Artificial Love
>Rough Draft Essay
December 6, 2004
There is something that separates the living from the dead; and, a dividing line between organic artificial life and real life. The theme of love is played throughout Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep (by Philip K. Dick). In his story, Dick strings the idea of love through the interactions of the book's characters. This allows readers to familiarize with the emotional and physical attractions that exist between humans and androids. The usage of technology and artificial things has been labeled potentially dangerous (a theme found in many science fiction stories); Dick’s vision allows its readers to compare how humans relate now and could relate to the development in technology and the future. In Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep, Dick shares a glimpse into an outcome possible if this world continues to imitate perfection, how the emotions and relationships between beings could deteriorate into something meaningless or even deemed illegal.
In the future, humans will make robots, androids assembled from flesh and bone. The mentality of these androids will become more intellectually complex than those of humans. Fear will strike, and these creations will be thus banned from the planet completely. The perfection of the female android causes the immoral and unintentional seduction that lures mankind into a spell of the desire of something fake. This bond is forbidden, an aspect that only makes such affairs more tempting. In their higher state of minds these powerful female androids are able to manipulate most men from simple chickenheads like J.R. Isadore to the great Rick Deckard.
Today, technology serves a very important role in the economy and everyday lifestyles for much of the human race. The development of computers could become so intricate that it poses as a global hazard. Exiling these godforsaken robots off of the planet will only temporarily solve the problem; Dick proposes that the freedom of opportunity on earth will attract the android race to migrate illegally and live secret lives among humans.
Rachel Rosens’ tempting passes at Deckard and Pris’ steady control over J.R. Isadore, all prove the potential danger of artificial life that could take effect on a person. The strive for perfection with technology, aiming to simplify and make the human lifestyle more convenient, could lead the world to its own doom. The banned “love” between a man and his robot, which he chooses over a real female being, will be a part of a network of illegal coupling of man and android and tear apart the natural connection, production and traditional lifestyle that involving the human-with-human relationship. The love is lost. Empathy becomes one sided. Feelings are unreal. Perfection supports desire to take the lead and leave behind what was once real love, dissolving and fading away in the past.
Saturday, December 11, 2004
Tuesday, December 07, 2004
Reflections on Readings
Here is a collection of my thoughts as a reponse to the readings that we've dicussed in class recently:
Burning Chrome ( I had read this the friday it was instructed to be read)
I found this reading to be a boring and confusing collection of technical and uninteresting terms used to project what was supposed to be an interesting story of a cowboy and one-armed man hacking into Chrome's system. A game for geeks in a world where people are losers. It was a headache to read and stupid and disagreeable to modern times and morals. The author even tries to create sympathetic and jealous type reaction of the pathetic social lives of these two men.
It was a rather sadistic way of looking at how technology could/can/and is interacting with humans today. Women are ideolized and have strength as opposed to the men who follow and suffer from a life of wanting something else. The technology in this story is refered as a way of life. It has become another form of man, almost like an extention of mankind.
Ice is mentioned like an obstacle, the complications in achieving goals. The whole hacking process that the two main characters are in seems entirely stupid and pointless. So what? Who cares? Their lives are very isolated and it seems that no one cares about them and that they don't care about anyone (yes, even Rikki). I don't get the point of this story, it only reminds me of those kiddie cartoons of superheros that use random technical words to sound cool and high tec.
Love and Napalm
This reading seemed rather disturbing. It was a sadistic experiment using women, children, torture and other grotesque elements to stir sexual arousement in mentally ill patients and children; an observation and emphasis of the reactions to the brutality of the Veitnam War and its "newsreels" on patients used as human lab rats.
Why would an author write about such horrors? It doesn't even portray a reality. It can be compared to finding happiness in hell. The matter-of-fact tone in this report seems to be calling for a debate. Who would agree to participate in such a perverted experiment? The author has probably grown up in a disturbed household and has a psychotic reaction to too much exposure to sexual and violent things.
The Atrocity Exposition
As a human race, why does it seem that we work so hard to demolish everything that we create? Why is there competition? And what is this facination and obsession with Elizabeth Taylor, why her in particular? The Atrocity Exposition like the other pieces of literature mentioned above is also confusing and arguable. They definately show the "how" process of coming to a conclusion about a specific topic or general idea. They are all written in the form of someones mind, flickering with random images of planes, war, sex and women. In this piece there is the theme of fear portrayed throughout the context. Hiding behind cement, avoiding war with death, and distractions from billboards, thoughts and women.
The form of writing seems to be broken up into random sections. The characters are hardly introduced and the setting seems like a deserted world with choppers, planes and bombs. Suburbia is often mentioned perhaps it is being used to symbolize the abandonment of homes.
It is difficult to link together the Doctor, Elizabeth Taylor, World War III, the Travis' and Catherine Austin. A very confusing message with hard to follow storyline. Was the white Pontiac destroyed or NOT destroyed? "A wrecked white car..."(40, English reader). "Half an hour later the young woman drove away in the white Pontiac" (42).
Burning Chrome ( I had read this the friday it was instructed to be read)
I found this reading to be a boring and confusing collection of technical and uninteresting terms used to project what was supposed to be an interesting story of a cowboy and one-armed man hacking into Chrome's system. A game for geeks in a world where people are losers. It was a headache to read and stupid and disagreeable to modern times and morals. The author even tries to create sympathetic and jealous type reaction of the pathetic social lives of these two men.
It was a rather sadistic way of looking at how technology could/can/and is interacting with humans today. Women are ideolized and have strength as opposed to the men who follow and suffer from a life of wanting something else. The technology in this story is refered as a way of life. It has become another form of man, almost like an extention of mankind.
Ice is mentioned like an obstacle, the complications in achieving goals. The whole hacking process that the two main characters are in seems entirely stupid and pointless. So what? Who cares? Their lives are very isolated and it seems that no one cares about them and that they don't care about anyone (yes, even Rikki). I don't get the point of this story, it only reminds me of those kiddie cartoons of superheros that use random technical words to sound cool and high tec.
Love and Napalm
This reading seemed rather disturbing. It was a sadistic experiment using women, children, torture and other grotesque elements to stir sexual arousement in mentally ill patients and children; an observation and emphasis of the reactions to the brutality of the Veitnam War and its "newsreels" on patients used as human lab rats.
Why would an author write about such horrors? It doesn't even portray a reality. It can be compared to finding happiness in hell. The matter-of-fact tone in this report seems to be calling for a debate. Who would agree to participate in such a perverted experiment? The author has probably grown up in a disturbed household and has a psychotic reaction to too much exposure to sexual and violent things.
The Atrocity Exposition
As a human race, why does it seem that we work so hard to demolish everything that we create? Why is there competition? And what is this facination and obsession with Elizabeth Taylor, why her in particular? The Atrocity Exposition like the other pieces of literature mentioned above is also confusing and arguable. They definately show the "how" process of coming to a conclusion about a specific topic or general idea. They are all written in the form of someones mind, flickering with random images of planes, war, sex and women. In this piece there is the theme of fear portrayed throughout the context. Hiding behind cement, avoiding war with death, and distractions from billboards, thoughts and women.
The form of writing seems to be broken up into random sections. The characters are hardly introduced and the setting seems like a deserted world with choppers, planes and bombs. Suburbia is often mentioned perhaps it is being used to symbolize the abandonment of homes.
It is difficult to link together the Doctor, Elizabeth Taylor, World War III, the Travis' and Catherine Austin. A very confusing message with hard to follow storyline. Was the white Pontiac destroyed or NOT destroyed? "A wrecked white car..."(40, English reader). "Half an hour later the young woman drove away in the white Pontiac" (42).
Monday, December 06, 2004
Rough Draft Essay
Artificial Love
>Rough Draft Essay
December 6, 2004
>>>>>>>What separates the living from the dead; and moreso, where is the >>dividing line between organic artificial life and real life? The theme of love is >>played throughout Do Andriods Dream of Electric Sheep (by Philip K. Dick). In >>his story, Dick strings the idea of love through the relationships of the book's
>>characters. This allows readers to familiarize with the emotional and physical
>>attractions that exist between humans and andriods. The usage of technology and artificial things has been labled potentially dangerous (a theme found in many science fiction stories).
