Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

by Christopher Grau (Editor)

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind is one of the most widely discussed and thought-provoking films of recent years. This is the first book to explore and address the philosophical aspects of Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind . Beginning with a helpful introduction that places each essay in context, specially commissioned chapters examine the following Including a foreword by Michel Gondry and a list of further reading, this volume is essential reading for students interested in philosophy and film studies.

Genres: Philosophy, Film, Nonfiction, Media Tie In, Essays

176 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 2009

Reviews

[Farhana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Last week I was like skipping through books, trying this, trying that but couldn't focus on any. The night I picked this up, I spent almost 4 hours in trying to read several. I thought I would read Fight Club, I opened that one too, read a few pages but the scenes were too dynamic to imagine & keep my mind on it at the same time. Then suddenly its name crossed my mind. Back then I didn't know if any writing on this movie even exists ! When I found it ,I thought it would be the story & the screenplay. Okay, I was wrong, it discussed the PHILOSOPHY of the movie. Then it hit me. I wonder if it was a 'vulnerable', 'needed' or 'useful' reading!
A few months back in the evening I saw a video on youtube, A Fine Frenzy's song 'Almost Lover' with scenes from Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. I liked it, I thought the soundtrack was from the movie (actually not) & decided to watch it. The next morning I watched it. Even I experienced some moment when I wished if I could erase my memory like that in the movie~
After reading it I learnt Gondry is also the director of one of my favorite songs - Foo Fighter's Everlong. Then I saw some of the music videos he directed. I liked the doodling in the wet shower glass in his latest music video 'City Lights'. Seeing some of his work it seems he has a knack for Repetition & Pattern. How past moments affect & leave their traces. How some things repeat themselves again & again. The two theses are contradictory, "Blessed are the ones who forget" & "Those who forget have the tendency of running into the same mistake again." :/ Affirming one's life requires denying & forgetting certain aspects of life. There are nice theoretical terms, nice explanations, nice self actualizing words, philosophical theses --- "active forgetting", "will to ignore", "ethics of memory", "affirming one's life with everything that happened" & many more.
All good for a movie. But what's the use ~
Suddenly reaching at this point of writing I'm not finding any meaning, maybe I thought there's something but I cannot recall it now..
This evening when I was reading the book & Chicago's Hard to say I'm sorry was playing , then I had a feeling the song offers the outline of the movie ---

' "Everybody needs a little time away," I heard her say, "from each other."
"Even lover's need a holiday far away from each other."
Hold me now. It's hard for me to say I'm sorry. I just want you to stay.
After all that we've been through, I will make it up to you. I promise to.
And after all that's been said and done,
You're just the part of me I can't let go. '

[Javier Sevilla · Rating 4 out of 5]

A collection of essays full of philosophical an emotional content. If you liked the movie, this is a must read.

Exploration of fascinating second opportunities and regret.

I recommend it to fans of dystopian/ emotional novels.

[Carlos Hernandez · Rating 4 out of 5]

As this movie is one of my new-found favorites, it is interesting to see academic essays discussing philosophy around it. Philosophy is a kind of guilty pleasure for me (so is essay reading). I was very captivated by the ideas many of these essays addressed, especially in regard to the philosophy of memory. There is one essay in here that addresses Nietzsche’s idea of eternal return (i.e. if in your loneliest hour a demon crept into your room and told you you were doomed to die and relive the same life over and over for eternity, would you feel doomed or would you say “hell yeah!”?). This essay in particular struck a chord within me, especially when retrospectively looking on Joel and Clementine’s relationship… Overall, the essays were good and they seemed to get more philosophical and academically founded the further you read, but I think the ideas could’ve been a bit more diverse in their arguments and, some, a bit more succinct.

[Tays · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very interesting and fruitful read. Its a collection of essays that says insights about how the movie Eternal Sunshine of a Spotless Mind affects philosophy. Some were good and some were bad, nevertheless its still interesting enough to have me finish reading the whole thing.

[Joe Solomon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this before watching, and was punched in the face by a wave of memory, love, and second chances. Hold on, hold on!

[Nikki · Rating 3 out of 5]

A varied and interesting collection of essays. The film brings forth a lot of ideas about emotion and memory and they are explored in fascinating ways here. However, I felt that some of the essays only used the film as a spring-board to discuss outside ideas. I preferred the essays where the outside ideas were applied to analysis of the film itself.

