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Tue, May 27 at 8:00pm

THEATER OF THOUGHT

  • Dir. Werner Herzog
  • USA
  • 2022
  • 108 min.
  • NR
  • DCP
  • Assistive Listening
  • Hearing Loop
THEATER OF THOUGHT

Part of Science On Screen® 2025

Tue, May 27 at 8:00pm: Post-screening discussion with Dr. René Marois, Professor of Psychology and the Winkelried Family Chair in Neuroscience at Vanderbilt University | BUY TICKETS

Through the lens of legendary filmmaker Werner Herzog, THEATER OF THOUGHT takes audiences on a provocative journey into the study of the mind and consciousness, daring us to question whether we truly have autonomy over our thoughts, or if our brains will inevitably become infused with mind-controlling technology in the not so distant future. Gathering insight and predictions from some of the world’s most influential scientists and innovators, Herzog’s film is an exploration of the ethical — and existential — effects that neurotechnology presents in our rapidly advancing world.

Science on Screen® is an initiative of the Coolidge Corner Theatre, with major support from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation.

“Both awe-inspiring and provocative” ––Alissa Wilkinson, New York Times

“This is the humanist divine of Werner Herzog: the brilliance of us” ––Dylan Skolnick, The Daily Californian

“Herzog manages to tie all of his disparate musings back to the unimaginable malleability and adroitness of the human brain.” ––Derek Smith, Slant Magazine

“A quintessentially Herzogian fusion of hope, horror, humor and heart.” ––Sheri Linden, Hollywood Reporter

Topic: What is the ‘Theater of Thought’ made of?

Presentation: For all of its wondrous musing about the mind, consciousness and neurotechnology, Werner Herzog’s movie is light on describing its ‘theater’ — aka the human brain. Dr. René Marois fills this gap with a post-screening presentation that illustrates the stunning physical beauty of the brain and the principles by which it might give rise to consciousness and our ability to understand and technologically harness it.

Speaker: Dr. René Marois, Professor of Psychology and the Winkelried Family Chair in Neuroscience at Vanderbilt University

About the Speaker: Dr. René Marois is Professor of Psychology and the Winkelried Family Chair in Neuroscience at Vanderbilt University. He received his B.Sc. from McGill University and PhD from Yale University. He is a fellow of the American Psychological Sciences Society and is a recipient of the Jeffrey Nordhaus Award for excellence in undergraduate teaching. His research focuses on the behavioral and neural bases of human attention, awareness and neurolaw.


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