>>How humans relate now and will relate to the development in technology and its future interactions0000010101011____10101010___101000001111
>>>>01_01000110__011100110101_01101___0101_1000111__010__0101____101010110101___
101010111_0001010101___ 01010101___
URL: unknown. System error. Please try again.
>Rough Draft Essay
December 6, 2004
>>>>>>>What separates the living from the dead; and moreso, where is the >>dividing line between organic artificial life and real life? The theme of love is >>played throughout Do Andriods Dream of Electric Sheep (by Philip K. Dick). In >>his story, Dick strings the idea of love through the relationships of the book's
>>characters. This allows readers to familiarize with the emotional and physical
>>attractions that exist between humans and andriods. The usage of technology and artificial things has been labled potentially dangerous (a theme found in many science fiction stories).
>>How humans relate now and will relate to the development in technology and its future interactions0000010101011____10101010___101000001111
>>>>01_01000110__011100110101_01101___0101_1000111__010__0101____101010110101___
101010111_0001010101___ 01010101___
URL: unknown. System error. Please try again.
Tuesday, November 23, 2004
Sanity
> In-Class Sudden Fiction
November 23, 2004
The ceiling, the light is blinding, bleeding through my eyelids. The straps burn. Teal pastel paint smothers the walls. A chair, the single other thing in this room, sits in the corner patiently.
The birds. The Air. Smells. Ah. Sigh. Relief. Wetness and violence. Blood, but the place is sterilized. No infection. Lice, a virus that has attacked the system.
A pool boy with blonde rich wife. Husband approves but commits crime, murder. Who dies?
Anyone? Care to seek revenge? Children at a playground. Watch these innocent devils giggle. Anti-molester posters wired to the fence. Dogs playing, laughing, pooping.
Clean these messes! I order you!
Ah, a butterfly. I see snow. Her wings have frozen, so she’s left to die. She didn’t’ make it.
Grab a gun. Fire at will! Darn! No such thing exists.
The sun is hidden behind skyscrapers in the city, and storm clouds in the fields.
Tick, Tick, Tick. A clocks’ repetition, it drives me mad.
What about what I want?
The breeze of the ocean, halt! Is suddenly interrupted by the breeze of the trucks rolling on the highway.
The newspaper, with coffee. A hammock left in ruins. War waged. Battlefield bloodied. Dead grass vs. manicured lawns. Bloody mess. Mud pies. Warm apple pies, cider and mugs.
Fresh paint. The dead body of a baby. How unfortunate. Some one sick is happy…SICKO!
Love mystery, fear death, adrenaline surging. Restlessness.
Old book smells. Ice cream taste. Make sure you aren’t too late, too late!
Alarm sounding. Ringing in your ears. Alarm ringing warning. Spreading panic and fear.
Who will remember the good times?
Who will see the bright side?
Who will hide?
To the coward: I order you to march!
Insane! Insane…insane
November 23, 2004
The ceiling, the light is blinding, bleeding through my eyelids. The straps burn. Teal pastel paint smothers the walls. A chair, the single other thing in this room, sits in the corner patiently.
The birds. The Air. Smells. Ah. Sigh. Relief. Wetness and violence. Blood, but the place is sterilized. No infection. Lice, a virus that has attacked the system.
A pool boy with blonde rich wife. Husband approves but commits crime, murder. Who dies?
Anyone? Care to seek revenge? Children at a playground. Watch these innocent devils giggle. Anti-molester posters wired to the fence. Dogs playing, laughing, pooping.
Clean these messes! I order you!
Ah, a butterfly. I see snow. Her wings have frozen, so she’s left to die. She didn’t’ make it.
Grab a gun. Fire at will! Darn! No such thing exists.
The sun is hidden behind skyscrapers in the city, and storm clouds in the fields.
Tick, Tick, Tick. A clocks’ repetition, it drives me mad.
What about what I want?
The breeze of the ocean, halt! Is suddenly interrupted by the breeze of the trucks rolling on the highway.
The newspaper, with coffee. A hammock left in ruins. War waged. Battlefield bloodied. Dead grass vs. manicured lawns. Bloody mess. Mud pies. Warm apple pies, cider and mugs.
Fresh paint. The dead body of a baby. How unfortunate. Some one sick is happy…SICKO!
Love mystery, fear death, adrenaline surging. Restlessness.
Old book smells. Ice cream taste. Make sure you aren’t too late, too late!
Alarm sounding. Ringing in your ears. Alarm ringing warning. Spreading panic and fear.
Who will remember the good times?
Who will see the bright side?
Who will hide?
To the coward: I order you to march!
Insane! Insane…insane
I'm having trouble
> Sudden Fiction
November 23, 2004
Click. Click. Click. Tap. Tap. Tap. Rip. Tear. Sigh. Click. Tap. Tap. Yawn. “huh?” Tap. Eye roll. Yawn. Sigh. Shake. Shake. Shake. Click. Click. Rip. Snap. Squeak. Sigh. Tear. Click. Tap. Tap. Tap. Thud! Snap. Squeak. Tear. Click. Tap.
Murmuring in the background. The white board. There’s writing on it. I have no idea what it says.
The window open. Car alarm. Whoop. Whoop. Swish. Zoom. Honk. Beep. Beep. Beep. Skid. Jack Hammer. Thud. Honk. Honk. Honk. ZZZMMmmmmmm the bus.
Cold metal on the chair. My name is called.
MY NAME IS CALLED.
WAKE UP!
A dream shaken. A world shattered. Images sharpen. Head is heavy. Class has started. Pay attention. Whatever…
Click. Click. Click. Tap. Tap. Rip. Tear. Sick. Moan. Sigh. Tap. Tap. Yawn. Tap. Yawn. Sigh. Shake. Shake. Shake. Shake. Click. Click. Rip. Snap. Squeak. Sigh. Tear. Click. Tap. Tap. Tap. THUD! Snap. Squeak. Tear. Click. Tap.
r r R R RRRRRRRing!
Class excused!
Life begins…
November 23, 2004
Click. Click. Click. Tap. Tap. Tap. Rip. Tear. Sigh. Click. Tap. Tap. Yawn. “huh?” Tap. Eye roll. Yawn. Sigh. Shake. Shake. Shake. Click. Click. Rip. Snap. Squeak. Sigh. Tear. Click. Tap. Tap. Tap. Thud! Snap. Squeak. Tear. Click. Tap.
Murmuring in the background. The white board. There’s writing on it. I have no idea what it says.
The window open. Car alarm. Whoop. Whoop. Swish. Zoom. Honk. Beep. Beep. Beep. Skid. Jack Hammer. Thud. Honk. Honk. Honk. ZZZMMmmmmmm the bus.
Cold metal on the chair. My name is called.
MY NAME IS CALLED.
WAKE UP!
A dream shaken. A world shattered. Images sharpen. Head is heavy. Class has started. Pay attention. Whatever…
Click. Click. Click. Tap. Tap. Rip. Tear. Sick. Moan. Sigh. Tap. Tap. Yawn. Tap. Yawn. Sigh. Shake. Shake. Shake. Shake. Click. Click. Rip. Snap. Squeak. Sigh. Tear. Click. Tap. Tap. Tap. THUD! Snap. Squeak. Tear. Click. Tap.
r r R R RRRRRRRing!
Class excused!
Life begins…
"The ceiling, the light is blinding. The straps burn and itch. A chair in thr courner, it cradles.
The birds, the air. Smells. Ah *sigh* Relief. Wetness and violence. Blood, but the place is sterilized. No infection. Lice, is a virus that has begun attacking the system.
A pool boy with blonde rich wife. Husband approves, but shoots. Who dies?
Anyone? Care to seek Revenge? Children at the playground. Innocent little devils. Anti-molester posters wired to the fence. Dogs playing, laughing and pooping.
