Apocalypse Now, Nihilism, and Abstraction of War
Presentation Type
Critical Analysis
Release Option
Event
Description
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Abstract
Apocalypse Now (1979) has at times been likened to a prowar movie, a fascist one, and an antiwar movie. The movie has all those qualities but is an artistically complicated film that defies easy categorization. This essay is an analysis of the film through a nihilistic and bleak worldview, one that is seeking to avoid the culpability of participating in war while also actively participating in some of its worst elements. This will be done through an analysis of the meaning behind various scenes of the movie, especially those that have left the movie and escaped into more popular consciousness. What comes out is the idea that the movie is a truer look at war than others, as it both embraces and rejects the horror present. The purpose of the paper is to find a new potential way to muddy the waters on how to view a single war film, and then war films in general
Faculty Mentor
Dr. Amanda Konkle
Department of Primary Presenter's Major
Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies
Location
Armstrong Campus
Symposium Year
2023
Apocalypse Now, Nihilism, and Abstraction of War
Armstrong Campus
Apocalypse Now (1979) has at times been likened to a prowar movie, a fascist one, and an antiwar movie. The movie has all those qualities but is an artistically complicated film that defies easy categorization. This essay is an analysis of the film through a nihilistic and bleak worldview, one that is seeking to avoid the culpability of participating in war while also actively participating in some of its worst elements. This will be done through an analysis of the meaning behind various scenes of the movie, especially those that have left the movie and escaped into more popular consciousness. What comes out is the idea that the movie is a truer look at war than others, as it both embraces and rejects the horror present. The purpose of the paper is to find a new potential way to muddy the waters on how to view a single war film, and then war films in general
