Output details

A mind's eye

This film addresses Plato’s ‘eidos’ or world of forms argument. In Timaeus, Plato proposes there exists a world of forms where ‘things’ exist as an essence or form, and a world of appearances where copies of these forms exist. Taking this as starting point the narrative of the film was a journey from the world of forms to the world of appearances. The research aims to mobilise Plato’s ‘eidos’ using the creative possibilities offered by the mise-en-scène, cinematography, music, performance and design, while reflexively acknowledging the limits of film language to grasp form or essence. Plato’s elemental essences (earth, fire, water) and somatic essences (plant, horse, human) are intercut with a Socratic dialogue between two characters, Stanley (the copy) and Stanley Too (the form). The dialogue and commentary contained within the film, articulated in relation to form and ontology in the context of the images, and in relation to iconography and sound design employed, exemplify ways in which film form itself is a subject of research process and outcome.

Callaghan’s research is informed by arguments that film can engender philosophical practices (Cavell, Frampton and Singer). She argues that a reflexive use of film form allows thinking through of philosophical problems. The project was partly funded through an AHRC award. Presentations have included exhibitions, screenings and conferences at public venues including the Whitechapel Gallery in London, Centro Cultural de Lagos (Portugal), and Watershed, Bristol. Versions were published in Screenworks, Journal of Media Practice (2011) and reviewed on AP engine. Secondary outputs include a documentary and a book chapter for a pedagogic text.