Clean these messes! I order you!
Ah, a butterfly. I see snow. Her wings have frozen so she is left to die. She didn't make it.
Grab a gun and lets shoot! Darn, no such thing exists.
The sun is hidden behind skyscrapers in the city, and storm clounds in the feilds.
The newspaper and coffee. A hammock left in ruins. War waged. Battles. Dead grass, manicured lawns. Bloody mess. Mud pies. Warm apple pies, cider and mugs.
Fresh paint. A dead baby...how unfortunate. Someone sick is happy. SICKO!
The breeze of the ocean. The breeze of the highway trucks rolling away.
The coward who fears all.
Love mystery, Fear death, adrenaline surging. No rest.
Old book smells, ice cream taste. Make sure you aren't too late...
too late!
Who will remember the good times?
Who will see the bright side?
Who will not hide?
INSANE! Insane...insane."
The birds, the air. Smells. Ah *sigh* Relief. Wetness and violence. Blood, but the place is sterilized. No infection. Lice, is a virus that has begun attacking the system.
A pool boy with blonde rich wife. Husband approves, but shoots. Who dies?
Anyone? Care to seek Revenge? Children at the playground. Innocent little devils. Anti-molester posters wired to the fence. Dogs playing, laughing and pooping.
Clean these messes! I order you!
Ah, a butterfly. I see snow. Her wings have frozen so she is left to die. She didn't make it.
Grab a gun and lets shoot! Darn, no such thing exists.
The sun is hidden behind skyscrapers in the city, and storm clounds in the feilds.
The newspaper and coffee. A hammock left in ruins. War waged. Battles. Dead grass, manicured lawns. Bloody mess. Mud pies. Warm apple pies, cider and mugs.
Fresh paint. A dead baby...how unfortunate. Someone sick is happy. SICKO!
The breeze of the ocean. The breeze of the highway trucks rolling away.
The coward who fears all.
Love mystery, Fear death, adrenaline surging. No rest.
Old book smells, ice cream taste. Make sure you aren't too late...
too late!
Who will remember the good times?
Who will see the bright side?
Who will not hide?
INSANE! Insane...insane."
"The ceiling, the light is blinding, the straps have given me burns. A chair so comfortable it cradles.
The birds, the air, smells. Ah. *sigh* Relief. Wetness, but violent. Blood but the place is sterilized. No infection. Lice, a virus has attacked the system.
A pool boy with blone rich wife. Husband approves...but shoots. Who dies?
Anyone? care to seek revenge? Children at playground. Anti-molester posters wired to the fence. Dogs playing, laughing and pooping.
Clean these messes! I order you!
Ah, a butterfly. I see snow. Her wings have frozen so she sits left to die. She didn't make it.
Grab a gun lets shoot! Darn, no such thing exists.
The sun is hidden behind skyscrapers in the city, and storm clouds in the feilds.
Fresh paint. A dead baby...how uncomfortable. Some one sick is happy, SICKO!
The Newspapaer and coffee. A hammock left in the ruins. War waged. Battles. Dead grass vs. Manicures lawns. Bloody mess. Mud pies. Mmmmm. warm apple pies, cider and mugs.
The breeze of the ocean. The breeze of the polluted trucks rolling on the highway.
Love mystery, fear death, adrenaline surging, no rest.
Old book smells, ice cream taste, make sure you aren't too late...
too late...
INSANE! Insane. insane..."
The birds, the air, smells. Ah. *sigh* Relief. Wetness, but violent. Blood but the place is sterilized. No infection. Lice, a virus has attacked the system.
A pool boy with blone rich wife. Husband approves...but shoots. Who dies?
Anyone? care to seek revenge? Children at playground. Anti-molester posters wired to the fence. Dogs playing, laughing and pooping.
Clean these messes! I order you!
Ah, a butterfly. I see snow. Her wings have frozen so she sits left to die. She didn't make it.
Grab a gun lets shoot! Darn, no such thing exists.
The sun is hidden behind skyscrapers in the city, and storm clouds in the feilds.
Fresh paint. A dead baby...how uncomfortable. Some one sick is happy, SICKO!
The Newspapaer and coffee. A hammock left in the ruins. War waged. Battles. Dead grass vs. Manicures lawns. Bloody mess. Mud pies. Mmmmm. warm apple pies, cider and mugs.
The breeze of the ocean. The breeze of the polluted trucks rolling on the highway.
Love mystery, fear death, adrenaline surging, no rest.
Old book smells, ice cream taste, make sure you aren't too late...
too late...
INSANE! Insane. insane..."
Class
> Sudden Fiction
November 23, 2004
Click. Click. Click. Tap. Tap. Tap. Rip. Tear. Sigh. Click. Tap. Tap. Yawn. “huh?” Tap. Eye roll. Yawn. Sigh. Shake. Shake. Shake. Click. Click. Rip. Snap. Squeak. Sigh. Tear. Click. Tap. Tap. Tap. Thud! Snap. Squeak. Tear. Click. Tap.
Murmuring in the background. The white board. There’s writing on it. I have no idea what it says.
The window open. Car alarm. Whoop. Whoop. Swish. Zoom. Honk. Beep. Beep. Beep. Skid. Jack Hammer. Thud. Honk. Honk. Honk. ZZZMMmmmmmm the bus.
Cold metal on the chair. My name is called.
MY NAME IS CALLED.
WAKE UP!
A dream shaken. A world shattered. Images sharpen. Head is heavy. Class has started. Pay attention. Whatever…
Click. Click. Click. Tap. Tap. Rip. Tear. Sick. Moan. Sigh. Tap. Tap. Yawn. Tap. Yawn. Sigh. Shake. Shake. Shake. Shake. Click. Click. Rip. Snap. Squeak. Sigh. Tear. Click. Tap. Tap. Tap. THUD! Snap. Squeak. Tear. Click. Tap.
r r R R RRRRRRRing!
Class excused!
Life begins…
November 23, 2004
Click. Click. Click. Tap. Tap. Tap. Rip. Tear. Sigh. Click. Tap. Tap. Yawn. “huh?” Tap. Eye roll. Yawn. Sigh. Shake. Shake. Shake. Click. Click. Rip. Snap. Squeak. Sigh. Tear. Click. Tap. Tap. Tap. Thud! Snap. Squeak. Tear. Click. Tap.
Murmuring in the background. The white board. There’s writing on it. I have no idea what it says.
The window open. Car alarm. Whoop. Whoop. Swish. Zoom. Honk. Beep. Beep. Beep. Skid. Jack Hammer. Thud. Honk. Honk. Honk. ZZZMMmmmmmm the bus.
Cold metal on the chair. My name is called.
MY NAME IS CALLED.
WAKE UP!
A dream shaken. A world shattered. Images sharpen. Head is heavy. Class has started. Pay attention. Whatever…
Click. Click. Click. Tap. Tap. Rip. Tear. Sick. Moan. Sigh. Tap. Tap. Yawn. Tap. Yawn. Sigh. Shake. Shake. Shake. Shake. Click. Click. Rip. Snap. Squeak. Sigh. Tear. Click. Tap. Tap. Tap. THUD! Snap. Squeak. Tear. Click. Tap.
r r R R RRRRRRRing!
Class excused!
Life begins…
Sunday, November 21, 2004
Glaxy Quest
>How Galaxy Quest is postmodern.
November 21, 2004
Postmodernism is concerns the incorporation of the time setting of the author in a piece of work. The time frame is a reference to the events that have occurred until the 1980s. It is the emphasis on modernism where the meaning and value of the things we find in our world are viewed. The process in which things are defined as real or unreal merge and the question of this "boundary" become blurred.
Galaxy Quest is a movie where a show has become the focus for reality. Where the imagination holds truth and the once unreal interacts with the real. It is the perverted vision of role playing, and extends the fact that what is faked or acted out, could ultimately be something that must be done. The commander and his crew, in order to save the alien race must actually act as a commander and crew. They must actually function as what they've only pretended to do.
