In this episode of The Jordan B. Peterson Podcast, filmmaker and commentator Matt Walsh discusses his documentary-making process, including his work on "What Is a Woman?" and "Am I Racist?". Walsh shares insights into his creative approach, from maintaining character authenticity during production to collaborating with his production team and incorporating feedback from his wife.
Peterson and Walsh examine contemporary social and political topics, including what they see as ongoing ideological conflicts in modern society. Their discussion covers themes such as changing demographics, family structures, and racial discourse in media and society. The conversation also addresses shifts in conservative commentary in recent years and perspectives on maintaining productive political dialogue.
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Jordan Peterson introduces Matt Walsh as the creator of two highly successful documentaries: "What Is a Woman?" and "Am I Racist?". While "What Is a Woman?" found success on the Daily Wire platform, "Am I Racist?" achieved remarkable box office success, becoming one of the top documentaries in history.
Walsh describes his commitment to authenticity in filmmaking, staying in character both on and off camera during production. He emphasizes the importance of collaboration with skilled directors, producers, and editors, while maintaining hands-on involvement in shaping the narrative and making crucial editorial decisions. Walsh particularly values his wife's honest feedback throughout the creative process, citing her critiques as essential to his confidence in his work.
Peterson and Walsh discuss the ongoing ideological battle against progressive movements, with both arguing that powerful institutions continue to perpetuate victim and oppressor narratives. Peterson criticizes what he terms 'wokeness' as a form of immaturity and Marxist ideology, while Walsh insists the battle against leftism is far from over.
The conversation turns to concerns about declining birth rates and family structures, with both speakers attributing these issues partly to feminist influence. They also address racial tensions, with Walsh highlighting cases of double standards in how racial incidents are treated in society and media. Peterson draws parallels between current racial tensions and Marxist ideology.
The post-Trump era has brought changes to conservative commentary, with Peterson questioning the appropriate role for political commentary in the new political reality. Walsh points out challenges in having productive discussions when his ideas aren't taken seriously, while Peterson emphasizes the importance of unity within the conservative movement.
Peterson appreciates Walsh's documentary approach, comparing it to the child who points out that "the emperor has no clothes." He suggests that engaging in rational debate, even when disagreements arise, is crucial for the conservative movement's health and unity.
1-Page Summary
Matt Walsh, known for his significant contributions to documentary filmmaking, has drawn attention with his successful films. Jordan Peterson introduces Walsh as the driving force behind two of the most successful documentaries in recent decades: "What Is a Woman?" and "Am I Racist?". Peterson highlights Walsh's ability to pinpoint and explore pivotal cultural war issues.
Walsh's documentaries, which delve into significant societal questions, have opened doors for him to continue creating impactful films. "What Is a Woman?" explores the cultural and biological understandings of sex and gender, while "Am I Racist?" tackles the definition and personal implications of racism. Despite "What Is a Woman?" not being released theatrically, it found significant success on the Daily Wire platform. Conversely, "Am I Racist?" did have a theatrical release and became not only the number one documentary box-office-wise of the decade but also one of the top documentaries in box office history. This success on the big screen had marketing benefits and led to even more viewership on the Daily Wire platform, surpassing Walsh's first hit and earning him trust and investment for future projects.
The creation of a documentary involves several challenges which Walsh navigates by performing and remaining in character, both on and off camera. This approach ensures authentic reactions and underscores Walsh's dedication to the filmmaking process. For instance, Walsh stayed in character during a visit with the Maasai tribe in Kenya for "What Is a Woman?" and inside a Southern biker bar for "Am I Racist?". However, the complexity of making movies also heavily relies on collaboration with a talented team.
Walsh acknowledges the importance of every individual in the production and distribution chain. The film team often includes skilled directors, producers, camera crew, development personnel, production and editing staff, distributors, and marketers. If any one of them fails to execute their role properly, it can derail the project.
Walsh admits to being very hands-on with his projects to maintain control. The role of the director, as Walsh notes, is analogous to a captain steering a ship, guiding the ...
Matt Walsh's Documentary Filmmaking and Creative Process
The cultural landscape is undergoing shifts as the ideological battle against progressive movements continues and emerging issues such as family protection and birth rate decline take center stage.
The conversation between Peterson and Walsh delves into the political moment following Trump's victory and its implications for conservative commentary. The discussion indicates an ongoing ideological conflict within the conservative side of the spectrum over progressive ideologies. Peterson praises Walsh's ability to withstand social pressure from progressive types and criticizes the government subsidies for education, especially in radically progressive faculties.
Walsh and Peterson argue that powerful institutions, including Harvard and Columbia, are invested in maintaining a victim and oppressor narrative. This narrative, they claim, continues to draw American parents, who send their children to these universities despite ideological disagreements. Peterson has positioned himself against what he terms ‘wokeness’ and sees it as immaturity, envy, resentment, and Marxist ideology expressed in various ways over time. Despite some victories against progressive ideologies, Walsh insists that the battle is far from over, with leftism being an issue that will not simply vanish. He and James Lindsay grapple with what "woke right" means, as it is a term used without clear definition.
Although not expressly covered in the podcast, Peterson and Walsh's conversation eventually turns to the declining birth rate and the millions of babies lost to abortion annually, marking these as urgent topics. They consider feminism to be a major force effecting cultural and political shifts, contributing to the decline of the traditional family.
Peterson worries about the isolation and vulnerability faced by an increasing number of women who remain childless past the age of thirty. Walsh criticizes feminism for supposedly viewing the family as an oppressive patriarchal structure since its inception and for aiming to dismantle it.
The podcast covers Walsh's observations on racial issues, including cases in which violent acts committed by black individuals against white people are celebrated or financially supported. ...
Current State of Culture War and Emerging Issues
The discussion with Jordan Peterson and Matt Walsh focuses on the evolving nature of conservative commentary in the Post-Trump era and the challenges and opportunities within the current political climate. They ponder the roles and impacts of conservative voices in a rapidly changing political landscape.
The conversation indicates that Trump's victory has altered the conservative commentary landscape, a field in which both Peterson and Walsh are prominent voices. Peterson grapples with determining the appropriate role for his political commentary in light of the new political reality in the United States. This internal questioning points to a possible need for re-evaluation of conservative commentary in the post-Trump era.
There's an acknowledgement of the conservative movements’ success in various countries, and a shift of interest towards critical issues for conservative platforms like The Daily Wire. Peterson urges a focus on issues that remain in the broader culture war, but specific changes or dynamics in conservative commentary are not elaborately discussed.
A contentious "war of words" Walsh was involved in illustrates the challenges of navigating political divisions within the conservative movement and the need to communicate better with a diverse audience. Challenges faced by conservatives include responding to division and engaging critically with issues. Peterson acknowledges a change in public opinion about narratives like the climate apocalypse, where skepticism has become more publicly acceptable, indicating a more open environment for diverse opinions.
Walsh points out the difficulty of having productive discussions when his ideas are not taken seriously, suggesting that a lack of understanding and respect can be barriers to rational discourse.
Peterson brings up a conversation relevant to the Daily Wire audience about gatekeeping within conservatism, which touches on profound issues of free speech and the necessity of engaging with diverse opinions within the conservative community. This implies that unity and dialogue are crucial for navigating the challenges faced by the conservative movement.
Through recounting ...
Role of Conservative Commentary in Political Landscape
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