Slog - Comments on The Real http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/the_real What is it in our ideology that blocks all other views of life outside of capitalism save this one: 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... Copyright 2008 Wed, 12 Sep 2007 10:55:01 -0800 Wed, 12 Sep 2007 14:00:09 -0800 http://www.movabletype.org/?v=3.34 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Comment by Will in Seattle 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.

]]> Will in Seattle http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/the_real#c803253 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/the_real#c803253 Film Wed, 12 Sep 2007 11:05:09 -0800 Comment by adrian! precisely.

]]> adrian! http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/the_real#c803256 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/the_real#c803256 Film Wed, 12 Sep 2007 11:06:33 -0800 Comment by ebsur 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...

]]> ebsur http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/the_real#c803259 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/the_real#c803259 Film Wed, 12 Sep 2007 11:08:41 -0800 Comment by Judah 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.
]]> Judah http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/the_real#c803261 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/the_real#c803261 Film Wed, 12 Sep 2007 11:09:10 -0800 Comment by Raindog @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."

]]> Raindog http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/the_real#c803263 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/the_real#c803263 Film Wed, 12 Sep 2007 11:14:16 -0800 Comment by You_Gotta_Be_Kidding_Me "except where necessary to protect others"... kinda leaves the door wide open dosn't it...

]]> You_Gotta_Be_Kidding_Me http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/the_real#c803326 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/the_real#c803326 Film Wed, 12 Sep 2007 12:07:21 -0800 Comment by Cato the Younger Younger 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.

]]> Cato the Younger Younger http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/the_real#c803356 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/the_real#c803356 Film Wed, 12 Sep 2007 12:30:29 -0800 Comment by elenchos 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.

]]> elenchos http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/the_real#c803365 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/the_real#c803365 Film Wed, 12 Sep 2007 12:40:24 -0800 Comment by Issur 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!

]]> Issur http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/the_real#c803395 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/the_real#c803395 Film Wed, 12 Sep 2007 13:00:38 -0800 Comment by uwmatthew Did Mudede just post a screencap of The Matrix to prove how deep he is?

Whoa.

]]> uwmatthew http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/the_real#c803403 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/the_real#c803403 Film Wed, 12 Sep 2007 13:07:37 -0800 Comment by The Baron He's like David Icke or something.

]]> The Baron http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/the_real#c803419 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/the_real#c803419 Film Wed, 12 Sep 2007 13:19:19 -0800 Comment by protected static YGBKM @6:

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

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

]]> protected static http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/the_real#c803420 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/the_real#c803420 Film Wed, 12 Sep 2007 13:19:35 -0800 Comment by Mr. Poe Mudede. I have a present for you. You will see. You'll see!

]]> Mr. Poe http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/the_real#c803469 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/the_real#c803469 Film Wed, 12 Sep 2007 14:00:09 -0800