Memento (Philosophers on Film)

Within a short space of time, the film Memento has already been hailed as a modern classic. Memorably narrated in reverse, from the perspective of Leonard Shelby, the film’s central character, it follows Leonard’s chaotic and visceral quest to discover the identity of his wife’s killer and avenge her murder, despite his inability to form new long-term memories.

This is the first book to explore and address the myriad philosophical questions raised by the film, concerning personal identity, free will, memory, knowledge, and action. It also explores problems in aesthetics raised by the film through its narrative structure, ontology, and genre. Beginning with a helpful introduction that places the film in context and maps out its complex structure, specially commissioned chapters examine the following topics:

• memory, emotion, and self-consciousness
• agency, free will, and responsibility
• personal identity
• narrative and popular cinema
• the film genre of neo-noir
• Memento and multimedia

Including annotated further reading at the end of each chapter, Memento is essential reading for students interested in philosophy and film studies.

Andrew Kania is Assistant Professor of Philosophy at Trinity University, San Antonio, USA. His principle research is in the philosophy of music, literature, and film. He is the editor (with Theodore Gracyk) of The Routledge Companion to Philosophy and Music.