(no subject)

[novapsyche]

I watched The Matrix tonight, on a DXM trip--probably the last one I will have in a long, long while.

Got a lot of things I didn't get before. At least, I feel I do. And, believe me, this is one of my favorite movies of all time. I saw it around 14 times before I bought it on DVD. 5 times in the theater.

So, I'm thinking I might do my dissertation, if I were to go into grad school for American Culture Studies (specifically pop film culture), on the dialectic between the films The Matrix and The One. As a dialectic, I think the two films offer an immense order of semiotic information.

I believe The Matrix is a parable of our times. The One, not by the same writer or production company as The Matrix, is a continuation of that general parable. Its story line was nearly the exact flip-flop of that of The Matrix.

F bought a microcassette recorder, and I used one little cassette extensively this morning to record my first tentative notes about the film. What a coincidence that he went out and bought one. It really came in handy!

Finally, an idea. I'd been waiting for one of those.

Comments

Matrix as modern star wars?

[myelectricsheep.livejournal.com]

Does that fly? What Would Joseph Campbell Think?

Sorry about all these messages :-)

[myelectricsheep.livejournal.com]

If you have any commentary on The Matrix by Joseph Campbell types I'd love to see it. Or any commentary at all for that matter. And if you need someone to proof your thesis. I love that movie. :-)

Only seen it three times though, I barely rate on the scale. Heh.

Re: Sorry about all these messages :-)

[novapsyche.livejournal.com]

Oh, don't apologize. I like seeing "4 replies" instead of just one. ;)

To admit my ignorance (or perhaps just the lack of recall), I either don't know any of Campbell's works, or if I've read anything by him I cannot recall it off the top of my head. I know friends of mine have mentioned him to me, so some part of my brain has some second- or third-hand knowledge of him. But I don't know anything immediately.

I could bone up, and answer your question some time this week. :)

But this last message of yours gives me another direction in which to go--a specific audience's review(s) of the movie. Thank you. I have another point to explore. :) :)

Re: Sorry about all these messages :-)

[myelectricsheep.livejournal.com]

Campbell was kind of "Mr. Mythology" in a pop culture sort of way. I don't mean he studied pop culture, 'cause he didn't, I mean he was popular and a fair number of people seem to have their introduction to mythology through him. I like a lot of what he says. He has a great set of interviews with Bill Moyers if you're into that sort of thing. They still show them during pledge drives sometimes.

You know, like, what fundamental Star Wars archetypes are also present in ancient Greek myths (or was it Indian myths, maybe that too). He makes that kind of comparison. Some of it is fascinating.

He was looking for the fundamental archetypes present in all myths, finding the "single story" that underlies all myth. So I imagine today's postmodern scholars would have some problems with him, and they should, since I think he goes too far with his reductionism sometimes. But there's still a lot of good stuff there. I like him. I'm sure he would have things to say about The Matrix, I'm just not sure what exactly.

Re: Sorry about all these messages :-)

[myelectricsheep.livejournal.com]

And finally...you might also like to check out (in your copious spare time I know) this:

http://www.livejournal.com/talkread.bml?itemid=15638524&thread=20244221#t20244221

and your comments are welcome, for sure.