The Intruder

Jean-Luc Nancy's heart transplant in 1991 and subsequent complications led him to explore the strangeness of bodily existence and the experience of surviving the stranger within. His book "The Intruder" was adapted into a film by Claire Denis in 2004, which highlights the importance of welcoming strangers and combating exoticism, enforced assimilation, and confidence in one's self-identity.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 96 pages
Publication date: 29 April 2024
Publisher: Fordham University Press

Jean-Luc Nancy's heart failed in 1991, and he underwent a groundbreaking heart transplant procedure in France. However, complications arose, including additional surgeries and lymphatic cancer. This experience led him to reflect deeply on the nature of bodily existence and the presence of the "stranger within" him. At the same time, Europe began to close its borders to refugees fleeing war and poverty, prompting Nancy to explore the concept of intrusion in his work. In "The Intruder," he argued that intrusion, whether through a body or a border, is not antithetical to one's identity but rather a fundamental aspect of it. In 2004, Claire Denis adapted "The Intruder" into a film, which has since been recognized as one of the most significant works of our time. This edition includes Nancy's and Denis's perspectives on translating philosophy into film and includes their collaborative text. Throughout, Nancy and Denis emphasize the importance of welcoming strangers while resisting exoticism, enforced assimilation, and self-identity confidence.

Weight: 116g
Dimension: 125 x 203 x 8 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781531506186