This is entry #32 in our 100 Philosophers, 100 Artworks, 100 Words Series.
Philosopher: Hans Maes (University of Kent)
Artwork: Dazed and Confused (1993). Film directed by Richard Linklater.
Words: Aren’t we all? Philosophers have put a lot of thought into the nature of aesthetic judgments, but often overlook the fact that we not only judge works of art, but can also grow to love them. This happened to me with Dazed and Confused. From the slow-motion Aerosmith-fueled opening shot to the final SlowRidin’ fade-out: I adore every minute of it. It’s certainly not a perfect film. But love doesn’t require perfection. And I have reached that blissful state where I can’t tell anymore whether I cherish the movie despite or partly because of its flaws.
