use of mise en abyme (in art as well as in popular culture) provides an insight into the complex relationship between idealism and realism, fiction and truth.
Abstract
For some time, we have been witnessing a turn to realism in popular culture. By contrast, the distinguishing mark of classical Hollywood cinema was to place an idealizing frame before reality to produce the effect of truth. Thus, my main thesis is that this disavowal of the artistry of idealization in Hollywood, which can also be traced to the currently widespread philosophical endorsement of realism, has little to do with the real or the truth. Accordingly, I aim to prove that genres, especially classical Hollywood comedy not only create challenging theoretical and political ideas but also provide a new perspective on the dispute between realism and idealism. An analysis of the use of mise en abyme (in art as well as in popular culture) provides an insight into the complex relationship between idealism and realism, fiction and truth.
Chapters in this book
- Frontmatter I
- Table of Contents V
- Abbreviations VII
- Introduction: Impulses for a New Idealism IX
-
Part I: The Neglected Impulses of Idealism in the History of Philosophy
- How Ideal Is the Ancient Self? 1
- De-Symbolization of the World and the Emergence of the Self: A Historically-Idealist Theory of the Subject 27
- Genesis, Structure, and Ideas: Genetic Epistemology in Early Modern Philosophy 69
- Diluvian Philosophy: Utilitarian Motifs in Moby-Dick 93
- Thinking Free Release in Hegel’s System 111
- Idealism and the Problem of Finitude: Heidegger and Hegel 127
- Hegel’s Metaphysical Alternative to the Choice between an Unrealistic Platonic Realism and an Opposing Skeptical Anti-realism 151
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Part II: Contemporary Impulses for a New Idealism
- A Materialist Defense of an Idealist Subjectivity 171
- Philosophy and Its History 193
- Beyond Realism and Correlationism, the Idealist Path 209
- A Typology of Idealism 231
- Fiction: The Truth of Idealism and Realism 251
- Virus and Idea 269
- Index 283
Chapters in this book
- Frontmatter I
- Table of Contents V
- Abbreviations VII
- Introduction: Impulses for a New Idealism IX
-
Part I: The Neglected Impulses of Idealism in the History of Philosophy
- How Ideal Is the Ancient Self? 1
- De-Symbolization of the World and the Emergence of the Self: A Historically-Idealist Theory of the Subject 27
- Genesis, Structure, and Ideas: Genetic Epistemology in Early Modern Philosophy 69
- Diluvian Philosophy: Utilitarian Motifs in Moby-Dick 93
- Thinking Free Release in Hegel’s System 111
- Idealism and the Problem of Finitude: Heidegger and Hegel 127
- Hegel’s Metaphysical Alternative to the Choice between an Unrealistic Platonic Realism and an Opposing Skeptical Anti-realism 151
-
Part II: Contemporary Impulses for a New Idealism
- A Materialist Defense of an Idealist Subjectivity 171
- Philosophy and Its History 193
- Beyond Realism and Correlationism, the Idealist Path 209
- A Typology of Idealism 231
- Fiction: The Truth of Idealism and Realism 251
- Virus and Idea 269
- Index 283
