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Do we want someone to save us? The Creature from the Black Lagoon, The Blob, Godzilla, The Night of the Living Dead, The Saw Movies, Nosferatu, Birds, and so on and so on have created a world of fear through visual stimulation that the feeling of anxiety permeates into our everyday lives. Those that are going to save us from this fear are God, running, ourselves with a gun, science, waiting, or even the monsters themselves. The unnecessary heroes like Superman, The Hulk, Iron man, Captain America, Winston Churchill, Rambo, UCAV, etc...presuppose that the majority is in danger and needs to be saved. When the world ceases to be threatened then the mighty become the threat that they seek to destroy if assimilation cannot happen. Alter egos are formed to protect the protector and save the fight that will inevitably returns. "Save me Obi Wan, you're my only hope," plays over and over so the message is clear. There is a giant asteroid plummeting toward Earth and our only hope is a oil drilling team, united in Hollywood by the best talent agents. Banks have become so evil that they would buy debt to attain unilateral control over third world, industrial countries. Aliens seek to destroy the world and even the values that we all hold dear. Raise the white flag of surrender to draw them in and then, when they least expect it, ATTACK! Training on heroism is in the movies, just keep watching and you might, someday be able to save the world from killer cockroaches from outer space. Oh, wait, that one has been done too, but it could still happen, supposedly they can survive a nuclear explosion, or at least that's the word from the movies. Just watch out for the mobile computers that seek to save us from ourselves, but there is always the EMP to take them out. Really the only evil that has no hero is unexplained evil like demons or the devil because we don't no where they are or what they want. Oh wait, they want our souls and we can beat them by disregarding ourselves for the sake of the whole world. A private battle and inner struggle just isn't grand as all that action in explosions and running around. Heroes if anything are entertaining.
The most popular thing to write about is love in the form of a story. Why not? Hearing that there is a chance to connect with another person on such a grand level for everyone, creates happiness in sharing this time together. From Bogart and Bergman to Kidman and Jackman, through humor and holidays, to despair and war, the tale of love endures. The way that most of these stories play out is with the introduction of two characters together or apart. The individual story on either side is told for understanding and empathy, for the two leading characters. Then there comes a setting that brings the two's first meeting that seems extraordinary, but rings true only for the other main characters and not for the witnesses that encounter this normality. The encounter upon being retold is artfully embellished for dramatic affect and the love develops for each party. Some instances of encounter are of opposites, some are of commonality, some seem of common interest and an outside factor infect a constructive or destructive quality. In love stories, there develops a duality or a multi-faceted idea that brings lookers-on into the event and makes the story worth telling. The culmination of interaction between the two can end in separation, and that theme may be where the story ends for postulation of possible love or continues into fantasy. These stories do the expected, but require phenomenal circumstances of climax for the tale to show worth. Most commonly, the extreme circumstance that brings the two together for love is war, at least presently. Stories of love develop through Roman times, Medieval times, the french revolution, World Wars, minor conflicts, and extraordinary torture. True to life love stories give way to inventing a love story that may not be true, but becomes the wish of the listener to hear the end. The love story has so far worked it's way in a timeless manner, and let's hope that it continues in this manner for the sake of great love and storytellers everywhere.
Everybody has a collection of films that they go back to throughout their lives for inspiration and insight. Films excite emotions that are not readily accessible from moment to moment. Some movies give laughter, sadness, fear, adventure, boredom, confusion, or instruction. Few of the overall viewed, provide the extreme of this anticipated outcome. What I find enjoyable about films is the writing and the unexpected from an obvious conclusion. Granted that every writer strives for this goal in developing something that is ground-breaking, but few productions achieve this goal, in my opinion.