How things are seen or the way they are thought about does not necessarily prove that it is real. This idea is extended in postmodernism and in Galaxy Quest. The science fiction conventions show that there are people in this world who are willing to dedicate their lives to an alternate reality and take part in human imagination. The little kids who lived as if they were commanders themselves ended up being an essential tool in saving the alien race. Their knowledge of such a far fetched obsession gave them a surprisingly valuable and heroic role in the movie.
Galaxy Quest captures some of the qualities looked for in a postmodern piece of work. It is an evaluation of the relationship between what’s fake and reality. It is an impossibility that could be possible or impossible.
November 21, 2004
Postmodernism is concerns the incorporation of the time setting of the author in a piece of work. The time frame is a reference to the events that have occurred until the 1980s. It is the emphasis on modernism where the meaning and value of the things we find in our world are viewed. The process in which things are defined as real or unreal merge and the question of this "boundary" become blurred.
Galaxy Quest is a movie where a show has become the focus for reality. Where the imagination holds truth and the once unreal interacts with the real. It is the perverted vision of role playing, and extends the fact that what is faked or acted out, could ultimately be something that must be done. The commander and his crew, in order to save the alien race must actually act as a commander and crew. They must actually function as what they've only pretended to do.
How things are seen or the way they are thought about does not necessarily prove that it is real. This idea is extended in postmodernism and in Galaxy Quest. The science fiction conventions show that there are people in this world who are willing to dedicate their lives to an alternate reality and take part in human imagination. The little kids who lived as if they were commanders themselves ended up being an essential tool in saving the alien race. Their knowledge of such a far fetched obsession gave them a surprisingly valuable and heroic role in the movie.
Galaxy Quest captures some of the qualities looked for in a postmodern piece of work. It is an evaluation of the relationship between what’s fake and reality. It is an impossibility that could be possible or impossible.
Sunday, November 14, 2004
The Outsider
The Outsider
> Write about a theme we discussed in class
November 14, 2004
Perfection is something that the governments try to imitate through regulations. Some customs are less severe than others, but when making laws and decisions they keep in mind the idea of utopia, what’s best for their people. Social norms derive from this vision; ideas of being like perfect citizen, the model utopian. Fads controlled by the media, like Buster Friendly, and Religion, like Mercerism, are huge controls in society that are broadcasted and are the main source of influence for people to decide what they believe morally. However, there are always outsiders. It could be said true that everyone is an outsider in their own way (since it has not been proven that perfection has been entirely reached yet). In this book the theme of not belonging to the ideal human race is brought up and every character mentioned can be analyzed and related to the crisis of being included.
In this book J.R. Isadore is a chickenhead. He does not have the genetic capabilities to consider himself normal. He is below average, considered retarded. And those outcasted are indeed, left to be alone, and left to do the dirty work, “Maybe, he thought. I’ve been living here all alone too lone. I’ve become strange. They say chickenheads are like that. The thought made him feel even more glum…” (64, Dick). J.R. is a driver, not a highly viewed profession.
The androids feel outcasted as well. They are created with real organs, they have minds with the thought process of computers far advanced than the human mind, yet they remain inferior to the mass of humans that still dominate. They are not real and can be proven false. Once they are caught, the false sense of inclusion that Luba and the gang feel is then erased and they are brought to the reality that they don’t belong.
It does make sense that the drive for perfection and obligations/duties to society make the qualified human citizens like Deckard, terminate and exclude the outside parties. However, why don’t governments just accept the fact that everyone is different? That you cannot achieve complete and total happiness for everyone. They have two things in mind, to include each individual, yet they must stick with their idea of keeping everything under control, fair, regulated, and the same. Yet it is impossible to please the individual while giving them all the same thing. Each mind is different, genes are individually unique, DNA is different for every being. The idea of the outsider in this book show that it continues even in the future.
> Write about a theme we discussed in class
November 14, 2004
Perfection is something that the governments try to imitate through regulations. Some customs are less severe than others, but when making laws and decisions they keep in mind the idea of utopia, what’s best for their people. Social norms derive from this vision; ideas of being like perfect citizen, the model utopian. Fads controlled by the media, like Buster Friendly, and Religion, like Mercerism, are huge controls in society that are broadcasted and are the main source of influence for people to decide what they believe morally. However, there are always outsiders. It could be said true that everyone is an outsider in their own way (since it has not been proven that perfection has been entirely reached yet). In this book the theme of not belonging to the ideal human race is brought up and every character mentioned can be analyzed and related to the crisis of being included.
In this book J.R. Isadore is a chickenhead. He does not have the genetic capabilities to consider himself normal. He is below average, considered retarded. And those outcasted are indeed, left to be alone, and left to do the dirty work, “Maybe, he thought. I’ve been living here all alone too lone. I’ve become strange. They say chickenheads are like that. The thought made him feel even more glum…” (64, Dick). J.R. is a driver, not a highly viewed profession.
The androids feel outcasted as well. They are created with real organs, they have minds with the thought process of computers far advanced than the human mind, yet they remain inferior to the mass of humans that still dominate. They are not real and can be proven false. Once they are caught, the false sense of inclusion that Luba and the gang feel is then erased and they are brought to the reality that they don’t belong.
It does make sense that the drive for perfection and obligations/duties to society make the qualified human citizens like Deckard, terminate and exclude the outside parties. However, why don’t governments just accept the fact that everyone is different? That you cannot achieve complete and total happiness for everyone. They have two things in mind, to include each individual, yet they must stick with their idea of keeping everything under control, fair, regulated, and the same. Yet it is impossible to please the individual while giving them all the same thing. Each mind is different, genes are individually unique, DNA is different for every being. The idea of the outsider in this book show that it continues even in the future.
Monday, November 01, 2004
Metropolis
Metropolis
November 1, 2004
>Movie Response
The silent film Metropolis is a really interesting black and white film that demonstrates the style of science fiction during 1927. It is directed by Fritz Lang, who is able to capture the essence of a futuristic world and portray the emotions and split situation of the working class and aristocrats both of whom inhabit the city without vocal sounds, or color. Science fiction today typically relies on the help of technological sound and visual effects, with animation and green screens. Lang is able to use orchestral music and the conduction of the music fits the expressions of the characters’ faces or their actions throughout the film.
This dramatic and very effective music is used to set the mood of each scene, slow, low octave horns are used while the workers march, in unison, like robots into elevators. More upbeat and flute-like music is used to capture the carelessness of the aristocratic people who run around freely.
One of these aristocrats, the son of the leader of the city, is in search for a female entertainer. He finds a playmate, but has a jaw dropping reaction to the caretaker of the children. She keeps yelling to him “these are your Brothers!”
The meaning of this line shows that he has not been able to accept that he is the same being as the workers. He realizes his fortune and in reaction decides to switch places with a worker, removing himself from his title and ‘sticks his hands in the dirt’. The chief of this great city, an authoritative ruler, shows that he is angered and disturbed, but also shows signs of understanding in reaction to his son’s decision to merge with the working class.
The working class with its obligations to the city, has a unity that allows them to function even through difficult situations and portrays them as the backbone to the city of Metropolis. Metropolis is nothing without its workers.
Lang is able to create a realistic version of this futuristic city, and through the acting and music selections, he is able to show the idea of science fiction while lacking (what would be) helpful technological features (such as color, audio lines, or even computer animation).
November 1, 2004
>Movie Response
The silent film Metropolis is a really interesting black and white film that demonstrates the style of science fiction during 1927. It is directed by Fritz Lang, who is able to capture the essence of a futuristic world and portray the emotions and split situation of the working class and aristocrats both of whom inhabit the city without vocal sounds, or color. Science fiction today typically relies on the help of technological sound and visual effects, with animation and green screens. Lang is able to use orchestral music and the conduction of the music fits the expressions of the characters’ faces or their actions throughout the film.
This dramatic and very effective music is used to set the mood of each scene, slow, low octave horns are used while the workers march, in unison, like robots into elevators. More upbeat and flute-like music is used to capture the carelessness of the aristocratic people who run around freely.
