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Wednesday, September 12, 2007

The Real

posted by on September 12 at 10:55 AM

What is it in our ideology that blocks all other views of life outside of capitalism save this one: real.jpg The desert of the real. The planet of nothingness, the dead moon of dust and rocks, the sick skies of hell, and the howling clouds of utter negativity. In science fiction film after science fiction film, we end up here after finally escaping some exploitive order or system of power. Which is worse: slavery in a oppressive society or the emptiness of freedom? It was Zizek who pointed out that it is easier for Hollywood to picture the end of the world than to picture the end of capitalism. And when it does produce an image of a world outside or after capitalism, it is always this: the desert of the real.

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1

I would say it is the neo-marxist ideas of the Red Bushies that blocks us from realizing that our former democratic capitalist society has been changed into an elitist neo-marxist no-bid-contract form.

Just look at Iraq, a shining example.

Posted by Will in Seattle | September 12, 2007 11:05 AM
2

precisely.

Posted by adrian! | September 12, 2007 11:06 AM
3

You're right that a bleak outlook of the future is pervasive in future-set films and novels, but it is not exclusive. The Star Trek universe, for instance, works within a utopian postcapitalistic vision of the future based on harmony, tolerance, and cooperation. (Fascist? Maybe a bit of that too.) I'm not well read or well filmed enough to provide other examples, but I'm sure there must be...

Posted by ebsur | September 12, 2007 11:08 AM
4
In science fiction film after science fiction film, we end up here after finally escaping some exploitive order or system of power.

From Star Trek IV:

Dr. Taylor: Don't tell me -- they don't have money in the 23rd Century?
Kirk: Well, we don't.
Posted by Judah | September 12, 2007 11:09 AM
5

@3: Iain M. Banks created a futuristic society called "The Culture" in a series of novels, only one of which I've read. Quoting from Wikipedia:

"The Culture is characterized by being a post-scarcity society (meaning that its advanced technologies provide practically limitless material wealth and comforts for everyone for free, having all but abolished the concept of possessions), by having overcome almost all physical constraints on life (including disease and death) and by being an almost totally egalitarian, stable society without the use of any form of force or compulsion, except where necessary to protect others."

Posted by Raindog | September 12, 2007 11:14 AM
6

"except where necessary to protect others"... kinda leaves the door wide open dosn't it...

Posted by You_Gotta_Be_Kidding_Me | September 12, 2007 12:07 PM
7

That picture is pretty much what Star Trek looks like in the Rick Berman view. Good luck to JJ Abrams with the new Star Trek film. Wonder how he will further destroy Roddenberry's ideas of a positive, future? I just hope I can sit through the movie without walking out of it like I did the last four Trek Movies.

Posted by Cato the Younger Younger | September 12, 2007 12:30 PM
8

Roddenberry thought we would need to go through global nuclear war, genocide, and a eugenics nightmare before we even started to get our shit together. And that even after 500 years, women couldn't lead men.

And that if you told a computer to compute PI, it would explode in a fireball.

At least in the Blade Runner version of the future we get to wear decent outfits.

Posted by elenchos | September 12, 2007 12:40 PM
9

Beautiful post Charles. The end of history in Kabbalah will come when the divine sparks are reunited into Adam. The ONE. The goyium (darkenss) must struggle with Light (Israel) until the energy of the shattered vessels are resolved.

The ash filled landscapes are the end of the goyium's futile battle against their own interior darkness. Eventually the Merkava will appear in a flame filled sky and the Temple will rise again in glory. La Chaim!

Posted by Issur | September 12, 2007 1:00 PM
10

Did Mudede just post a screencap of The Matrix to prove how deep he is?

Whoa.

Posted by uwmatthew | September 12, 2007 1:07 PM
11

He's like David Icke or something.

Posted by The Baron | September 12, 2007 1:19 PM
12

YGBKM @6:

"kinda leaves the door wide open dosn't it..."

Yes, that's one of the recurring dark jokes in the series.

Posted by protected static | September 12, 2007 1:19 PM
13

Mudede. I have a present for you. You will see. You'll see!

Posted by Mr. Poe | September 12, 2007 2:00 PM

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