identity Archives - Page 3 of 4

The Attraction of Protagonists: Three Singular Selves on Screen – Episode 46

In this episode Dara reflects on a recent conversation he had about where and in what way the self should feature in the pursuit of happiness. One argument emphasises total immersion in self as a mode of psychic excavation and rebuilding, whereas an alternative, more Eastern approach, is a wilful eradication of self as the pathway to radical acceptance of what is. Neither is easily achieved, but the discussion is worth having.

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The Fallible Smotherboard and the Fear of Being Seen – Episode 24

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In this episode, Dara discovers the word ‘haecceity’, which stems from the Latin word for ‘thisness’, and is used to describe the quality that makes a thing or a person uniquely themselves. He argues that this is something we cannot hide, no matter what we do.

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The Unloved Child, or Wielding the Blade of Creation – Episode 23

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In this episode, Dara is inspired by Denis Villeneuve’s Bladerunner 2049 to go on a wide-ranging exploration of identity, consciousness and origin. He wonders if the leaders of Big Tech inspired Jared Leto’s portrayal of the designer in the Villeneuve movie before asking what level of thought and feeling is possible for AI entities.

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Walking in the Shadow and Keeping her Light – Episode 21

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In this episode Dara stays firmly in mental health territory and discusses at length our fear of the dark side of ourselves. He talks about the unexpressed and the uncomfortable and argues for disciplined, non-hysterical acceptance of the parts of ourselves that make us turn away.

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Big Bad Daddies! From Tony Soprano to My Father in Several Easy Steps – Episode 20

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In this episode Dara explores the American father as captured in TV sensations The Sopranos and Breaking Bad. He also looks at Arthur Miller’s theatre masterworks Death of a Salesman and All My Sons before briefly visiting old Hollywood depictions of idealised fathers, both with and without collars!

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The Thrum of the Machine, or The Beautiful Irreducibility of Character – Episode 19

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In this episode Dara explores the concept of character and how its uncovering might lie at the heart of true strength, happiness and resilience. He places it in firm counterpoint to the litany of reductive names, labels and titles and other identifiers we have put on us. That prompts a reflection on the tyranny of the word ‘Mother’.

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Such big feelings!, or Learning masculinity from the movies – Episode 18

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In this episode Dara asks the question – what movies really do it for you? Before giving his own answer, he explores the types of masculinity that he has been attracted to on the big screen since he was a child. From the days of Spencer Tracy, through the Star Wars and Indiana Jones era, to the modern emotional landscape of ‘men’s movies’, he covers a lot of ground and a lot of movies that all capture a certain type of bruised masculinity.

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Wake up and smell the Rousseaus – Episode 07

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In this week’s episode, I wade into the murky waters of identity politics and woke culture. The stepping off point is a lovely podcast I was listening to that raised a few different points of discussion in my head. Movies and casting are discussed, as well as giving offence, protecting ourselves, identity and representation, and

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Merely

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Merely I’m sorry. I’m just a man. I don’t know what I represent to you or anybody else. I only know who I am and who I’m not, what I’ve done and what I haven’t. I’m not trying to steal air or drink water or take space that was meant for you. I’m not looking

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I Can Dance, But I Don’t Want To

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Shuffle. Shimmy. Shake. The external is merely a dance. It’s the dance we do to get off the dance floor. You know the one – you have to get to a point on the other side of the room, but the dance floor full of maniacally enthused glitterbugs is unavoidably en route, and because you

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identity

The Attraction of Protagonists: Three Singular Selves on Screen – Episode 46

The Fallible Smotherboard and the Fear of Being Seen – Episode 24

The Unloved Child, or Wielding the Blade of Creation – Episode 23

Walking in the Shadow and Keeping her Light – Episode 21

Big Bad Daddies! From Tony Soprano to My Father in Several Easy Steps – Episode 20

The Thrum of the Machine, or The Beautiful Irreducibility of Character – Episode 19

Such big feelings!, or Learning masculinity from the movies – Episode 18

Wake up and smell the Rousseaus – Episode 07

Merely

I Can Dance, But I Don’t Want To

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