One of these aristocrats, the son of the leader of the city, is in search for a female entertainer. He finds a playmate, but has a jaw dropping reaction to the caretaker of the children. She keeps yelling to him “these are your Brothers!”
The meaning of this line shows that he has not been able to accept that he is the same being as the workers. He realizes his fortune and in reaction decides to switch places with a worker, removing himself from his title and ‘sticks his hands in the dirt’. The chief of this great city, an authoritative ruler, shows that he is angered and disturbed, but also shows signs of understanding in reaction to his son’s decision to merge with the working class.
The working class with its obligations to the city, has a unity that allows them to function even through difficult situations and portrays them as the backbone to the city of Metropolis. Metropolis is nothing without its workers.
Lang is able to create a realistic version of this futuristic city, and through the acting and music selections, he is able to show the idea of science fiction while lacking (what would be) helpful technological features (such as color, audio lines, or even computer animation).
Sunday, October 24, 2004
Back to the Future
Back to the Future
October 24, 2004
>anything we’ve studied in class
When is it okay to build a robot that exactly replicates a human (personalizing its features, expressions, feelings, thoughts and actions)? What are the restrictions to cloning or creating life from scratch? In Simulacra and Simulations, Baudrillard defines and analyses ideas related to assimilations and representations. Here, he demonstrates the many ways in which these ideas are often interchanged and in fact are quite different. These are terms that should appear familiar in the studying of abstract and futuristic recreations. Assimilation is a recreation of something and turning it into an artificial reality, like the themes captured in rides at Disneyland. In this situation these made up Disney themes are recreated and transformed into a “fake” reality. When applying this term to futuristic science fiction ideas of robots and humans coexisting there is the sense that we have taken something fake and made it a part of reality.
Is it truly possible to take artificial parts and make something organic? No. Once something is synthetic it will always remain so. Regardless of how close of a representation it is it can never fully become the real and original thing. Humans and technology are limited to imitations only. The idea of advanced technology in our future world is common in science fiction. Sometimes it can be very useful; but, in dealing with machinery, it is known that there will always be technical errors. So can we rely on this technology to safely clone humans or create human-like robots to live with us? Should we risk relying on the known faulty system to form a world better than necessary? Perfection is something impossible to achieve. Like the limitations in technological replications of living things, the limitation of perfection is near perfection; these things cannot be wholly achieved.
For the sake of today’s beautiful, yet flawed world, such drastic measures should not be taken to assimilate this utopia. Otherwise, it would be like diving head first into an empty pool.
October 24, 2004
>anything we’ve studied in class
When is it okay to build a robot that exactly replicates a human (personalizing its features, expressions, feelings, thoughts and actions)? What are the restrictions to cloning or creating life from scratch? In Simulacra and Simulations, Baudrillard defines and analyses ideas related to assimilations and representations. Here, he demonstrates the many ways in which these ideas are often interchanged and in fact are quite different. These are terms that should appear familiar in the studying of abstract and futuristic recreations. Assimilation is a recreation of something and turning it into an artificial reality, like the themes captured in rides at Disneyland. In this situation these made up Disney themes are recreated and transformed into a “fake” reality. When applying this term to futuristic science fiction ideas of robots and humans coexisting there is the sense that we have taken something fake and made it a part of reality.
Is it truly possible to take artificial parts and make something organic? No. Once something is synthetic it will always remain so. Regardless of how close of a representation it is it can never fully become the real and original thing. Humans and technology are limited to imitations only. The idea of advanced technology in our future world is common in science fiction. Sometimes it can be very useful; but, in dealing with machinery, it is known that there will always be technical errors. So can we rely on this technology to safely clone humans or create human-like robots to live with us? Should we risk relying on the known faulty system to form a world better than necessary? Perfection is something impossible to achieve. Like the limitations in technological replications of living things, the limitation of perfection is near perfection; these things cannot be wholly achieved.
For the sake of today’s beautiful, yet flawed world, such drastic measures should not be taken to assimilate this utopia. Otherwise, it would be like diving head first into an empty pool.
Thursday, October 21, 2004
R.U.R
R.U.R.
October 21, 2004
>Blog/response - RUR
The play R.U.R is sweet and short. Done in only three small acts, it somehow manages to possess an incredible amount of detail and strength in its ideas of the future, and human relations with technology advancement. Its amazingly captive story makes the audience forget about the real world. One theme that is portrayed throughout the play is perfectionism and the internal human desire to live in a utopia. The idea introducing robots into the world, created to help and live among humans is common in science fiction films such as, The Terminator series (starring our governor) and I, Robot (starring Will Smith –based on the writings of Isaac Asimov).
Rossum’s Universal Robots is a company that industrializes a robot created primarily to serve humans and replace jobs requiring manual labor. It began with an old Rossum, who, with the life originating substance in a test tube was able to create “life” without soul. After his death, young Rossum continues the job and takes the previously developed information and puts it to use. In order to apply these life forces to the world he must first consider the points needed to make robots that humans can benefit from while eliminating as many possible complications. However human error is something unavoidable and is the leading reason why a utopia with a civilization of natural humans is impossible.
Though the characters in R.U.R had the sole intention to fix global issues such as world hunger, money complications and end manual labor for humans, they still failed and brought the world to a state of near human extinction.
The Terminator series, a well known collection of movies about robots from the future (created by humans over time) that return to the modern times to annihilate the one who saves human race. In I, Robot we are given a glimpse of what our future may be if we continue to rely on technology everyday. It is the story of a detective who must save the human race from the robots. The robots were programmed to abide by certain rules that assure the safety and automatic authority of humans.
There is always a flaw (human error) when it comes to perfection. Nothing can ever be perfect, and these movies (like the play) the intention of robot production by humans backfires resulting in our own destruction or endangerment.
October 21, 2004
>Blog/response - RUR
The play R.U.R is sweet and short. Done in only three small acts, it somehow manages to possess an incredible amount of detail and strength in its ideas of the future, and human relations with technology advancement. Its amazingly captive story makes the audience forget about the real world. One theme that is portrayed throughout the play is perfectionism and the internal human desire to live in a utopia. The idea introducing robots into the world, created to help and live among humans is common in science fiction films such as, The Terminator series (starring our governor) and I, Robot (starring Will Smith –based on the writings of Isaac Asimov).
Rossum’s Universal Robots is a company that industrializes a robot created primarily to serve humans and replace jobs requiring manual labor. It began with an old Rossum, who, with the life originating substance in a test tube was able to create “life” without soul. After his death, young Rossum continues the job and takes the previously developed information and puts it to use. In order to apply these life forces to the world he must first consider the points needed to make robots that humans can benefit from while eliminating as many possible complications. However human error is something unavoidable and is the leading reason why a utopia with a civilization of natural humans is impossible.
Though the characters in R.U.R had the sole intention to fix global issues such as world hunger, money complications and end manual labor for humans, they still failed and brought the world to a state of near human extinction.
The Terminator series, a well known collection of movies about robots from the future (created by humans over time) that return to the modern times to annihilate the one who saves human race. In I, Robot we are given a glimpse of what our future may be if we continue to rely on technology everyday. It is the story of a detective who must save the human race from the robots. The robots were programmed to abide by certain rules that assure the safety and automatic authority of humans.
There is always a flaw (human error) when it comes to perfection. Nothing can ever be perfect, and these movies (like the play) the intention of robot production by humans backfires resulting in our own destruction or endangerment.
Wednesday, October 13, 2004
Love is War
Love Is War
October 10, 2004
> Love, a theme evident in Mary Shelly’s Frankenstein, is a part of life that is nearly impossible to ignore.
Love is a madness that possesses the mind than can create delusions of absolute happiness or manic depression. In Mary Shelly’s Frankenstein, Dr. Frankenstein shows the reaction of a wealthy genius that has unfortunately been subject to the losses of his teacher, his mother, his nephew, a lady family friend, and his wife. Though he lived an innocent life filled with much love and a child-like curiosity, there is no question that anyone who has to grieve over this obscure number of deaths in such a short time period should go somewhat insane.
