Episode 144: Aftersun

Reflecting History

What is memory? Why do we remember and forget? How does the puzzle of memory fit together or fall apart in our minds? In the 2022 film “Aftersun,” written and directed by Charlotte Wells, a woman tries to look back into the foggy past of her memory, remembering a childhood vacation with her dad while trying to uncover clues about his troubled life. Delving into the psychology of memory, development and coming of age, mental health, depression, what it means to have emotions and feelings, financial burdens and weights and what that does to people, vulnerability, ambiguity, self destruct mechanisms, and much more-“Aftersun” is a wonderful father/daughter story, but also a deeper examination into beginnings and endings-and just like memory itself, it is told through shadows, reflections, and mirrors.

This is part one in a six part series on the 2022 movie “Aftersun.” You can find the rest of the series on Patreon page here: https://www.patreon.com/reflectinghistory. Thanks for the support!

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Check out my podcast series on Aftersun, Piranesi, Arcane, The Dark Knight Trilogy, and Nazi Germany and the Battle for the Human Heart here: https://www.reflectinghistory.com/bonuscontent

Try my podcast series "Nazi Germany and the Battle for the Human Heart"-- What led to the rise of Nazi Germany? The answer may surprise you…Why do 'good' people support evil leaders? What allure does fascism hold that enables it to garner popular support? To what extent are ordinary people responsible for the development of authoritarian evil? This 13 part podcast series explores these massive questions and more through the lens of Nazi Germany and the ordinary people who collaborated or resisted as the Third Reich expanded. You'll not only learn about the horrifying, surprising, and powerful ways in which the Nazis seized and maintained power, but also fundamental lessons about what fascism is-how to spot it and why it spreads. Through exploring the past, I hope to unlock lessons that everyone can apply to the present day. Check it out on my Patreon page at: https://www.patreon.com/reflectinghistory.

Try my podcast series "Piranesi: Exploring the Infinite Halls of a Literary Masterpiece"-- This podcast series is a deep analysis of Susanna Clark's literary masterpiece "Piranesi." Whether you are someone who is reading the novel for academic purposes, or you simply want to enjoy an incredible story for it's own sake, this podcast series goes chapter by chapter into the plot, characters, and themes of the book...“The Beauty of the House is immeasurable; it’s kindness infinite.” Piranesi lives in an infinite house, with no long-term memory and only a loose sense of identity. As the secrets of the House deepen and the mystery of his life becomes more sinister, Piranesi must discover who he is and how this brings him closer to the “Great and Secret Knowledge” that the House contains. Touching on themes of memory, identity, mental health, knowledge, reason, experience, meaning, reflection, ideals, and more…Piranesi will be remembered as one of the great books of the 21st century. Hope you enjoy the series as much as I enjoyed making it. Check it out at https://www.patreon.com/reflectinghistory.

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