Episodes – Cows in the Field

LOOPER (2012)

We sit down with MIT philosopher Tushar Menon to discuss Looper. Does its time travel make sense? What questions does it raise about identity, regret, parenting, and cycles of violence? Would your younger self hate you now? Tune in to find out! I guess everything comes back around. Like your goddamn ties. Abe

THE ODYSSEY (2026)

We discuss Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey with Bilge Ebiri (New York Magazine / Vulture)! We discuss Nolan’s sympathetic Odysseus, a man out of time, burdened by guilt and shame, but also a herald of a new age of science and reason. We consider how Nolan made one of the oldest and grandest stories into aContinue reading “THE ODYSSEY (2026)”

BILLY ELLIOT (2000)

Put on your dancin’ shoes, it’s time to discuss Billy Elliot with Aaron Meskin (Philosophy, U. of Georgia)! We discuss dance movies, dancing, how the film melds British working class drama with fantastical, nondiegetic dance numbers, how conformity perpetuates class structures, how the film portrays masculinity and dance, and more! I don’t want a childhood.Continue reading “BILLY ELLIOT (2000)”

PAST LIVES (2023)

Join us and Bar Luzon (Philosophy, MIT) to discuss Celine Song’s film PAST LIVES. We talk about immigration, love, irresistible freely chosen love, imagination and narrative in self understanding, counterfactual thinking, and never going home… This is where I ended up. This is where I’m supposed to be. Nora

BLADE RUNNER (1982)

The Cows journey to the future, Los Angeles 2019, to run blades with Zed Adams (Philosophy, The New School for Social Research). We discuss eyes, simulation, Hegel, Cavell, Heidegger, rain, tears, pajamas, and who among us is a replicant. I’ve seen things you people wouldn’t believe. Attack ships on fire off the shoulder of Orion.Continue reading “BLADE RUNNER (1982)”

2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY (1968)

Journey with us and Matthias Michel (Philosophy, MIT) beyond the infinite! We discuss humanity’s place in the universe, questions vs. mysteries, technology, space food, space toilets, transcendence, isolation, space, HAL9000, monoliths, chess… and what makes this movie so special. I am putting myself to the fullest possible use, which is all I think that anyContinue reading “2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY (1968)”

EX MACHINA (2014)

We take a trip down A24 lane to discuss our first AI movie of the miniseries, Alex Garland’s EX MACHINA, with Aaron West (of Cinejourneys.com and The A24 New Wave). Auteurs, tech bros, trophy robot wives/slaves, creations leaving the nest, and more! Also, Justin cut out the bit where he ranted about the film’s half-assedContinue reading “EX MACHINA (2014)”

THE LONG GOODBYE (1973)

We are joined by Tim Smartt (Philosophy, University of Notre Dame at Sydney) to discuss Altman, Coury brand cat food, loneliness, transitions, misplaced loyalties, noir… and more! If a friend asks you to drive him to Mexico at 3am, what should you do?! I even lost my cat. Phillip Marlowe

ENEMY (2013)

Robbie Kubala (Philosophy, UT-Austin) joins to discuss ENEMY! We discuss the fear of entrapment, performativity, spider femininity, 2 v 1, the difficulties of making Associate Professor… and more! Chaos is order yet undeciphered.

THE GREY (2011)

We are joined by Dave Baker (Philosophy, U. Michigan) to talk about THE GREY (2012), which is definitely NOT Taken With Wolves! We discuss accepting death, grief, finding meaning in life, theistic and non-theistic readings, dudes bonding over survival scenarios, wolves, Liam Neeson, and more wolves! I got a book. It’s called “We’re all fucked”. It’s aContinue reading “THE GREY (2011)”