Each time a loved one dies, Dr. Frankenstein’s lunacy grows. He begins to feel that if possible people shouldn’t have to put up with death. Out of his love for his professor, Frankenstein decides to continue his teachers “research project” and succeeds in creating life from death. However, the works of Frankenstein’s professor had remained idle for a reason. The being created by Dr. Frankenstein was filled with confusion; because it was automatically feared and rejected for its appearance and violent behavior, it had seemingly innate qualities of rage and anger which eventually led it to become uncontrollable. Both the being and Dr. Frankenstein desire a life of happiness.
This story is almost just how the love of one man, like Dr. Frankenstein, can be the cause of an incredibly unlucky chain reaction. Once he creates the being, one by one, the people he loves die, and because of those deaths, more are killed. All the confusion and sadness that inherit the once pleasant life of Dr. Frankenstein are proof that love, like the sad case of Frankenstein’s love, can be a plague that kills everything connected to it and be the origin of much paranoia.
October 10, 2004
> Love, a theme evident in Mary Shelly’s Frankenstein, is a part of life that is nearly impossible to ignore.
Love is a madness that possesses the mind than can create delusions of absolute happiness or manic depression. In Mary Shelly’s Frankenstein, Dr. Frankenstein shows the reaction of a wealthy genius that has unfortunately been subject to the losses of his teacher, his mother, his nephew, a lady family friend, and his wife. Though he lived an innocent life filled with much love and a child-like curiosity, there is no question that anyone who has to grieve over this obscure number of deaths in such a short time period should go somewhat insane.
Each time a loved one dies, Dr. Frankenstein’s lunacy grows. He begins to feel that if possible people shouldn’t have to put up with death. Out of his love for his professor, Frankenstein decides to continue his teachers “research project” and succeeds in creating life from death. However, the works of Frankenstein’s professor had remained idle for a reason. The being created by Dr. Frankenstein was filled with confusion; because it was automatically feared and rejected for its appearance and violent behavior, it had seemingly innate qualities of rage and anger which eventually led it to become uncontrollable. Both the being and Dr. Frankenstein desire a life of happiness.
This story is almost just how the love of one man, like Dr. Frankenstein, can be the cause of an incredibly unlucky chain reaction. Once he creates the being, one by one, the people he loves die, and because of those deaths, more are killed. All the confusion and sadness that inherit the once pleasant life of Dr. Frankenstein are proof that love, like the sad case of Frankenstein’s love, can be a plague that kills everything connected to it and be the origin of much paranoia.
Wednesday, September 29, 2004
The Vision and the Creation
The Vision and the Creation
September 29, 2004
>Dream World vs. Game World
Intro: This class is very interesting and enjoyable because it is an opportunity for students to explore the deeper levels in themes of the unknown and analyze the various theories found in science fiction. So far examples of major themes covered are, reality, fate, dreams and games. The determination of what people should choose to believe is defined by what they are exposed to. Nothing is for certain. In life, especially in these modern times (with all the technology), people are allowed to explore the “real”, “dream” and “game” worlds. The features that should be used to identify and tell the worlds apart are questioned in the film “eXistenZ” and the book The Lathe of Heaven.
The film “eXistenZ” is a portrayal of an abstract science fiction idea of the gaming world. Although both the dream and game worlds are places created the mind and separate from ‘reality’, they are not the same. The world of Dream has limitless possibilities in which there may, or may not be an objective and nothing has been predestined. Game worlds are like doll houses, where there are boundaries and certain things must take place in order to proceed, and there are creators and controllers who have mapped out the themes, features, characters and every other detail; anything not designed to specifically be in the game is nonexistent.
The world is a creation made in consciousness out of ideas sparked from outside influences as well as the subconscious. The fact that it was made also implies that there are certain restrictions of the game world (which could also make it easier to comprehend than the dream world). In conclusion, a dream world is merely a vision while the game world is a creation.
September 29, 2004
>Dream World vs. Game World
Intro: This class is very interesting and enjoyable because it is an opportunity for students to explore the deeper levels in themes of the unknown and analyze the various theories found in science fiction. So far examples of major themes covered are, reality, fate, dreams and games. The determination of what people should choose to believe is defined by what they are exposed to. Nothing is for certain. In life, especially in these modern times (with all the technology), people are allowed to explore the “real”, “dream” and “game” worlds. The features that should be used to identify and tell the worlds apart are questioned in the film “eXistenZ” and the book The Lathe of Heaven.
The film “eXistenZ” is a portrayal of an abstract science fiction idea of the gaming world. Although both the dream and game worlds are places created the mind and separate from ‘reality’, they are not the same. The world of Dream has limitless possibilities in which there may, or may not be an objective and nothing has been predestined. Game worlds are like doll houses, where there are boundaries and certain things must take place in order to proceed, and there are creators and controllers who have mapped out the themes, features, characters and every other detail; anything not designed to specifically be in the game is nonexistent.
The world is a creation made in consciousness out of ideas sparked from outside influences as well as the subconscious. The fact that it was made also implies that there are certain restrictions of the game world (which could also make it easier to comprehend than the dream world). In conclusion, a dream world is merely a vision while the game world is a creation.
The Vision and the Creation
The Vision and the Creation
September 29, 2004
>Dream World vs. Game World
Intro: This class is very interesting and enjoyable because it is an opportunity for students to explore the deeper levels in themes of the unknown and analyze the various theories found in science fiction. So far examples of major themes covered are, reality, fate, dreams and games. The determination of what people should choose to believe is defined by what they are exposed to. Nothing is for certain. In life, especially in these modern times (with all the technology), people are allowed to explore the “real”, “dream” and “game” worlds. The features that should be used to identify and tell the worlds apart are questioned in the film “eXistenZ” and the book The Lathe of Heaven.
The film “eXistenZ” is a portrayal of an abstract science fiction idea of the gaming world. Although both the dream and game worlds are places created the mind and separate from ‘reality’, they are not the same. The world of Dream has limitless possibilities in which there may, or may not be an objective and nothing has been predestined. Game worlds are like doll houses, where there are boundaries and certain things must take place in order to proceed, and there are creators and controllers who have mapped out the themes, features, characters and every other detail; anything not designed to specifically be in the game is nonexistent.
The world is a creation made in consciousness out of ideas sparked from outside influences as well as the subconscious. The fact that it was made also implies that there are certain restrictions of the game world (which could also make it easier to comprehend than the dream world). In conclusion, a dream world is merely a vision while the game world is a creation.
September 29, 2004
>Dream World vs. Game World
Intro: This class is very interesting and enjoyable because it is an opportunity for students to explore the deeper levels in themes of the unknown and analyze the various theories found in science fiction. So far examples of major themes covered are, reality, fate, dreams and games. The determination of what people should choose to believe is defined by what they are exposed to. Nothing is for certain. In life, especially in these modern times (with all the technology), people are allowed to explore the “real”, “dream” and “game” worlds. The features that should be used to identify and tell the worlds apart are questioned in the film “eXistenZ” and the book The Lathe of Heaven.
The film “eXistenZ” is a portrayal of an abstract science fiction idea of the gaming world. Although both the dream and game worlds are places created the mind and separate from ‘reality’, they are not the same. The world of Dream has limitless possibilities in which there may, or may not be an objective and nothing has been predestined. Game worlds are like doll houses, where there are boundaries and certain things must take place in order to proceed, and there are creators and controllers who have mapped out the themes, features, characters and every other detail; anything not designed to specifically be in the game is nonexistent.
The world is a creation made in consciousness out of ideas sparked from outside influences as well as the subconscious. The fact that it was made also implies that there are certain restrictions of the game world (which could also make it easier to comprehend than the dream world). In conclusion, a dream world is merely a vision while the game world is a creation.
