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Like Stories of Old

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How have films engaged the problem of other minds? In this video essay, I discuss cinematic explorations into consciousness in the context of the cognitive revolution that has challenged many of the basic assumptions about what was for a long time believed to be a uniquely human trait.

Sources: Frans de Waal – Are we smart enough to know how smart animals are?

Music licensed from Artlist

Featured films, in order of appearance: Arrival 2001: A Space Odyssey Ex Machina Chappie Blade Runner 2049 Prometheus Annihilation Interstellar Rise of the Planet of the Apes War for the Planet of the Apes Okja

Correction: the quote at the end is actually from Isaac Asimov, not Frans de Waal