Comparing The Film 'Lordship And Bondage'

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Shelby Clipp SNY and Issues of Subjectivity “Self-consciousness exists in and for itself when, and by the fact that, it so exists for another; that is, it exists only in being acknowledged.” As the phenomenology of human experience would have it, each individual must represent the world from their own unique perspective. This aspect of the human condition is known as our subjectivity, and it is the very thing which allows one to make the world intelligible in that it provides us with the power to freely choose how to define and interpret the meaning of our surrounding world. For an individual to use their subjectivity in this way, they first must be able to separate themselves from the world. That is, they must be able to conceive of themselves …show more content…

For it, its essence and absolute object is “I”; and this immediacy, or in this [mere] being, of its being-for-self, it is an …show more content…

Throughout the first half of the film, Sammy is literally presented to us as an extra in Caden’s life. It is not until Caden decides that he needs an actor fill the role of himself in his production that the audience is officially introduced to Sammy. For a while, Sammy accepts his role as the bondsman by bending his own desires to fit Caden’s will. While Hegel says that the bondsman acts this way out of fear, it is unclear if this is true of Sammy. After all, for some reason, Sammy has always been lurking in Caden’s life, making it appear as if all along his desire had been to please Caden in a way that would not necessarily come across as Sammy sacrificing his desires. That said, Hegel claims that “through work, however, the bondsman becomes conscious of what he truly is.” Eventually, Sammy does come to the realization that he is distinct from the will that Caden imposes upon him. Once Sammy becomes aware of himself as an individual without relying on Caden’s recognition, he begins to rebel against him. One of the most prominent ways in which he does this is by taking Hazel out on a date and subsequently falling for her, in despite of the fact that Hazel is supposed to be Caden’s love interest. This causes Caden to spiral into a bit of self-doubt from seeing that he cannot control Sammy in the way he could if he was a mere

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