Suggestion…

If you enjoy film, fiction, and casual philosophical conversations, I have a suggestion for you and some of your like-minded friends. (This is something I did recently with The Mules, my book club.)

First: Read Julio Cortázar’s short story, “Blow-Up.” (30 minutes)

Second: Watch Michelangelo Antonioni’s film, Blow-Up. (90 minutes)

Third: Watch Francis Ford Coppola’s film, The Conversation. (90 minutes)

Antonioni’s film is based on the  Cortázar short story. The Conversation is a clever adaptation of the Antonioni film.

Fourth: Discuss.

* What the heck is the short story about, anyway?

* How did Antonioni’s film adhere to and depart from Cortázar’s story?

* How is Coppola’s version like Cortázar’s story and how is it like Antonioni’s film?

* Blow-Up, the short story, is about direct observation; Blow-Up, the movie, is about photography; The Conversation is about audio recording. What is the common theme?

* Which did you like better, and why?