One film that gave me a feeling of hope was the movie Sabrina,1995: Harrison Ford, Greg Kinnear, and Julia Ormond. As a young man, I felt an attraction to the lead woman and her misunderstood personality. Her travels to France and the ensuing ambiance was intoxicating in the coffee shops of Paris while La Vi En Rose played as a theme. This film is frequented for insight into what still remains the most pleasing features of the opposite sex. Another couple of films are grouped together and provide vision for possibility though improbable, a basis for an ideal personage or peer set. These films are:
-A Beautiful Mind,2001: Russell Crowe, Jennifer Connelly, and Ed Harris
-Pi,1998: Sean Gullette
-Primer,2004: Shane Carruth and David Sullivan
The far reaching possibilities of mathematics taken from a science fiction stand point are brought down to the probable. The easily relating story lines give-off an intoxicating affect and one that I go back to for inspiration and a reason for writing. These movies may not be directly linked, but all of them bring fiction and mathematics together eloquently. There are many movies that attempt humor and hold the viewer's laughter for a time, but lose out in the long term to the farther reaching more basic forms. Slap-stick is a timeless humor that Charlie Chaplin will always be associated with, but has been adapted for many actors. Some of the ones that make my sides split are:
-Pure Luck,1991: Martin Short, Danny Glover
-Robin William Live,1981: Robin Williams(Not a movie, stand-up, but extremely funny)
-Groundhogs Day,1993: Bill Murray, Andie MacDowell
There are so many more movies that I enjoy watching over and over again. None have the staying power in my opinion like these few movies, but this sort of area is always changing. I'll always have a place for the old movies, but the progress that computers have made for the industry, well I guess that is another article.
Primarily taken at the time of rebirth, a new name, is critical in accepting and identifying the change for one's self. Names are given by biological parents, leaders of fraternal organizations, heads of ethnic tribes, and the like. Recognition of transition of the self doesn't necessarily warrant a change in name for societies of the west, but in primal groups of the non-industrialized world it does. The Native American tribes offer recognition of alternate names for each individual based on the identification of one's spirit animal and the Wiccan groups adopt new names ritually and frequently.
When someone is born in the United States of America, forms are brought to the parents to legalize a first name at least. Often times in the naming, middle names are chosen to commemorate the dead or great ones of the family. The last name is chosen as the same from generation to generation only to be changed in the case of marriage, protection from death, or null-benefit to the group as a whole. Once the name is chosen and legalized, it does not change unless there is marriage, a change in sex, absolution from the common family, or fear for one's life. "What's in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet." (Shakespeare, 1594).
The ritual of renaming, nationally only has representation in formality, personally is frowned upon unless of the reasons listed above. A new name should represent a recognition of places traveled, people met, and tasks accomplished. Religion is the primary proponent in systems of change because of its representation of the ideal way of life in the States. I can't see this becoming a ritual of change because of the resilience to outside influences throughout all religions. A change in name should be a celebration and ceremony to involve past and present events in one's life recognized, but acceptance may vary.
The election shows are unavoidable on the major network channels and rightly so on election day. Politics were discussed between all of my friends and family for the last year at every family event, social gathering, and community outing. The most common starter question to this topic of discussion was, "So, who are you voting for?," always with that twinge in the voice of sarcasm, like the topic was work to discuss. The most common result at the end of these discussions was not consensus, but indifference and a shrug of the shoulders. Enjoyment and a sense of accomplishment should be retained from the knowledge of fulfilling personal responsibility as a citizen. As citizens we all are implored to have a voice in discussion and in voting for the sake of Democracy. The problem that was run into the most was diversity in choices. The bi-partisan nature of the popular vote, overshadowed the discussion of voting for something instead of voting against something. Only one other of the people that I know voted for a third party candidate and that is the most disappointing part of this election. Now we have new representation in the executive branch of the U.S. government and that is the most encouraging news to the coming end of another year. My vote is considered by the majority to be a "no vote," but if I didn't vote for something that I believed in during the current economic decline and unfavorable season of the foreign policy landscape, then I wouldn't feel comfortable living in this country. Even with the label, "no vote," choice is still the most important part of citizenship and a vital part of Democracy.
One of the most memorable movie moments that ever come to mind is a scene from the movie Being There, 1979 with the great Peter Sellers. The only references that his character, Chance Gardner, ever makes is to gardening and still the usefulness/placement of his comments seem relevant. The development of the relationship between these abstract remarks and current events as presented by the media in general creates a persona very prophetic, even like a messiah. Sitting on the couch on a cold fall Saturday afternoon, thinking about the meaning of life and how to go through it without expertise was an enthralling contemplation. Chance Gardener, a character from a novel written by Kosinski, 1971, provided inspiration from the silver screen, even decades after the famous leading man passed away. In those final scenes, where nothing seemed to come together, appeared an epiphany. The moment where everything seemed to be tied together only tangentially, brought every thought into a single moment that can only be summed up by the Title. Something has to be said for great movies like this and to learn more visit www.petersellers.com .
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