Man On Wire Film Analysis

Reason and emotion have always played a significant role in humankind’s decision-making. Both of them, however, play different roles in one’s attempt to make a decision. Emotion may be described as subjective, conscious experiences caused primarily by psychophysiological expressions, as defined by New Oxford American Dictionary. This way of knowing might affect human behavior, but, at the same time, may preserve our physical body. As an example, when in danger, our instinct is to escape in order to save our own physique. Reason, on the other hand, may be described as a premise assessed according to strict principles of validity, according to New Oxford’s American Dictionary. This has a lot to do with logic, as it is a rational way of thinking.

To reach this certain goal and make it feasible, we need to plan out different steps. In the documentary “Man on Wire,” reason and emotion are demonstrated explicitly, although differently, through people’s expressions, being it verbally or physically. So, with all this in mind, what roles do reason and emotion play in decision-making? In “Man on Wire”, there are various moments when Philippe, the main character of the documentary, as well as other characters, use reason to make important and critical decisions in order to succeed. In the beginning, when Philippe had to analyze the Twin Towers, he put many pens in his pocket because he thought it looked “American,” facilitating his tower entrance. This was a step he had to take in order to proceed and make his plan viable. Also, failing so early in the game was completely

In the movie “Man on Wire”, Philippe Petit and his friends were surrounded by emotions minute-by-minute. As an example, one of the first phrases stated after having the idea of walking on a wire between the twin towers was “fear was in the air.” This intense fear is what made Philippe 's friends “think” that he could not succeed the crossing of the Twin Towers, but it also made them “believe” he could succeed. All the doubts in their minds killed their optimism towards their own goal. The fact that it was an illegal act, however, motivated them even more. Philippe believed that, if he died, he would have died accomplishing his dream and that it would be a “beautiful death.” He emotionally decided that, if he died, he would most likely die fulfilled for having pursued his life’s dream. Rationally, however, he would do anything in order to avoid death. After his goal of stepping on the wire between the two towers was accomplished, he layed down on it, and that was when Philippe saw the police on the other tower and began to smile and laugh. This might have happened because he was so emotionally euphoric that nothing could disturb him anymore. This ironic happiness, however, only lasted a few minutes before a police helicopter flew over him threatening to force him off the string should he not do so by himself. The