Just revisited this film after reading the section titled "History" of Jean Baudrillard's (mind numbing) book. As the chapter began, I couldn't help but think of Barry Lyndon and sure enough the movie became an example. Interesting section to read that pertains to this film and cinema of our time.
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shareSo much of Barry's experience is emulation. As Kubrick once talked about, society forcing people to assume a series of unnatural poses in order to be considered normal.
Simulation and performance seemed to be essential to any social mobility in the film, and indeed deceit an understood, if unspoken, necessity.
Many Kubrick films have strong connections to others (they all do in fact) but Barry Lyndon, as far as these themes go, relates most strongly to Eyes Wide Shut.
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Barry Lyndon made me think of Eyes Wide Shut too. For some reason I always keep wondering what Eyes Wide *beep* would've been like if Kubrick wouldn't have set it in modern times.
Interesting thought. I once tried to pitch the idea that Total Recall basically borrows the same philosophy. I only wonder if it is a coincidence since this book (and probably Total Recall's book version) probably pre-date his philosophy.
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