X-Message-Number: 29690
References: <>
From: Kennita Watson <>
Subject: Re: Acculturation
Date: Mon, 30 Jul 2007 10:39:25 -0700

> From: "Chris Manning" <>
>> From: Kennita Watson <>
>>>
>>> I do not have people on,
>>
>> ??
>
> I'm not sure what this means.

It means that I can't even parse "I do not have people on,",
much less know how to respond to it.
>
>>> But to me, SF isn't about wars or empires or odd looking
>>> creatures with gizmos hanging from the equivalent of their hips.
>>> For me that seems to rule out most SF films.
>>
>> FTR, none of the works I recommended were about any
>> of those things (I'm guessing you didn't like Star
>> Wars)
>
> I didn't see it.

<stunned>

The first user comment on IMDB says it better than I could:

"Here begins the greatest cinematic epic of all time, and arguably  
one of the greatest stories ever told. Originally conceived as a  
serialized popcorn movie in the manner of the old action movies that  
Lucas grew up with, Star Wars surpassed even George's keen and  
bombastic imagination to become a central part of movie history.

There are countless tales of the making of this movie; how Lucas  
never believed he would get the chance to complete the series, how it  
spawned an industry and made the name of nearly everyone who touched  
it a household word. But what that does not reveal, nor do the much  
diminished prequels, is the sheer joy and excitement these movies  
generated.

It was a once in a lifetime experience. You could feel it from  
opening day, earlier if you paid attention to such things. We had  
never seen anything like it, and we are not likely to again."

I find it astounding that any futurist has not seen this film.

"Same planet, different worlds" leaps at me once again.
>
> -- I recommended them because they deal
>> with the topic at hand.
>>
>> The Diamond Age (book):  Nanotechnology (and acculturation, via
>> the Young Lady's Illustrated Primer)
>> Demolition Man:  Cryonics and future society (and acculturation)
>> Vanilla Sky:  Cryonics (and acculturation)
>> The Matrix:  virtual reality and future society (and acculturation)
>> ...
>> I still insist that those three movies are Must-Sees for
>> futurists.
>>>
>>> By the time we are revived, DVD players will be in museums,  
>>> alongside
>>> Edison's first phonograph.
>>
>> Your point?
>
> If there has to be a 'point', I suppose it is that there is nothing  
> special
> about DVD players.

DVD players, like Edison's first phonograph, are significant
waypoints on our technological journey.
>
>> I'm sure that will be the case, but they're
>> the best we have right now, and they make it possible to
>> see movies in much higher fidelity than was possible with
>> VHS.  However, if you only have a VHS player, get the
>> films from Blockbuster in VHS format (assuming they're
>> still carrying most films in VHS).  You probably want
>> them on DVD, though, so you can get the commentaries,
>> making-of, deleted scenes, bloopers, interviews, etc.
>> that are never included on a VHS tape.
>
> If it's ideas we are mainly interested in, then the definition of  
> the film
> isn't important.

Our ability to embody our ideas *is* important, and that's more
than the definition of the image.  DVDs allow filmmakers to
convey more of their intent, and viewers to participate in
more of the filmmaking process.
>
> I suspect I live in a world of my thoughts much more than most  
> people do.

As do most people on this list, I trust ("NT" Myers-Briggs
type, anyone? :-) ).

> Maybe that is why I don't feel the need to see these films, and the
> characters in various books I have read (e.g. John Havig & Leonce)  
> seem just
> as vivid to me as if I had seen them in films.

As powerful as your imagination may be, there are beautiful
and compelling images that it doesn't come up with.  Also,
the effects of pacing, music, and details (which filmmakers
can include to be taken in at a glance but would bog down a
narrative horribly) on the impact -- both emotional and
intellectual -- of a well-made film are not to be lightly
dismissed.

In priority order, then:

Star Wars (!!) (!!!)
The Matrix
The Diamond Age
Vanilla Sky
Demolition Man

Except for The Diamond Age, none of these was produced as a
book (except, maybe, after the film was released); the
vividness of the characters and universes and ideas in them
is inaccessible to you unless you see the films.  Also, if
you have any interest in what view the rest of the world
is getting of cryonics and the future, these (especially
Star Wars!) are a good place to start.

Live long and prosper,
Kennita

Rate This Message: http://www.cryonet.org/cgi-bin/rate.cgi?msg=29690