Elephant Man

A Film by David Lynch

Episode 164 of the Fifteen Minute Film Fanatics podcast, hosted by Fifteen-Minute Film Fanatics, titled "Elephant Man" was published on June 5, 2023 and runs 21 minutes.

June 5, 2023 ·21m · Fifteen Minute Film Fanatics

0:00 / 0:00

Summary

George Orwell said, "By fifty, every man has the face he deserves." To what degree does David Lynch's The Elephant Man (1980) respond to the idea that our appearances define our moral selves? Join Mike and Dan for a conversation about the ways in which the story of John Merrick resonates in contemporary reality-TV and how Meririck is trapped in a series of performances. There's a sense that Lynch does to Merrick what the characters--good and bad--do to him in the film: does Lynch get to use Merrick like the shark in Jaws but also like Helen in The Miracle Worker? Give it a listen and decide! The film is based on two books. The first is Frederick Treves' The Elephant Man and Other Reminiscences, which you can find here. The second is Ashley Montagu's The Elephant Man: A Study in Human Dignity. Mike and Dan also talk about the play by Bernard Pomerance in which the actor playing Merrick uses no makeup--you can find that here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode Description

George Orwell said, "By fifty, every man has the face he deserves." To what degree does David Lynch's The Elephant Man (1980) respond to the idea that our appearances define our moral selves? Join Mike and Dan for a conversation about the ways in which the story of John Merrick resonates in contemporary reality-TV and how Meririck is trapped in a series of performances. There's a sense that Lynch does to Merrick what the characters--good and bad--do to him in the film: does Lynch get to use Merrick like the shark in Jaws but also like Helen in The Miracle Worker? Give it a listen and decide! The film is based on two books. The first is Frederick Treves' The Elephant Man and Other Reminiscences, which you can find here. The second is Ashley Montagu's The Elephant Man: A Study in Human Dignity. Mike and Dan also talk about the play by Bernard Pomerance in which the actor playing Merrick uses no makeup--you can find that here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Share this episode

Similar Episodes

When I Knew Stephen Crane

Apr 13, 2026 ·18m

William Harvey and the Discovery of the Circulation of the Blood

Apr 13, 2026 ·54m

The Faust Legend from Marlowe to Goethe

Apr 13, 2026 ·15m

The Life of Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel

Apr 13, 2026 ·44m

Lines of Weakness in Cylinders

Apr 13, 2026 ·3m

The Meaning of the War: Life & Matter in Conflict (1915)

Apr 13, 2026 ·32m

Similar Podcasts

Andrew Wommack Recorded Live Andrew Wommack Ministries Enjoy Andrew's teachings on the go with the new Andrew Wommack Recorded Live podcasts (formerly Gospel Truth Radio podcasts). You can now look forward to weekly, hour-long podcasts instead of fifteen-minute segments on weekdays. Taken from past Gospel Truth Conferences and other live events, you'll enjoy Andrew's humor and personality—in ways that you might not typically experience them on his studio broadcasts—while building yourself up in the Word. Subscribe to have your library of grace-based teachings automatically updated as they become available—tune in to the Word today! Flame CCR - 4. Miscellaneous & John Daniels' journey Flame CCR Contains a selection of Flame CCR's regular programmes to whet your appetite, plus other stand alone programmes. Also includes "John Daniels' journey with cancer" (38 fifteen minute podcasts, 2016 to 2020) in which John talks honestly about his early life, his Christian faith and then his diagnosis with prostate cancer in 2016. He was a strong Yorkshireman and an enthusiastic member of the FLAME team. John experienced superb NHS treatment over a number of years as the cancer progressed. He remained cheerful throughout the years and leant heavily upon his Christian faith. John died from the cancer in April 2020. The theme tune is by Andrew Gardiner (a Baptist Minister in Plymouth) recording as "Rising Hope" who himself suffered and died from cancer but found strength from his Christian faith. 15-Minute History 15-Minute History Podcast Walking in the footsteps of history, fifteen minutes at a time. Join us for a 15-minute episode covering a person, place, or event in history, and stay for an extended discussion. New episodes and discussions every week. The 15 Minute Book Club Alex Churchill, Matt Bone We don't always have an hour or so to spare. In this new, short-form podcast, Alex and Matt interview an author, gameshow style, and they have fifteen minutes on the clock to convince you to buy their new book. With a minute to go, the alarm sounds and your hosts will throw out the meanest, saddest comment they think the internet will come up with about the book and the author gets a chance to respond.Patreon members get extra time: 15 more minutes in which you get to see behind the scenes and find out how the book was written. You can subscribe here: https://www.patreon.com/cw/15MinuteBookClubWatch the video version: https://www.youtube.com/@15MinuteBook_ClubBuy the book (UK) <a href="https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/15MinuteBookClub" rel="noopener noreferre

URL copied to clipboard!