How Does Christopher Nolan’s ‘Memento’ (2000) Present Provocative Ideas About Identity?
How does Christopher Nolan’s ‘Memento’ (2000) present provocative ideas about identity?
Throughout ones life, they will often ask questions about who they are and what their identity is. The obvious ideas of identity covers aspects of; where you were born, family bloodline, ethnic/cultural standing, values and beliefs, religion, etc. However ones personal idea of their identity relies on their past experiences and how that shapes the person they are today. It is what they know about themselves today that secures their continuation of identity over time. For myself, I see my identity as both American and Australian culturally, historically and socially, however my personality and true self is something that confides within my past memories and experiences that shape who I am to other people but also in my personal life.
Provocative ideas about identity is explored heavily within Christopher Nolan’s neo-noir film, ‘Memento’ (2000). The main protagonist, Leonard Shelby suffers “a very particular condition” anterograde amnesia, after someone raped and killed his wife and hit Leonard’s in the head. The condition allows him to remember everything that happened before the incident yet it impedes him from making new memories. To deal with his condition he does two main things: takes polaroid photos of people he meets and writes information about them on the photos and tattoos important information on his body to the help him find the man who raped and murdered his wife. When considering Leonard’s condition, its important to note how memory shapes the person we see ourselves as, and instilling a certainty of that identity over the continuity of time.
“I have this condition… it’s my memory… I have no short term memory. I know who I am, I know all about myself. It’s just, since my injury, I can’t make new memories – everything fades. If we talk for too long, I’ll forget how we started. Next time I see you I’m not going to remember this conversation. I won’t even
Throughout ones life, they will often ask questions about who they are and what their identity is. The obvious ideas of identity covers aspects of; where you were born, family bloodline, ethnic/cultural standing, values and beliefs, religion, etc. However ones personal idea of their identity relies on their past experiences and how that shapes the person they are today. It is what they know about themselves today that secures their continuation of identity over time. For myself, I see my identity as both American and Australian culturally, historically and socially, however my personality and true self is something that confides within my past memories and experiences that shape who I am to other people but also in my personal life.
Provocative ideas about identity is explored heavily within Christopher Nolan’s neo-noir film, ‘Memento’ (2000). The main protagonist, Leonard Shelby suffers “a very particular condition” anterograde amnesia, after someone raped and killed his wife and hit Leonard’s in the head. The condition allows him to remember everything that happened before the incident yet it impedes him from making new memories. To deal with his condition he does two main things: takes polaroid photos of people he meets and writes information about them on the photos and tattoos important information on his body to the help him find the man who raped and murdered his wife. When considering Leonard’s condition, its important to note how memory shapes the person we see ourselves as, and instilling a certainty of that identity over the continuity of time.
“I have this condition… it’s my memory… I have no short term memory. I know who I am, I know all about myself. It’s just, since my injury, I can’t make new memories – everything fades. If we talk for too long, I’ll forget how we started. Next time I see you I’m not going to remember this conversation. I won’t even