Comments on "I've Always Thought a Lot About Death": An Interview with Deborah Eisenberg

Fantastic, yes. I really don't know how to connect such a stylish woman who answers questions perky ways -- "Inland Empire... I adore?" hmmm must have been the cute rabbits - good film but not something to be adored? -- connect her to death anxiety. She looks like she might live rather comfortably to a ripe old age. Is it the post-modern juxtoposition I'm missing? Neurosis as a healthy therapy? No thanks.

I'm not sure what you're asking. You're baffled that a woman who's "stylish" (sure) and "perky" (uhh) could have anxiety about death?

Well, take something like the Titanic sinking as being your personal grim reaper. I don't think it's ridiculous to be freaking out a bit, okay, let's say like Dicaprio, if we could muster such bravado. There is fear, anxiety - death is upon you.
The interview just struck me as a bit bourgeois in relation to the unnerving subject. It's like I can picture Ms. Eisenberg on deck sipping a martini, enjoying the string quartet, and dashing on and off about the cultural malaise. Or can I? No, I think there's more panic involved with 'death anxiety', Inland Empire, etc. I guess as an example, look at the Lacanian philosopher Zizek. He embodies such notions with his whole life when he speaks, lives, writes. It isn't a parlor game. Anyway, my palms are sweating.

Must you look like death to worry about it? This was a wonderful interview, thanks Chris. Please let us know if she gets back to you in a year about that nagging "apotheosis of the characters" business, though I rather enjoy hearing from an artist who is mid-process on an idea or feeling and doesn't have to blister you with their brilliance at figuring it out.

"I just saw Inland Empire, which I adored. But, obviously, it bears many seeings."

I assume 'many' means more than a couple, a few, even more than four times. When Deborah dahling sees the film 5 times, I'll be interested in her adoring words.

"Must you look like death to worry about it?"
If you want to dress it up for our coffee tables, yes.