James Batcho is a philosopher, traveler, author, and professor of film studies.

He’s also a friend of mine.

Jim currently teaches film theory and practice at United International College in Zhuhai, China. He received his PhD in Philosophy, Art, and Critical Thoughts from the European Graduate School in 2015, and over the past decade he’s taught in South Korea, China, and the United States. His new book is Terrence Malick’s Unseeing Cinema: Memory, Time, and Audibility.

I met Jim here in Chiang Mai, Thailand three or four years ago, and we’ve been friends ever since. I liked the way we could geek out about Slavoj Zizek and Fleetwood Mac in the span of five minutes.

In today’s thrilling new instalment of Humans in Love, Jim and I have a kitchen table discussion about storytelling, the art of great filmmaking, why the idea of “guilty pleasures” is bullshit, travel, loneliness, advice to a younger self, and much more.

Mentioned in this episode:

  • Anthony Bourdain (R.I.P.)

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Zachary Stockill
Zachary Stockill