English Literature & Creative Writing
Why am I Me and Not You? Humanity and Life Through the Wim Wender's Film, "Wings of Desire"
Document Type
Oral Presentation
Location
Indianapolis, IN
Subject Area
English Literature & Creative Writing
Start Date
11-4-2014 1:00 PM
End Date
11-4-2014 2:30 PM
Sponsor
Lee Garver (Butler University)
Description
"Why am I me and why not you? Why am I here and why not there? When did time begin and does space end?"
These words are from Wim Wender's poem Song of Childhood and are not only the focus of my film presentation on his movie Wings of Desire, but also the foundation of which this movie revolves. The question of humanity and its purpose is the very foundation of what Wender wishes his audience to wonder. Within Wings of Desire the viewer is presented with a world populated not only by us, the oblivious and self isolated masochists, but a world shared by cold, all knowing, invisible angels. These angels understand the development and purpose of genesis and mortality, but do not understand the way in which it feels. What is meant of this viewed separation between man and angels in this film if these otherworldly beings are able to bridge our minds and ease our pain?
Is Wings of Desire a film about faith in a larger power, or one that tells us how we as humans are never able to connect; thus missing the point of life? Amidst this self inflicted atmosphere of isolation, a single commonality between all humans, an unfeeling and out of reach angel named Damiel is moved to fall in love with a human trapeze artist. It is her passion, her loss, and the desperation of her humanity that is able to bridge the palpable and unknowable divide between the divine species of angels and our own realm.
Within my presentation I will explore the question of humanity; what does it mean in Wender's eyes to be mortal: to be an individual in such a populated and lonely world? I will also explore the question of our creation and how it is viewed throughout this film. Is the existence of humanity a beautiful and inevitable cycle of hope, or one of mundane, mechanical motives that do not distinguish or differ throughout the ages? I will delve into a deeper analysis of these questions through symbolism within Wim Wender's Wings of Desire; and that is part of the reason why I am me, and not you, why I am here, and not there…
Why am I Me and Not You? Humanity and Life Through the Wim Wender's Film, "Wings of Desire"
Indianapolis, IN
"Why am I me and why not you? Why am I here and why not there? When did time begin and does space end?"
These words are from Wim Wender's poem Song of Childhood and are not only the focus of my film presentation on his movie Wings of Desire, but also the foundation of which this movie revolves. The question of humanity and its purpose is the very foundation of what Wender wishes his audience to wonder. Within Wings of Desire the viewer is presented with a world populated not only by us, the oblivious and self isolated masochists, but a world shared by cold, all knowing, invisible angels. These angels understand the development and purpose of genesis and mortality, but do not understand the way in which it feels. What is meant of this viewed separation between man and angels in this film if these otherworldly beings are able to bridge our minds and ease our pain?
Is Wings of Desire a film about faith in a larger power, or one that tells us how we as humans are never able to connect; thus missing the point of life? Amidst this self inflicted atmosphere of isolation, a single commonality between all humans, an unfeeling and out of reach angel named Damiel is moved to fall in love with a human trapeze artist. It is her passion, her loss, and the desperation of her humanity that is able to bridge the palpable and unknowable divide between the divine species of angels and our own realm.
Within my presentation I will explore the question of humanity; what does it mean in Wender's eyes to be mortal: to be an individual in such a populated and lonely world? I will also explore the question of our creation and how it is viewed throughout this film. Is the existence of humanity a beautiful and inevitable cycle of hope, or one of mundane, mechanical motives that do not distinguish or differ throughout the ages? I will delve into a deeper analysis of these questions through symbolism within Wim Wender's Wings of Desire; and that is part of the reason why I am me, and not you, why I am here, and not there…