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Le Monde diplomatique (Oslo) 10/2007
10/2007
RELIGIONSKRITIKK: Anarkistisk Ateisme
CRITICISM OF RELIGION: Anarchistic atheism
Religion is a powerful tool for all power seeking men in the world, writes the French philosopher Michel Onfray in The Atheist Manifesto: The Case Against Christianity, Judaism and Islam (2007) which was recently published in Norwegian. In this atheist bestseller, which has been translated to 15 languages, he claims that Judaism, Christianity and Islam are permeated by misogyny, contempt for the body and hatred of life. In The Atheist Manifesto Onfray proposes an "atheistic atheism", liberated from Christian morals and metaphysics, and a sosialist anarchism. To make a space free from religion and demands from liberalism, he established a separate university, the Popular University of Caen in 2002. LMD met Onfray in connection with his book tour in Norway.
Religion is a powerful tool for all power seeking men in the world, writes the French philosopher Michel Onfray in The Atheist Manifesto: The Case Against Christianity, Judaism and Islam (2007) which was recently published in Norwegian. In this atheist bestseller, which has been translated to 15 languages, he claims that Judaism, Christianity and Islam are permeated by misogyny, contempt for the body and hatred of life. In The Atheist Manifesto Onfray proposes an "atheistic atheism", liberated from Christian morals and metaphysics, and a sosialist anarchism. To make a space free from religion and demands from liberalism, he established a separate university, the Popular University of Caen in 2002. LMD met Onfray in connection with his book tour in Norway.
TAVS DOKUMENTAR: Hvor kun lyden av sne er hørbar
SILENT DOCUMENTARY: Where you can only hear the snow fall
The German film director Philip Gröning is the first ever to gain permisson to film the isolated Carthusian order in France. The film then depicts not only the religious calling, but also the basic qualities of life. In close similarity with the classic Direct Cinema-tradition, his film Into Great Silence is a unification of the observing and participating life.
The German film director Philip Gröning is the first ever to gain permisson to film the isolated Carthusian order in France. The film then depicts not only the religious calling, but also the basic qualities of life. In close similarity with the classic Direct Cinema-tradition, his film Into Great Silence is a unification of the observing and participating life.
DOKUMENTAR: Demokratiets skyggesider
DOCUMENTARY: The shadow side of democracy
How far are we really willing to go in the fight for expansion of democracy? 10 documentaries and several short films will be screened more or less at the same time this month. The purpose of this unique media project is to use the documentaries as a spring board to start a debate on democratic values. The project is an admirable initiative in a world where terrorism and religion – and not least the fight against these – are jeopardizing democratic principles. Populism, corruption and nepotism are once again an unfortunate side effect of democracy.
How far are we really willing to go in the fight for expansion of democracy? 10 documentaries and several short films will be screened more or less at the same time this month. The purpose of this unique media project is to use the documentaries as a spring board to start a debate on democratic values. The project is an admirable initiative in a world where terrorism and religion – and not least the fight against these – are jeopardizing democratic principles. Populism, corruption and nepotism are once again an unfortunate side effect of democracy.
DOKUMENTAR: Moores metode
DOCUMENTARY: Moore's method
Michael Moore's Sicko is making USA feel ashamed of itself. USA is no. 37 on WHO's ranking list over the health care services of their member countries. Several of the richest countries in the world are beaten by Latin American countries. The basic starting point for discussion in Sicko is the unfortunate ones that do not have a health insurance. But he focus is mainly on the 250 million American citizens that do have health insurance. If the health insurance companies can make the case that there is doubt if an illness or injury qualifies for treatment, they systematically do so at every occasion. Moore is no anti-American. He is a dissapointed American that sees that the American regime is all about defending the insurance companies, weapons manufacturers, the oil lobby and last but not least, the enormously rich Saudis.
Michael Moore's Sicko is making USA feel ashamed of itself. USA is no. 37 on WHO's ranking list over the health care services of their member countries. Several of the richest countries in the world are beaten by Latin American countries. The basic starting point for discussion in Sicko is the unfortunate ones that do not have a health insurance. But he focus is mainly on the 250 million American citizens that do have health insurance. If the health insurance companies can make the case that there is doubt if an illness or injury qualifies for treatment, they systematically do so at every occasion. Moore is no anti-American. He is a dissapointed American that sees that the American regime is all about defending the insurance companies, weapons manufacturers, the oil lobby and last but not least, the enormously rich Saudis.