Sunday, September 19, 2004
What Is
What Is
September 19, 2004
> The Lathe of Heaven vs. The Matrix. (Game vs. Reality and Dream vs. Reality)
Both The Lathe of Heaven and “The Matrix” play with the idea of truth or fiction. They raise the question of Dream vs. Reality and, as they are both in the science fiction genre, they propose what could be. I find that science fiction is the “what if” factor in our thought process of reality. Both of these science fiction stories bring up the idea that our dreams maybe a major portion of what we see to be the real world.
The Matrix refers to a dream world that can be entered and altered by using technology in the “real world”. People in general prefer to perceive that our world (here and now) is real; The Matrix claims that in reality, it is only dream world created by dominating machines of artificial intelligence. Could this happen? Could machines eventually take over and create an alternative world? Could we just be a part of a dream? Are we just unaware and blindly going on worrying about our own daily problems (which seem hardly important when compared with the problems of Neo who must face saving the human race completely)? Which is real, and what should we believe? This movie causes us to question our own existence of what is. Everything that we have come to know could be part of a dream that could be simple erased/discarded by the minds of the machines and their creator (the architect).
In The Lathe of Heaven Dr. Haber utilizes Orr’s power and knowledge of controlling and changing dreams to design the world in his own image. Dreams are something that can be changed because they are supposed to remain in the subconscious, in the dormant and non active states of life. However when they are able to be somehow connected to the real world, both the dream and real world can clash and lead to destruction. Dr. Haber creates such an perverted world using Orr’s dreams that it is unclear which is the original/real world and which is not. Is the whole story just a dream of Orr? Or Haber? Perhaps the story of The Lathe of Heaven was just a dream of one of the characters and when he/she wakes up he/she will return to reality.
My first Blog entry is based on the idea that “the idea of reality will remain unknown”. Perhaps these stories are correct; that dreams aren’t just a thought process that goes on in our sleep, perhaps we are changing details of life through them.
September 19, 2004
> The Lathe of Heaven vs. The Matrix. (Game vs. Reality and Dream vs. Reality)
Both The Lathe of Heaven and “The Matrix” play with the idea of truth or fiction. They raise the question of Dream vs. Reality and, as they are both in the science fiction genre, they propose what could be. I find that science fiction is the “what if” factor in our thought process of reality. Both of these science fiction stories bring up the idea that our dreams maybe a major portion of what we see to be the real world.
The Matrix refers to a dream world that can be entered and altered by using technology in the “real world”. People in general prefer to perceive that our world (here and now) is real; The Matrix claims that in reality, it is only dream world created by dominating machines of artificial intelligence. Could this happen? Could machines eventually take over and create an alternative world? Could we just be a part of a dream? Are we just unaware and blindly going on worrying about our own daily problems (which seem hardly important when compared with the problems of Neo who must face saving the human race completely)? Which is real, and what should we believe? This movie causes us to question our own existence of what is. Everything that we have come to know could be part of a dream that could be simple erased/discarded by the minds of the machines and their creator (the architect).
In The Lathe of Heaven Dr. Haber utilizes Orr’s power and knowledge of controlling and changing dreams to design the world in his own image. Dreams are something that can be changed because they are supposed to remain in the subconscious, in the dormant and non active states of life. However when they are able to be somehow connected to the real world, both the dream and real world can clash and lead to destruction. Dr. Haber creates such an perverted world using Orr’s dreams that it is unclear which is the original/real world and which is not. Is the whole story just a dream of Orr? Or Haber? Perhaps the story of The Lathe of Heaven was just a dream of one of the characters and when he/she wakes up he/she will return to reality.
My first Blog entry is based on the idea that “the idea of reality will remain unknown”. Perhaps these stories are correct; that dreams aren’t just a thought process that goes on in our sleep, perhaps we are changing details of life through them.
Tuesday, September 14, 2004
Reality vs. Dream
Reality vs. Dream
September 14, 2004
> reflection on the two quotes used in the Visual project for The Lathe of Heaven
“Did you ever happen to think, Dr. Haber,” he said, quietly enough but stuttering a little, “that there, there might be other people who dream the way I do? That reality’s being changed out from under us, replaced, renewed, all the time – only we don’t know it? Only the dreamer knows it, and those who know his dream. If that is true, I guess we’re lucky not knowing it. This is confusing enough.” (p.71)
In The Lathe of Heaven, LeGuin does a great job of portraying the world in a very different yet probable situation. It could be that the world is just a canvas that can be altered through the dreams of a seemingly ordinary man. What should we believe? Which world is dream and which world is reality?
People living together generally tend to obtain the same kinds of moral codes and beliefs. In order to steer clear from confusion and fear most societies like to create answers to questions whether they reason using religious beliefs or create their own solution using the government. However when it comes to deeply understanding the concept of reality who should we believe? “A man who saw a miracle would reject his eyes’ witness, if those with him saw nothing” (66). Who should we trust in delivering the only true the answer to this mystery?
In The Lathe of Heaven, LeGuin uses a quote by Victor Hugo to support the acceptance of dreams as a reality in itself,
Sleep is in contact with the possible, which we also call improbably. The world of night is a world –V. Hugo Travailleurs de la Mer (89, LeGuin).
Victor Hugo addresses dreams as a world of the night: it is real and it follows the path of what could be possible, but what we think of in real life as improbable. I support this theory that the dream world is like another reality/world that we should recognize as a large part of our life because it is the world that we live in during the time that we are NOT awake.
Wednesday, September 08, 2004
Donnie Darko and The Butterfly Effect (Revised –Final Copy)
Donnie Darko and The Butterfly Effect (Revised –Final Copy)
September 6, 2004
>watch a sci-fi film and write how the program defines and creates reality
For this journal I have chosen to write about one of my absolute favorite films, Donnie Darko (directed by Richard Kelly, starring Jake Gyllenhaal), and The Butterfly Effect; Both are psychological and artistic films that question the idea of time/fate and the basic morals of ‘the ideal American’. In the film Donnie is a boy suffering from psychological and sleep-related complications; he relates to reality because he deals with the concept of time and fate. In Donnie Darko, The Butterfly Effect and the ‘real world’ there is the idea that every action that takes place is part of a sequence that molds the future.
The movie begins with Donnie biking home after waking up in a forest (a result of his sleep walking), when he reaches home he finds his room demolished from a fallen airplane jet engine. This scene seems random at first, but it is the result of many possible events. The final scene is a repitition of the beginning, only this time Donnie accepts his fate of death.
This ending is like that of The Butterfly Effect (starring Ashton Kutcher); where, of all the possible things that can happen, sometimes the existence of one person can alter fate in such a way it is beneficial to others. Both of these films link to the idea of cause and effect in the real world. In life we often regret decisions that we have made. I believe that the choices that we make alter the chain of events that lead up to the future.
In the Donnie Darko, Donnie gets the opportunity to explore the idea of time travel, see the future and change fate. I like to take this concept and apply it with my own life. Though I may not be able to see the future or what could be, I am also a participant in some sort of predestined pattern. I hate wondering what could have been, so I take what I can see and do now and use it. Time is a precious thing, it will constantly continue whether we are here or not. So, in your time in existence, it is up to you to decide what you want to do with what you have and control your own fate.
Perhaps science fiction films like Donnie Darko and The Butterfly Effect are the result of someone who has done extensive thinking concerning questions of life and the unknown. To avoid objections, these philosophers and artists portray their ideas through abstract art and call it “science fiction”.
September 6, 2004
>watch a sci-fi film and write how the program defines and creates reality
For this journal I have chosen to write about one of my absolute favorite films, Donnie Darko (directed by Richard Kelly, starring Jake Gyllenhaal), and The Butterfly Effect; Both are psychological and artistic films that question the idea of time/fate and the basic morals of ‘the ideal American’. In the film Donnie is a boy suffering from psychological and sleep-related complications; he relates to reality because he deals with the concept of time and fate. In Donnie Darko, The Butterfly Effect and the ‘real world’ there is the idea that every action that takes place is part of a sequence that molds the future.
