Adam J. Graves
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Adam J. Graves | |
|---|---|
| Born | U.S. |
| Alma mater | University of Pennsylvania (Ph.D.) |
| Occupations | Filmmaker, philosopher, author |
| Years active | 2021–present |
| Spouse | Suchitra Mattai |
Adam J. Graves is an American filmmaker and philosopher.[1][2] He earned an Academy Award nomination for his film Anuja, which he wrote, directed and edited.[3]
Graves studied at the University of Pennsylvania, receiving a Bachelor of Arts in South Asia Regional Studies (summa cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa), followed by a Doctor of Philosophy in philosophy of religion.[4] He also spent time as a visiting student at Banaras Hindu University in Varanasi, India, in the late 1990's.[5]
Career
Graves is a professor of philosophy at Metropolitan State University of Denver, where he founded the Denver Project for Humanistic Inquiry (Dphi), a public humanities center focusing on the intersection of philosophy, film, literature, and the arts.[2][4] He previously taught at the University of Pennsylvania and in the University of Virginia's Semester at Sea program.[2]
Graves wrote and directed his first short film, Cycle Vérité, which premiered at the Denver Film Festival in 2021.[6] In 2024, his short film Anuja was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film in 2025. His films tend to explore larger philosophical and socio-ethical issues within the context of more intimate familial relationships.[7]
Philosophical Contributions
Graves' philosophical contributions explore themes in phenomenology, the philosophy of religion, and hermeneutics, with particular attention to the nature of agency, moral responsibility, and narrative selfhood.[citation needed] He has worked on Paul Ricœur and the phenomenology of revelation, and developed a normative theory of action, which conceives of freedom as an “achievement of narrative self-understanding.”[8] He has said that his philosophical thought fuels his work as a filmmaker.[1]
2012 Congressional Campaign
In 2012, Graves served as Campaign Manager for Jim Graves's bid to unseat Michele Bachmann in Minnesota's 6th congressional district. Largely operating out of his family's car,[9] Graves ran a campaign that was outspent 10-to-1 in what proved to be one of the most expensive congressional reelection campaigns in United States history.[10] Despite the district's strong Republican lean, Graves lost by a single percentage point.[11]
Personal life
Graves is married to multidisciplinary contemporary artist Suchitra Mattai.[12]
Filmography
| Year | Title | Contribution | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Cycle Vérité | Director and writer | Short film |
| 2024 | The Other Side of the Sun | Editor and Producer | Short film |
| 2024 | Anuja | Director, writer and editor | Short film |
Publications
- 2021 – The Phenomenology of Revelation in Heidegger, Marion, and Ricoeur ISBN 978-1-7936405-7-4
