Week 4 Flashcards
What are the four aspects of “The Unknown”?
- The Other
- The Future
- The Futility of Human Existence
- Death
How is “The Future” described?
as “a negative temporal space
- I cannot see ‘ahead’ to it
- I am forced to create, and/or anticipate”
What is the dual nature of Death’s impact on human existence?
Death creates two possible responses:
- “The Futility of Human Existence”
- “Fervor to Live Brilliantly and Make a Difference.”
What is “Being-toward-Death” and how does it relate to human existence?
Being-toward-Death: the awareness of mortality that shapes human existence
- It raises the question “What is certain?” and connects to the futility of human existence
What is the key characteristic of angels in angelology?
Angels are “Doers of God’s bidding and order” and “Do not have independent will/agency apart from God.”
What are the three primary roles of angels?
- Warrior
- Healer
- Messenger
How does the concept of angels as intermediaries relate to the film “Wings of Desire”?
Angels serve as intermediaries between divine and human realms, which is challenged in “Wings of Desire” when an angel chooses to give up this intermediary position to become human.
What is Gabriel’s role in the Book of Daniel?
Gabriel appears as an interpreter of dreams, helping Daniel understand prophecies and visions
- helps Daniel interpret dreams about redemption and Israel’s future
What are the key differences between Angels and Jinns in Islamic tradition?
Angels: made of light and are complete vessels of God’s will with no independent agency
Jinns: made of fire and have some decision-making agency
- Angels only relay God’s will, while Jinns have more autonomy.
What are the four main characteristics of angels?
- Attentiveness (constant awareness)
- Focus (single-minded purpose)
- Obligation/Duty (complete devotion to God’s will)
- Detachment (separation from human concerns)
Why do angels typically begin their messages with “Fear not”?
their true form is meant to inspire awe (combination of wonder and fear)
What is the significance of “fallen” angels?
- represent those who fell from heaven due to pride, arrogance, and putting their own will above God’s
- In Christian tradition, this is exemplified by Satan, who fell due to pride and refusing to accept God’s plan
What is the significance of Psalm 8 in relation to angels and humans?
- states humans were made “little lower than the angels.”
- establishes the hierarchical relationship between humans and angels
Why was Berlin chosen as the setting for “Wings of Desire” (Der Himmel über Berlin)?
a divided city with angels present in its architecture, symbolizing the divided human condition and need for redemption.
How does “Wings of Desire” reverse traditional religious redemption narratives?
Instead of humans seeking heavenly redemption, an angel chooses to fall to Earth for human love, suggesting earthly life has inherent value despite its mortality.
How does the film represent the human condition through the trapeze artist?
symbolizes the precarious nature of human existence - living in moments that “appear, shine brightly and then are gone forever,” constantly balancing between life and death.
What metaphor does the film use to describe human life?
Human life is likened to a circus and its tent
- “filled with art and brilliant color, it then falls apart, drives away in pieces, and leaves behind a pile of dust (and perhaps some baggage).”
How does the film’s cinematography reflect the difference between angelic and human perspective?
- The angelic perspective is shown in black and white
- Human experiences are shown in color
- Shows the contrast between eternal observation and lived experience
What key questions should we ask about redemption in films?
- Who/what is being redeemed?
- What do we learn about the film’s world?
- Who constructs truth/reality/meaning?
- What is made sacred and why?
What is the significance of “NOW, NOW, NOW” in relation to the angel’s desire?
- represents the angel’s wish to experience temporal existence rather than eternal existence
- feel each individual moment
How does the quote about “holding an apple” relate to desire and temptation?
the desire for physical, sensory experience and the temptation to choose mortal existence over eternal life
What is the significance of Damiel’s question “I want to know everything” and the Filmstar’s response?
shows the contrast between angelic omniscience and human learning through experience - “You need to figure that out for yourself. That’s the fun of it.”
How does phenomenology relate to the film’s portrayal of angels?
Angels occupy shots while being invisible, observing with detachment yet intentional interest, similar to how phenomenology studies conscious experience
What are the four main components of phenomenology?
- First-person perspective
- Qualia
- Consciousness
- Intentionality
What are the different types of experience in phenomenology?
- Lived Experience
- Embodied Experience
- Affective Experience
- Sensory Experience
How does “Wings of Desire” demonstrate phenomenological concepts?
through the angel’s transition from detached observer to embodied human experience
What is the difference between first-person perspective and embodied perspective in phenomenology?
- First-person perspective relates to individual subjective experience
- Embodied perspective focuses on how we experience the world through our physical body.
What is intentionality in phenomenology and how is it defined?
defined as “a moving-toward” and “a willing-toward” - it represents consciousness’s directedness toward objects or experiences
How does consciousness function in phenomenological analysis?
our awareness of experiences and the way we interpret them
What is Qualia and why is it significant in the study of consciousness?
refers to subjective, conscious experiences (like the taste of an apple or the color blue) that are irreducible and ineffable - meaning they cannot be fully described or communicated to others