FILM: Film fra sør
FILM: Films from The South
Films from China, Hong Kong and Taiwan have in recent years become a real competitor to both Hollywood and Japan. The festival Films from The South has this year 140 films from Asia, Afrika and Latin-Amerika on its program.
Films from China, Hong Kong and Taiwan have in recent years become a real competitor to both Hollywood and Japan. The festival Films from The South has this year 140 films from Asia, Afrika and Latin-Amerika on its program.
FILM: Glamour og hard virkelighet i Venezia
FILM: Glamour and hard reality in Venice
Behind the glamorous film festival in Venice we find several political films. We mention only some of them here. Among them is a fiction film that was recorded during the war in Lebanon last year.
Behind the glamorous film festival in Venice we find several political films. We mention only some of them here. Among them is a fiction film that was recorded during the war in Lebanon last year.
FILM: Kunstner og samfunnsborger
FILM: Michael Winterbottom: Artist and Citizen
In March last year Khalid Sheikh Mohammed (during a secret military interrogation on Guantánamo) confessed that he had decapitated Daniel Pearl. The film A Mighty Heart, directed by Michael Winterbottom, is based on the account told by his widow Mariane Pearl, which describes the fate of her husband. Winterbottom has an obvious journalistic instinct for the theme and retells the Pearl-tragedy in the form of a basic and competent thriller. Winterbottom has made many political films. His work as a director calls for respect and sympathy, but not always bowing admiration. Le Monde diplomatique has taken a closer look at the director – and his new film.
In March last year Khalid Sheikh Mohammed (during a secret military interrogation on Guantánamo) confessed that he had decapitated Daniel Pearl. The film A Mighty Heart, directed by Michael Winterbottom, is based on the account told by his widow Mariane Pearl, which describes the fate of her husband. Winterbottom has an obvious journalistic instinct for the theme and retells the Pearl-tragedy in the form of a basic and competent thriller. Winterbottom has made many political films. His work as a director calls for respect and sympathy, but not always bowing admiration. Le Monde diplomatique has taken a closer look at the director – and his new film.
ANIMASJON: Snarere sist enn først
ANIMATION: Rather last than first
The new talkshow Halvseint, produced by Norwegian State Broadcasting (NRK), is a smart caricature, antiauthoritarian in a fully enjoyable way and not filled with the usual self-pompousness that you find in talkshows. This satirical show is the best surprise this fall. But the channel's announcement that this show is the world's first animated talkshow is embarrassing since the history of television will tell a completely different story.
The new talkshow Halvseint, produced by Norwegian State Broadcasting (NRK), is a smart caricature, antiauthoritarian in a fully enjoyable way and not filled with the usual self-pompousness that you find in talkshows. This satirical show is the best surprise this fall. But the channel's announcement that this show is the world's first animated talkshow is embarrassing since the history of television will tell a completely different story.
30 ÅR ETTER: Richters visuelle rekviem
30 YEARS LATER: Richter’s visual requiem
The series of pictures named October 18th 1977 by Gerhard Richter, made visible an upleasant chapter in German history – how the leaders of Rote Armé Fraktion, Ulrike Meinhof, Holger Meins, Andreas Baader og Gudrun Ensslin died in Stammheim prison at the end of the 70’s. Their deaths led to much speculation about whether the terrroists had been liquidated by the authorities or not. The series of pictures also came as a shock for the German art audience.
The series of pictures named October 18th 1977 by Gerhard Richter, made visible an upleasant chapter in German history – how the leaders of Rote Armé Fraktion, Ulrike Meinhof, Holger Meins, Andreas Baader og Gudrun Ensslin died in Stammheim prison at the end of the 70’s. Their deaths led to much speculation about whether the terrroists had been liquidated by the authorities or not. The series of pictures also came as a shock for the German art audience.
ARS ELECTRONICA: "Du er netværket"
ARS ELECTRONICA: "You are the network"
Is it public arenas like Wikipedia and free software that will secure democracy against the forces of the free market? The 31st Ars Electronica festival in Linz said goodbye to the peace of private life and chose to welcome the new communal public arenas instead. Generally the resistance consisted of appropriating the surveillance in the name of critical thought and the artistic sensibility. There will be equally intense fighting over public space 2.0 as over private life 2.0. But who will monitor those who monitor?
Is it public arenas like Wikipedia and free software that will secure democracy against the forces of the free market? The 31st Ars Electronica festival in Linz said goodbye to the peace of private life and chose to welcome the new communal public arenas instead. Generally the resistance consisted of appropriating the surveillance in the name of critical thought and the artistic sensibility. There will be equally intense fighting over public space 2.0 as over private life 2.0. But who will monitor those who monitor?