What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedThe Decay of Lying
Oscar Wilde · Book · 2022
If you loved The Decay of Lying, start with Desinteligencia Artificial — a podcast on the same thread. Below: 4 films, 4 series and 1 podcast, each matched to The Decay of Lying across media.
You were captivated by how The Decay of Lying blurs the line between artful deception and the raw, often uncomfortable, human condition.
Films on the same thread
The Invention of Lying
Ricky Gervais · Film · 2009
Explores: Honesty vs. Deceit, Social Commentary, Dystopian Society.
Much like The Decay of Lying, this film explores the societal necessity of falsehoods, demonstrating how a world devoid of creative artifice would fundamentally collapse into a hollow existence.
Se7en
David Fincher · Film · 1995
Explores: Moral Decay, Urban Decay, Good vs Evil.
This film mirrors the darker philosophical inquiry found in The Decay of Lying by examining how systemic moral decay manifests through the lens of extreme, performative human action.
The Rules of the Game
Jean Renoir · Film · 1939
Explores: Aristocracy, Adultery, Social Decay.
This ensemble piece reflects the country house setting and social critique of The Decay of Lying, exposing how performative aristocratic behavior masks deep-seated dishonesty and inevitable societal rot.
The Fall
Tarsem Singh · Film · 2006
Explores: Storytelling, Escapism, Imagination.
If you appreciated the defense of fiction in The Decay of Lying, you will find this exploration of the transformative, life-affirming power of narrative storytelling deeply resonant and familiar.
Series on the same thread
The Wire
David Simon · Series · 2002
Explores: Systemic Corruption, Moral Ambiguity, Urban Decay.
This series expands on the critique of institutions seen in The Decay of Lying, showing how bureaucracies construct their own false realities to mask systemic corruption and decline.
The Singing Detective
Dennis Potter · Series · 1986
Explores: Hallucination, Disease, Memory.
This narrative echoes the preoccupation with the nature of art found in The Decay of Lying, as the protagonist uses internal fiction to escape the limitations of physical reality.
Wednesday
Miles Millar · Series · 2022
Explores: Outsider Perspective, Coming-of-Age, Murder Investigation.
The protagonist’s sardonic detachment in this series reflects the witty, outsider perspective championed by the characters in The Decay of Lying while they navigate a world of masks.
Breaking Bad
Vince Gilligan · Series · 2008
Explores: Moral Decay, Man Breaking Bad, Consequences of Crime.
This show investigates the moral decay discussed in The Decay of Lying by illustrating how a man’s descent into crime is essentially an act of self-authored, destructive creative fiction.
Podcasts on the same thread
Desinteligencia Artificial
Podcast
Explores: Modern Society, Technology, Future.
This podcast continues the intellectual tradition of The Decay of Lying by applying a sharp, critical lens to the decadent illusions of our modern, technologically driven social landscape.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is The Decay of Lying written as a novel or an essay?
The Decay of Lying is a beguiling essay on the nature of art. It is structured as a dialogue between two characters named Cyril and Vivian, who discuss the relationship between creativity and the act of lying while situated in a library in Nottinghamshire.
What is the central premise of The Decay of Lying?
The Decay of Lying explores the provocative idea that people who never lie are devoid of creativity. The text argues that all creative art must be founded in lies, using a dialogue format to prove how creative individuals can be when they embrace this concept.
Who are the primary characters in The Decay of Lying?
The Decay of Lying features a dialogue between two characters, Cyril and Vivian. Their conversation takes place within the library of a country house located in Nottinghamshire, serving as the setting for the exploration of the essay's core arguments regarding art and creativity.
Does The Decay of Lying suggest that lying is necessary for art?
Yes, The Decay of Lying posits that all creative art is founded in lies. By examining the nature of art in all its forms, the essay suggests that the ability to lie is intrinsically linked to the capacity for human creativity.