Killing The Big Lebowski - Damsel In Dior

Outfits 9 years ago Killing The Big Lebowski

Shop

I took a philosophy course in college {because I was forced to} and my professor spent the entire semester relating philosophy to the film, The Big Lebowski. During class, which he took attendance for so you could not skip if you wanted to pass, we would watch the film over and over and over and over again. Our homework assignments were to read the thick, tedious and mundane philosophy books and then go back to class and watch The Big Lebowski. Our tests included writing essays on how the film related to the text. I still want to claw my eyes out when I think about the long, dreaded walks to class and knowing that my fate included watching, yet again, The Big {damn} Lebowski. At the time, I did not understand what the hell was going on. The Professor not only ruined the film for me, but he certifiably drove me insane.

Anytime someone brings up the movie, I cannot help but shrill with pains in memory of being forced to watch it on repeat. But it wasn’t until recently that I got my 20 year old head out of the clouds and truly questioned why my professor would do this. It is quite ironic that through my recent research of relating The Big Lebowski to philosophy that I came across a theory of repetition. The concept of repetition gains greater significance when the reader/viewer reaches a point where, even though interpretation is incomplete and ongoing, compelling meanings begin to emerge.

Why did my professor force us to watch The Big Lebowski on repeat? What is the message here? In the end, I found numerous references to Plato and Aristotle. I found The Greek concept of mimesis, or imitation, to be closely associated with the film. I found so many incredible ironies in not only the relation between the film and philosophy, but the fact that my professor made us repeatedly watch it repeated the irony. My professor became the message. I also came across an entire book dedicated to this {which can be found here}. I couldn’t help but smile and wish that I could e-mail my old professor and tell him, “Yes! I get it now!” in congratulations that he did a job well done. I love nothing more than a delayed message or a joke thats pun may not hit you for days, months or years later. These are the true geniuses who think outside of the box that is outside of the box.

But I still cannot stand The Big Lebowski.