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.
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.
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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