[Kamakana · Rating 3 out of 5]

selection of essays. some good, some less. if you like the film, this is interesting philosophical reading.

[Elif]

stunning!

[Jung · Rating 5 out of 5]

How happy is the blameless vestal's lot?
The world forgetting, by the world forgot:
Eternal sunshine of the spotless mind!
Each prayer accepted, and each wish resigned;

[Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

The quality of the essays decline rapidly, but the first one is excellente.

[Yani Liu · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have this book for a long time, love it and rent kindle book to read online again

Love the movie and read this book for a long time ago. Special rent kindle book to read online again.

[c_ond · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you liked the movie then the book is a must read

even if it's for a relative short period of life love is love. And That's the beauty of it. don't feel anything so as not to feel something, what a waste.

Love can be short, love can be long. What matters is the experience during it

[Alexandra Storey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolute must read. Return to this collection of essays often.

[Felicity Mayhew · Rating 5 out of 5]

Two Blue Ruins: Love and Memory In Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind-🫶🏻

Affirming Love In Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind-‼️

Trying To Remember Clementine-😭😭😭😭😭😭😭

[☆ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Full of emotions and details, I already love the movie but the way it's written makes you live it.

[Rêbwar Kurd · Rating 5 out of 5]

درخشش ابدی یک ذهن پاک اثری‌ست دربارهٔ رنج و رستگاری، نه در معنای عرفانی یا اخلاقی‌اش، بلکه در ساحتِ درونی‌ترین لایه‌های حافظه و هویت. فیلم‌نامه‌ای از چارلی کافمن و کارگردانی میشل گوندری، که بی‌هیچ زرق و برقی دروغین، قلب تماشاگر را از پشت نقاب سورئالیسم می‌فشارد.

ایدهٔ مرکزی اثر، ساده و در عین حال کوبنده‌ است: اگر می‌توانستی خاطرهٔ یک رابطه را پاک کنی، آیا این کار را می‌کردی؟ و اگر پاک می‌کردی، آیا واقعاً نجات می‌یافتی؟ «جول» و «کلمنتاین» هر دو زخم‌خورده‌اند، هر دو از آن زخم می‌گریزند، اما چیزی در درونشان نمی‌گذارد فراموشی، رهایی واقعی بیاورد. حافظه در اینجا نه فقط بایگانی خاطرات است، بلکه ساختار شخصیت و معناست؛ با حذف آن، چیزی از انسان باقی نمی‌ماند مگر خلا و تکرار.

روایت فیلم، درهم‌تنیده و حلقوی‌ست؛ شبیه همان‌طور که ذهن کار می‌کند، با پرش، با تردید، با بازگشت به لحظه‌هایی که هم دردند و هم عزیز. داستان، میان واقعیت و خاطره، خواب و بیداری، عشق و انزجار، مدام در نوسان است؛ و مخاطب هم، مثل شخصیت‌ها، هیچ‌وقت مطمئن نیست در کجای زمان ایستاده.

جیم کری در نقش جول، بازی‌ای فراتر از همه‌ی کلیشه‌های همیشگی‌اش ارائه می‌دهد: مردی ساکت، ملایم، با چهره‌ای درهم‌شکسته؛ در برابر کیت وینسلتِ پرهیاهو و ناآرام. این تضاد، مثل تصادف شب و آتش است؛ و این برخورد، همان چیزی‌ست که فیلم را شعله‌ور می‌کند.

درخشش ابدی یک ذهن پاک فقط دربارهٔ عشق نیست؛ دربارهٔ تنهایی‌ست، دربارهٔ حقیر شدن آدم‌ها در مقابل خاطراتشان، دربارهٔ تقلا برای شروع دوباره در جهانی که حافظه از آن حذف نمی‌شود، حتی اگر فایل‌هایش پاک شوند. فیلم، در پایان، پرسشی را بی‌پاسخ می‌گذارد: اگر بدانی قرار است دوباره شکست بخوری، باز هم حاضری عاشق شوی؟

پاسخ شاید همان باشد که نگاه جول و کلمنتاین در آخرین سکانس می‌گوید: آری. چون شاید عشق، تنها دیوانگی‌ای‌ست که ارزش تکرار دارد.

[Yajie Li · Rating 5 out of 5]

Impressive and illustrates how philosophers utilize philosophical resources to better understand films~

[Ivanna Portillo · Rating 4 out of 5]

“What if you stayed this time” :(