"The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951)." The Internet Movie Database (IMDb). 30 Mar. 2009 <http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0043456/>.
"Deism Defined, Welcome to Deism, Deist Glossary and Frequently Asked." Welcome To The Deism Site! 29 Mar. 2009 <http://www.deism.com/deism_defined.htm>.
"Existential Primer: Home Page." Tameri Guide for Writers: Index Page. 29 Mar. 2009 <http://www.tameri.com/csw/exist/>.
"48. Gunga Din. Rudyard Kipling. Modern British Poetry." Bartleby.com: Great Books Online -- Encyclopedia, Dictionary, Thesaurus and hundreds more. 29 Mar. 2009 <http://www.bartleby.com/103/48.html>.
"Moloch." Encyclopedia Mythica: mythology, folklore, and religion. 29 Mar. 2009 <http://www.pantheon.org/articles/m/moloch.html>.
"Pallas Athena." Oracle ThinkQuest Library. 29 Mar. 2009 <http://library.thinkquest.org/17709/people/athena.htm>.
"The Rorschach Test." SPARC - Divorce and Custody Help. 29 Mar. 2009 <http://deltabravo.net/custody/rorschach.php>.
Monday, March 30, 2009
Utopia: The Day the Earth Stood Still
"UTOPIA
The day the earth stood still." (Moore 13, Chapter 10, on sign on panel 9.)
"The Day the Earth Stood Still" is a sci-fi film made in 1951, evidently being shown here at the "Utopia" theater. The film is about an alien that comes to Earth bearing a message during World War II: Earth must stop its fighting and destructive behavior, or be destroyed itself. Alan Moore is saying something by placing this poster on a sign that says "Utopia" above it: he says that this is a message we actually need to hear if we are to create any kind of Utopia or happy community here on earth or in the universe: we must stop fighting. However, this sign also has another meaning. Like Veidt's logic, the aliens in the movie think that it would be for the good and well-being of all the universe if Earth was eliminated. Killing the inhabitants of earth, while being a loss, would save many more lives. This is a theme throughout the book, as it is mentioned here, in mentions of atomic bombs (like the one dropped on Hiroshima), the possibility of nuclear war, and Veidt's plan, in which he sacrifices New York City to create world peace and save the rest of the world. This sign says that this is the right way for things to be done, and this kind of sacrifice is the only way to create a true Utopia.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0043456/
The day the earth stood still." (Moore 13, Chapter 10, on sign on panel 9.)
"The Day the Earth Stood Still" is a sci-fi film made in 1951, evidently being shown here at the "Utopia" theater. The film is about an alien that comes to Earth bearing a message during World War II: Earth must stop its fighting and destructive behavior, or be destroyed itself. Alan Moore is saying something by placing this poster on a sign that says "Utopia" above it: he says that this is a message we actually need to hear if we are to create any kind of Utopia or happy community here on earth or in the universe: we must stop fighting. However, this sign also has another meaning. Like Veidt's logic, the aliens in the movie think that it would be for the good and well-being of all the universe if Earth was eliminated. Killing the inhabitants of earth, while being a loss, would save many more lives. This is a theme throughout the book, as it is mentioned here, in mentions of atomic bombs (like the one dropped on Hiroshima), the possibility of nuclear war, and Veidt's plan, in which he sacrifices New York City to create world peace and save the rest of the world. This sign says that this is the right way for things to be done, and this kind of sacrifice is the only way to create a true Utopia.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0043456/
Jung
"'As far as we can discern, the sole purpose of human existence is to kindle a light of meaning in the darkness of mere being.'--C.G. Jung, MEMORIES, DREAMS, REFLECTIONS." (Moore 28, Chapter 9).
This quote from Jung is another that well exemplifies the existential school of thought shown in the character Rorschach as well as throughout the Watchmen. Existentialism says that we are what we think we are; reality is what we believe it to be and is defined by the choices we make. The world around us is, consequently, chaotic and irrational; everyone making their own choices based on what they view to be right. We must, however, stay with our own path, our own reality. This quote says just that; the world and our lives, our "mere being," is irrational, without any objective, concrete answers. We must make it become rational by placing our own subjective answers upon it. The 1985 of The Watchmen is chaotic, with crime running rampant and masked vigilantes mistakenly trying to fix it. But they are trying to fix it, each in his or her own way, because that is what they see as right; that is their "light of meaning" in their "darkness of mere being."
