Metaphysics is a core concept of philosophy which seeks to
explain the nature of reality. How do we reconcile the duality of our
perception of the material and the immaterial— the mysterious relationship
between the mind and body? Metaphysical arguments also tend toward cosmological
arguments about the origins of existence.
The film Adaption
gives us a—perhaps too revealing—perspective of the character Charlie Kaufman’s
constructed reality. The film is self-reflexive; it’s a movie about its
screenwriter making the very movie being watched by viewers. However, it isn’t
biographical, at least I keep reassuring myself that it is completely
fictional… out of fear, I suppose. Sorting through the fact and fiction is one
way to approach a metaphysical analysis of Adaptation.
As viewers, if we take on the strange vision of reality seen through character
Charlie Kaufman’s eyes, perhaps we can discover what the real Charlie Kaufman
is showing us. What did Mr. Kaufman (the character) learn about his world while
adapting the novel? “I don't want to cram in sex or guns or car chases, you
know... or characters, you know, learning profound life lessons or growing or
coming to like each other or overcoming obstacles to succeed in the end, you
know. I mean... The book isn't like that, and life isn't like that. You know,
it just isn't. And... I feel very strongly about this” (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0268126/quotes).
Can we draw similar conclusions about our surroundings?
