Exploring Existentialism and the Character Leanord in the Film, Memento

Exploring Existentialism and the Character Leanord in the Film, MementoAlthough Christopher Nolan does not acknowledge any philosophical basis for Memento, the film provides a character, Leonard Shelby, who serves as an subject of several aspects of existentialism. Through Leonard, Memento illustrates Soren Kierkegaards idea of rightfulness as subjectivity, Freidrich Nietzsches notion that God is dead, and Jean-Paul Sartres writings on the nature of consciousness.In Concluding Unscientific Postscript, Kierkegaard differentiates mingled with the subject as the knower, and the world (object) as the known the only way we know the world is through ourselves. Kierkegaard emphasizes the importance of how the subject is related to the righteousness, and not the what (content) of the objective. He asserts that the truth can only exist in the subject, for if it lies in the world, we could never access (know) the truth the way we know ourselves. Kierkegaard explains that we can only discov er the truth by turning inward fadate inwardness is essential to finding the truth, as it is the way in which the subject is seeking the truth the more passion the subject has, the closer she/he comes to the truth. Passionate inwardness is fueled by objective uncertainty if an individual sees objective proof of her truth, she will become little passionate however, when she does not find reassurance in the objective, her inward passion will lead her to the (her) truth. This paradox relies on the subject believing passionately in the truth that exists in her while believing in a lack of objective support for that truth.Fridreich Nietzsche writes in The Gay Science God is dead....And we have killed him, (99, Existentialist Philosophy) referr... ...f worldly concern before essence is echoed when sideslip tells Leonard that he (Leonard) doesnt even know who he is when Leonard answers he is his past self, Teddy cautions Thats who you were, not who youve become. While Leonard does not believe it, Teddy reminds him that he is responsible for his wifes death, not the men he tracks down and enjoys killing. Leonard refuses to acknowledge that he is his processs, to which Sartre would say There is no reality except in action (316, Existentialist Philosophy). Leonard seems to avoid responsibility for his freedom, most likely because he does see who he has become. Memento is a poignant affirmation that our actions make us who we atomic number 18 and that we are in fact responsible for the choices we make, whether we face our freedom, or flee from our anxiety as Leonard does. Now, where was I...?Existentialist PhilosophyMemento