Culture

“Nietzsche and the Horse” (A Painting)

June 12, 2013 By Daniel Fincke 1 Comment

"Nietzsche and the Horse" by Eric Drass, used with permission

Eric Drass’s paintings highlight philosophers and scientists with animals, the brutality of the corporate world, and the macabre in morality.

Filed Under: Arts, Nietzsche Tagged With: Corporate Fight Club, Eric Drass, I Can't Help Falling In Love With You, Nietzsche and Horse, Painting Schrödinger's cat, Paintings of Nietzsche, Paintings of Philosophers, Paintings of Scientists, Schopenhauer and Poodle, Take My Heart Take My Whole Life Too 1 Comment

Frank Oz’s Eulogy To Jim Henson

May 16, 2013 By Daniel Fincke 1 Comment

We lost one of the greatest creative geniuses in American history 23 years ago today. Here was the great Frank Oz’s moving and fittingly quirky memorialization of his friend and collaborator. Last year I wrote a post on how much Kermit means to me and why. Here’s part 1 of a wonderful documentary that covers [...]

Filed Under: Arts, Arts, Culture, TV, TV Tagged With: Frank Oz, Jim Henson 1 Comment

Obi-Dan Finckobi (and other photoshops and star wars things)

May 4, 2013 By Daniel Fincke Leave a Comment

In this post, I round up some fun photoshops of me friends have done, link you to a cache of photos of me you can use to make your own, and link you to two Star Wars posts from Camels With Hammers that I am particularly proud of.

Filed Under: Personal, Pop Culture Leave a Comment

Why Anakin’s Conversion To The Dark Side Made Sense

March 25, 2013 By Daniel Fincke 21 Comments

James Gray considers Anakin Skywalker’s conversion to the Dark Side unconvincing. He wanted more Hobbesian philosophy like is implied in the original trilogy. Such thinking is presented as part of Anakin’s view on the world, in episode II at least when Anakin and Natalie Portman are frolicking in the meadow and they have an unusually artfully scripted [...]

Filed Under: Film, Film Reviews, Pop Culture Tagged With: Anakin Skywalker, Anakin's conversion, Anakin's conversion explained, Emperor Palpatine, Non-attachment, Padme, Philosophy of Star Wars, Psychology of conversion, psychology of deconversion, Return fo the Jedi, Revenge of the Sith, Star Wars, Why did Anakin turn to the Dark Side?, Yoda 21 Comments

James Hetfield as Nietzschean Yes-Sayer

March 17, 2013 By Daniel Fincke 4 Comments

Nietzsche, in the Gay Science 276, writes: I want to learn more and more to see as beautiful what is necessary in things; then I shall be one of those who make things beautiful. Amor fati: let that be my love henceforth! I do not want to wage war against what is ugly. I do [...]

Filed Under: Music, Nietzsche Tagged With: Amor Fati, Gay Science 276, James Hetfield, Metallica, Metallica Comedy, Nietzsche, Nietzsche Comedy, Yes-Sayer 4 Comments

A Camel That Laughs Like Peter Griffin

January 14, 2013 By Daniel Fincke 3 Comments

In the past I have promised you more actual camels. Behold, thanks to a tip from David, I here give you a camel whose response to being poked/tickled is to make a noise like the laugh of Peter Griffin from Family Guy: Your Thoughts?

Filed Under: Culture, TV, Unintentional Comedy 3 Comments

Leave Quentin Tarantino Alone

January 11, 2013 By Daniel Fincke 9 Comments

How’s this for an idea: let’s let the filmmakers be filmmakers and consult psychologists, sociologists, anthropologists, neuroscientists, policy analysts, philosophers, and, well, just about ANYONE ELSE more qualified to answer about the connections between fantasy violence and real violence.

Filed Under: Arts, Arts, Film, Philosophy Tagged With: Philosophy of Art, Quentin Tarantino, Quentin Tarantino Rant 9 Comments

“Keep Your Fearsome God At Bay”

December 9, 2012 By Daniel Fincke 4 Comments

A cool new anti-religion song by an indie band whose lead singer grew up the daughter of my pastor.

Filed Under: Music Tagged With: "At Bay", Anti-religion songs, Ballroom Spies, Elissa Sapp, Songs critical of religion 4 Comments

“You Can Kill Things But Still Like Them”

October 6, 2012 By Daniel Fincke 1 Comment

Rick Santorum says he has “voted to kill Big Bird” and that you can “kill things but still like them.” In other news, Newt Gingrich wants to liberate Big Bird from bureaucracy.