Subject:
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Re: Monday Morning Diversion
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Newsgroups:
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lugnet.off-topic.fun
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Date:
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Thu, 26 Aug 2004 19:08:42 GMT
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Viewed:
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1564 times
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In lugnet.off-topic.fun, Dave Schuler wrote:
> Well, few are the sci-fi films that successfully carry a deep philosophical
> message. The Star Wars OT, for instance, seemed to suggest that you can be
> as evil, sadistic, and murderous as you want, as long as you kill one bad guy
> before you die. After that, you're redeemed and get to exist as a happy
> ghost.
The OT was constructed in the Epic tradition, with archetypal characters playing
archetypal roles in an archetypal battle of Good vs. Evil. There's more to be
found in the way the mythological pattern plays itself out than in any supposed
deep philosophical meaning. Maybe that's part of where the prequel trilogy
strays from expectations, as there seem to be more philosophical shades of grey,
and the whole theory of how fascist dictators never attain leadership positions
by force, but by having them handed to them.
> With precious few exceptions (Fifth Element not among them), science fiction
> that attempts to preach tends to become almost instantly obsolete or else
> irretrievably hokey (or both).
Part of the problem is that when you get too preachy, you run the inevitable
risk of alienating anyone who has an opposing view. Get a little more confusing
in the presentation of your message and you run the risk of alienationg anyone
who agrees with you because they think you're saying the opposite (a lot of
people hate The Cider House Rules because of its pro-abortion message, but a lot
of others hate it because of its anti-abortion message). Overcompensate and
people feel like you're hitting them with a philosophical hammer and react badly
because they either oppose your view or they feel like you're presenting it in a
condescending manner. Sci-Fi is probably a more risky vehicle for preachy
messages because most people just watch it to be entertained, not to be preached
at. If you want to do that and still keep the movie full of action scenes, war
movies are a much safer way to go.
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Message is in Reply To:
 | | Re: Monday Morning Diversion
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| (...) Well, few are the sci-fi films that successfully carry a deep philosophical message. The Star Wars OT, for instance, seemed to suggest that you can be as evil, sadistic, and murderous as you want, as long as you kill one bad guy before you (...) (20 years ago, 26-Aug-04, to lugnet.off-topic.fun)
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