20 years ago, Jim Carrey took on the character of comedian Andy Kaufman. The man who emerged on the other side of this project would never be the same.
Who was Andy Kaufman, and what impact did he have on TV, comedy, and modern philosophy? In this episode we examine Kaufman, his portrayal by Jim Carrey in the 1999 biopic Man on the Moon, and the more recent film about the biopic called Jim and Andy: The Great Beyond.
Some questions we’ll be looking at:
- Was Andy Kaufman even funny? - Method acting and all, did Jim Carrey embody Kaufman convincingly? - Are Jim and Andy nihilists? - What can Jim and Andy tell us about how to live life? - Is there a point where it’s beneficial to abandon all rules? - What lies beyond philosophical nihilism? - Can story bring us meaning?
By the end of this podcast, you’ll have a new perspective on Andy Kaufman, Jim Carrey, meaning, nihilism, and how to balance freedom and morality.
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Media referenced in this episode:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Man_on_the_Moon_(film)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_%26_Andy:_The_Great_Beyond
Kaufman’s Mighty Mouse: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EJi6nyW6faA
Kaufman’s Elvis: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9kpBzUQHYtM&t=146s
Comparison between Andy and Jim: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tckH01TAlC0
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kayfabe
Impro by Keith Johnstone: http://coled.ucsd.edu/files/2016/03/Johnstone-Impro1-1.pdf