The movie begins with Donnie biking home after waking up in a forest (a result of his sleep walking), when he reaches home he finds his room demolished from a fallen airplane jet engine. This scene seems random at first, but it is the result of many possible events. The final scene is a repitition of the beginning, only this time Donnie accepts his fate of death.
This ending is like that of The Butterfly Effect (starring Ashton Kutcher); where, of all the possible things that can happen, sometimes the existence of one person can alter fate in such a way it is beneficial to others. Both of these films link to the idea of cause and effect in the real world. In life we often regret decisions that we have made. I believe that the choices that we make alter the chain of events that lead up to the future.
In the Donnie Darko, Donnie gets the opportunity to explore the idea of time travel, see the future and change fate. I like to take this concept and apply it with my own life. Though I may not be able to see the future or what could be, I am also a participant in some sort of predestined pattern. I hate wondering what could have been, so I take what I can see and do now and use it. Time is a precious thing, it will constantly continue whether we are here or not. So, in your time in existence, it is up to you to decide what you want to do with what you have and control your own fate.
Perhaps science fiction films like Donnie Darko and The Butterfly Effect are the result of someone who has done extensive thinking concerning questions of life and the unknown. To avoid objections, these philosophers and artists portray their ideas through abstract art and call it “science fiction”.
Monday, September 06, 2004
Donnie Darko
Donnie Darko
September 6, 2004
>watch a sci-fi film and write how the program defines and creates reality
One of my absolute favorite films is Donnie Darko (directed by Richard Kelly, starring Jake Gyllenhaal). It is a psychological and artistic film that questions the idea of time/fate and the basic morals of ‘the idea American’. In the film Donnie is a boy suffering from psychological and sleep-related complications.
The movie begins with Donnie biking home after waking up in a forest (a result of his sleep walking), when he reaches home he finds his room demolished from a fallen airplane jet engine. This scene seems random, but after watching the film you see that it is the result of many possible events. The final scene in the movie is the beginning all over again, only this time Donnie accepts the fate of death.
This ending is like that of The Butterfly Effect (starring Ashton Kutcher); where, of all the possible things that can happen, sometimes the existence of one person can alter fate in such a way it is beneficial to others. Both of these films link to the idea of cause and effect in the real world. In life we often regret decisions that we have made. I believe that the choices that we make alter the chain of events that lead up to the future.
In the film, Donnie gets the opportunity to explore the idea of time travel, see the future and change fate. I like to take this concept and apply it with my own life. Though I may not be able to see the future or what could be, I am also a participant in some sort of predestined pattern. I hate wondering what could have been, so I take what I can see and do now and use it. Time is a precious thing, it will constantly continue whether we are here or not. So, in your time in existence, it is up to you to decide what you want to do with what you have and control your own fate.
Perhaps science fiction films like Donnie Darko are the result of extensive thinking about questions of life and the unknown. To avoid objections, philosophers and artists portray their ideas through abstract art and call it “science fiction”.
September 6, 2004
>watch a sci-fi film and write how the program defines and creates reality
One of my absolute favorite films is Donnie Darko (directed by Richard Kelly, starring Jake Gyllenhaal). It is a psychological and artistic film that questions the idea of time/fate and the basic morals of ‘the idea American’. In the film Donnie is a boy suffering from psychological and sleep-related complications.
The movie begins with Donnie biking home after waking up in a forest (a result of his sleep walking), when he reaches home he finds his room demolished from a fallen airplane jet engine. This scene seems random, but after watching the film you see that it is the result of many possible events. The final scene in the movie is the beginning all over again, only this time Donnie accepts the fate of death.
This ending is like that of The Butterfly Effect (starring Ashton Kutcher); where, of all the possible things that can happen, sometimes the existence of one person can alter fate in such a way it is beneficial to others. Both of these films link to the idea of cause and effect in the real world. In life we often regret decisions that we have made. I believe that the choices that we make alter the chain of events that lead up to the future.
In the film, Donnie gets the opportunity to explore the idea of time travel, see the future and change fate. I like to take this concept and apply it with my own life. Though I may not be able to see the future or what could be, I am also a participant in some sort of predestined pattern. I hate wondering what could have been, so I take what I can see and do now and use it. Time is a precious thing, it will constantly continue whether we are here or not. So, in your time in existence, it is up to you to decide what you want to do with what you have and control your own fate.
Perhaps science fiction films like Donnie Darko are the result of extensive thinking about questions of life and the unknown. To avoid objections, philosophers and artists portray their ideas through abstract art and call it “science fiction”.
Friday, September 03, 2004
Reality Will Always Remain Unknown
Reality Will Always Remain Unknown
September 2, 2004
>the power of your dreams over your reality:
I have always been intrigued by the ideas of time, reality and death. There are so many questions about existence and purpose; however, the answers can only be found by one person alone. In The Lathe of Heaven (Ursula K. Le Guin) we are introduced to a character, Mr. Orr who is troubled with the clashing of two worlds, the “real” world and the dream world. Only he will know what it’s like to go through the transition between the two.
The thought process of ‘what is real’ is a solo act. The only primary sources that you can rely on in this investigation are your experiences and thoughts that go through your mind.
No good. No way out. Orr was where he had been for months-alone: knowing he was insane and
knowing he was not insane, simultaneously and intensely. It was enough to drive him insane (35-36,
Le Guin).
This is a feeling and a thought that we must constantly face, if not, run away from. In chapter 3 Mr. Orr states that his type of dream is escape, to escape the headache and stress of your mind. I found Dr. Haber’s response to this quite true, “‘You can’t run away from your own mind’” (36).
The dream world is powered by your subconscious. In it, you are hidden and almost completely safe. Inside this world you are thinking, functioning and working in a world created by imagination, ideas spurred from themes and memories of real life. Times, events and wishes become present and can all change at any given moment. You do things that you wouldn’t normally ever do, or see what you wouldn’t normally ever see. In contrast, reality is the harsh world.
What we live in during that part of our lives spent with our eyes open and senses actually and physically working. Where we can actually injure ourselves and end the pattern of breathing (life). We are exposed to the full extent and where are vulnerable and unsafe at all times. We are a part of some kind of world that goes on with time, breathing 24/7, whether we ourselves are alive, awake or not. So far, I am enjoying this book and class. I am interested to continue my journey to discover an answer to the questions of reality and life.
September 2, 2004
>the power of your dreams over your reality:
I have always been intrigued by the ideas of time, reality and death. There are so many questions about existence and purpose; however, the answers can only be found by one person alone. In The Lathe of Heaven (Ursula K. Le Guin) we are introduced to a character, Mr. Orr who is troubled with the clashing of two worlds, the “real” world and the dream world. Only he will know what it’s like to go through the transition between the two.
The thought process of ‘what is real’ is a solo act. The only primary sources that you can rely on in this investigation are your experiences and thoughts that go through your mind.
No good. No way out. Orr was where he had been for months-alone: knowing he was insane and
knowing he was not insane, simultaneously and intensely. It was enough to drive him insane (35-36,
Le Guin).
This is a feeling and a thought that we must constantly face, if not, run away from. In chapter 3 Mr. Orr states that his type of dream is escape, to escape the headache and stress of your mind. I found Dr. Haber’s response to this quite true, “‘You can’t run away from your own mind’” (36).
The dream world is powered by your subconscious. In it, you are hidden and almost completely safe. Inside this world you are thinking, functioning and working in a world created by imagination, ideas spurred from themes and memories of real life. Times, events and wishes become present and can all change at any given moment. You do things that you wouldn’t normally ever do, or see what you wouldn’t normally ever see. In contrast, reality is the harsh world.
What we live in during that part of our lives spent with our eyes open and senses actually and physically working. Where we can actually injure ourselves and end the pattern of breathing (life). We are exposed to the full extent and where are vulnerable and unsafe at all times. We are a part of some kind of world that goes on with time, breathing 24/7, whether we ourselves are alive, awake or not. So far, I am enjoying this book and class. I am interested to continue my journey to discover an answer to the questions of reality and life.
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