Cinematic Investigations: At the Picturehouse with Wittgenstein

An essay by Lillian Crawford

Do not be put off by the title. This is by no means a paper looking at Wittgensteinian philosophy in relation to cinema – I am not advanced enough to attempt such an essay, and there is already a book dedicated to that subject (S'ouvre dans une nouvelle fenêtre). My reasons for writing about cinema and the Austrian philosopher Ludwig Wittgenstein are entirely personal. There are some strange parallels between my formative experiences as a cinephile and Wittgenstein’s life which may resonate with others who take comfort in the quietude of the picturehouse. Allow me this moment of philosophical self-investigation.