March 27, 2026
The film's title comes from Alexander Pope's 1717 poem "Eloisa to Abelard,” about forbidden love, memory, and the desire to forget pain:
"How happy is the blameless vestal's lot!
The world forgetting, by the world forgot.
Eternal sunshine of the spotless mind!
Each pray'r accepted, and each wish resign'd."
The poem promises peace through erasure. The film asks: what if you could actually have that? And would you want it once you did?
The desire to erase emotional pain VS. the necessity of remembering to find meaning.
The film will be followed by a panel discussion and Q & A. This will be a public event in conjunction with The Alamo.
October 24, 2025
The IDEAS Institute is proud to present the first movie in our Film Series, The Exorcist, with a live Q&A with KMOX’s Dave Glover and IDEAS Institute film guru, Jeremy Casper.
Inspired by exorcisms performed in Saint Louis, The Exorcist is cosmic horror on local soil and colors the mythology of our city. And beyond its horrific content, the film is an invitation into deeper processes and conversations. How does horror reveal truth? How do stories shape belief? What psychological needs does the concept of evil fulfill?
IDEAS INSTITUTE FILM SERIES
This series creates cross-pollination between media, culture, art, academia, and spirituality while inviting diverse perspectives to engage in intellectual conversation. We seek to create community around shared vulnerability through a familiar access point: watching a movie together. Through this series, we seek to beautify the psyche of St. Louis by experiencing powerful art together and then collectively engage in interpretation versus passive consumption.