What do you think?
Rate this book
Without Empathy: Irony and the Satirical Impulse in Eight Major Filmmakers
Irony and the satirical impulse in cinema have gradually lost favor, mockery increasingly more selective in its choice of targets. As Linda Hutcheon notes, irony is becoming a problematic mode of expression in the 21st century.
The book examines the work of eight film Luis Bunuel, RW Fassbinder, Stanley Kubrick, Robert Altman, Paul Verhoeven, Aki Kaurismaki, Aleksei Balabanov and David Lynch, much of whose work is not always regarded thus and the films examined are often more ironic than satirical. From apparent melodrama and eroticism to fantasy and horror, these eight directors redefine satire’s limits, providing evidence that irony in cinema often goes unrecognised.
The introduction examines the various categories of satire, and the chapters then study the filmmakers individually through selected works, offering interpretations of films and identifying a consistent approach. Since the work is often ambiguous the book speculates on each film’s purport, engaging in textual interpretation of individual works to understand concerns underneath the most obvious. The Afterword tries to find common targets and strategies on the filmmakers’ part.
The book examines the work of eight film Luis Bunuel, RW Fassbinder, Stanley Kubrick, Robert Altman, Paul Verhoeven, Aki Kaurismaki, Aleksei Balabanov and David Lynch, much of whose work is not always regarded thus and the films examined are often more ironic than satirical. From apparent melodrama and eroticism to fantasy and horror, these eight directors redefine satire’s limits, providing evidence that irony in cinema often goes unrecognised.
The introduction examines the various categories of satire, and the chapters then study the filmmakers individually through selected works, offering interpretations of films and identifying a consistent approach. Since the work is often ambiguous the book speculates on each film’s purport, engaging in textual interpretation of individual works to understand concerns underneath the most obvious. The Afterword tries to find common targets and strategies on the filmmakers’ part.
225 pages, Paperback
Published September 12, 2025
2 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
October 20, 2025
Without Empathy isn’t an easy read but it’s not meant to be. Raghavendra MKR dives deep into the unsettling realities of how power, cruelty, and detachment shape human behavior. The book challenges readers to confront the darker side of society with a scholar’s insight and a storyteller’s precision.
What stands out most is the author’s courage to explore uncomfortable truths without softening them for the reader. His analysis moves seamlessly between philosophy, psychology, and real-world events, making it both intellectual and emotionally charged. Some passages are dense and demand focus, but the reward is worth the effort for readers who appreciate serious, idea-driven writing.
This is not a mainstream or commercial bookit’s a reflective, academic-style work that invites readers to question the moral cost of modern civilization. Without Empathy leaves you thinking long after you’ve finished, which is exactly what good criticism should do.
What stands out most is the author’s courage to explore uncomfortable truths without softening them for the reader. His analysis moves seamlessly between philosophy, psychology, and real-world events, making it both intellectual and emotionally charged. Some passages are dense and demand focus, but the reward is worth the effort for readers who appreciate serious, idea-driven writing.
This is not a mainstream or commercial bookit’s a reflective, academic-style work that invites readers to question the moral cost of modern civilization. Without Empathy leaves you thinking long after you’ve finished, which is exactly what good criticism should do.
October 10, 2025
Without Empathy is one of the most thought-provoking books I’ve read on film in a long time. MK Raghavendra dives deep into the worlds of filmmakers like Kubrick, Lynch, and Bunuel, exploring how irony and satire shape their work in ways I’d never fully considered before. It’s not a light read, but it’s incredibly rewarding if you love cinema that makes you think.
I especially appreciated how the book connects very different directors through the common thread of irony it gave me a new way to look at films I’ve seen many times. Highly recommended for anyone who enjoys critical, reflective writing about movies and wants to understand how filmmakers use irony to comment on human nature and society.
I especially appreciated how the book connects very different directors through the common thread of irony it gave me a new way to look at films I’ve seen many times. Highly recommended for anyone who enjoys critical, reflective writing about movies and wants to understand how filmmakers use irony to comment on human nature and society.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews