Music & Philosophy
- Peter K F Cheung SBS
- Apr 18, 2023
- 3 min read
FADE IN
Act 1
EXT. SWIMMING POOL, KOWLOON PARK - 16:15
PETER appears.
PETER (V.O.): Today, the indoor pool is closed.
Peter looks around.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Oh, there're two external pools here - a lower one and an upper one.
Peter enters the lower one.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I come here as I've just gone to a ticketing centre nearby to buy tickets of a Saturday concert.
Peter begins to swim.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Earlier, a conductor advised me of her conducting schedules 2023-2024.
Swimming past other SWIMMERS.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Although I haven't committed, I'm prepared to give her my little support.
Act 2
EXT. SWIMMING POOL, KOWLOON PARK - CONTINUOUS
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I've no formal musical education and training. I'm not interested in classical music.
Swimming.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I'm only fond of listening to oldies - a desire to feel nostalgic.
Swimming.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Trying to be creative, I compose my own raw-but-real songs and make my rough MVs.
Swimming past an artificial waterfall.
PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): I don't promote my own music; and I've many unfinished or unpublished songs.
Swimming.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): If I'm to hold a concert, I've more than enough original songs to fill up the set list.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): But who'd care to listen to an unglamorous old man's numbers?
Swimming.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Music isn't a biological necessity for survival. People can live without music.
Leaving the pool, Peter walks up to the upper one.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Yesterday, a newspaper article about the philosophical thoughts of Arthur Schopenhauer triggered my interest to understand the philosopher more.
Swimming.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Schopenhauer argues that the Will is the ultimate reality and that all things in the world are the manifestations of the Will.
Swimming.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Schopenhauer also argues that human beings are fundamentally irrational and that our actions are driven by our desires and emotions.
Swimming.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): On morality, Schopenhauer argues that compassion is its foundation and we'd strive to alleviate the suffering of others.
Swimming.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): On art, Schopenhauer argues that it's a means to transcend the limitations of the individual self and connect with the universal Will.
Thinking.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Again, philosophy isn't a biological necessity for survival. People can live without philosophy.
Reflecting.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): When I was young, I first had a taste of popular music and then philosophy.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Philosophy was dear to my heart and I insisted to get my first degree in Philosophy before developing a legal career.
Reflecting.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Having done law for decades, I think it's high time I'd return to my music and philosophy.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I feel the part of life I really live is small.
We hear a public announcement: ...the pool will be closing in 15 minutes...
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Why don't I make MVs of my unfinished songs that are capable of conveying emotions and meanings philosophically?
Act 3
EXT. SWIMMING POOL, KOWLOON PARK - LATER
In the lower pool, Peter is swimming directly under artificial waterfall.
PETER (V.O.): Both music and philosophy are forms of human expression of complex ideas.
As the water on the way hits rocks, we hear melodic sounds.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Music is a way to inquire the nature of human experience. Philosophy is a way to inquire the nature of everything.
Peter leaves.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Through music and philosophy, we can gain insights of the human condition and the way in which we relate to the world around us.
FADE OUT
THE END
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