This quote from Jung is another that well exemplifies the existential school of thought shown in the character Rorschach as well as throughout the Watchmen. Existentialism says that we are what we think we are; reality is what we believe it to be and is defined by the choices we make. The world around us is, consequently, chaotic and irrational; everyone making their own choices based on what they view to be right. We must, however, stay with our own path, our own reality. This quote says just that; the world and our lives, our "mere being," is irrational, without any objective, concrete answers. We must make it become rational by placing our own subjective answers upon it. The 1985 of The Watchmen is chaotic, with crime running rampant and masked vigilantes mistakenly trying to fix it. But they are trying to fix it, each in his or her own way, because that is what they see as right; that is their "light of meaning" in their "darkness of mere being."
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Pallas Athene
"...The bird whose image the Greeks carved into their coins, sitting patiently at the ear of the Goddess Pallas Athene, silently sharing her immortal wisdom...Perhaps when considering the manner in which it grips its branch, with two toes in front and the reversible outer toe clutching from behind, we should allow ourselves to pause of a moment, and acknowledge that these same claws must once have drawn blood from the shoulder of Pallas." (Moore, segment from "Blood from the Shoulder of Pallas," end of Chapter 7).
Pallas Athene (or Pallas, or Pallas Athena) as the Greek goddess of war. She was smart and strong, the daughter of Zeus, and educated not only in war but in peacemaking. This is like Veidt, who creates destruction (like war) in order to create peace. This is taken from a piece by Dan Dreiberg, or Nite Owl. Dan, and subsequently Alan Moore, discusses how an owl, the Carine noctua, to be specific, who was Pallas' sidekick, could "draw blood from [her] shoulder." I believe they are saying by this that war is not an immovable force, it can be changed and stopped, as Veidt stops it.
http://library.thinkquest.org/17709/people/athena.htm
Pallas Athene (or Pallas, or Pallas Athena) as the Greek goddess of war. She was smart and strong, the daughter of Zeus, and educated not only in war but in peacemaking. This is like Veidt, who creates destruction (like war) in order to create peace. This is taken from a piece by Dan Dreiberg, or Nite Owl. Dan, and subsequently Alan Moore, discusses how an owl, the Carine noctua, to be specific, who was Pallas' sidekick, could "draw blood from [her] shoulder." I believe they are saying by this that war is not an immovable force, it can be changed and stopped, as Veidt stops it.
http://library.thinkquest.org/17709/people/athena.htm
Triangles
Triangles throughout the book. Buddha inside a triangle, page 7, Chapter 5, and first panel, next page.
The triangle shows up many times in the novel, on posters, trucks, and buildings. Veidt, for examples, owns Pyramid, a company that Rorschach and Dan investigate. The triangle is endless, never ending, going around and around on three sides forever. However, if it is made into a pyramid, or placed so that one point is up, there is a definite tip, something higher than the rest. It can be narrowed down until only one piece remains at the top, the highest piece. Veidt has probably chosen this for his symbol because he loves power, as well as the pyramid's associations with the pharaohs of Egypt. On page 7, a triangle is shown over an image of Buddha. Buddha is a type of God, although an uncontrolling one, like Dr. Manhattan. But, although he cannot change the world in any way, he still has power, can still be at the top of this pyramid of humans.
The triangle shows up many times in the novel, on posters, trucks, and buildings. Veidt, for examples, owns Pyramid, a company that Rorschach and Dan investigate. The triangle is endless, never ending, going around and around on three sides forever. However, if it is made into a pyramid, or placed so that one point is up, there is a definite tip, something higher than the rest. It can be narrowed down until only one piece remains at the top, the highest piece. Veidt has probably chosen this for his symbol because he loves power, as well as the pyramid's associations with the pharaohs of Egypt. On page 7, a triangle is shown over an image of Buddha. Buddha is a type of God, although an uncontrolling one, like Dr. Manhattan. But, although he cannot change the world in any way, he still has power, can still be at the top of this pyramid of humans.
Gunga Din(er)
Chapter 1, Page 4--First "Gunga Diner" sign.
"Gunga Din" is a poem by Rudyard Kipling, written in 1892. The poem is about a "bhisti," or water-carrier, who saves the narrator's life and is then killed himself. Sacrifice is a huge theme in The Watchmen. The atomic bomb is discussed many times, and, as my last post shows, the bomb dropped on Hiroshima is shown as being a good thing because it saved many more lives than the ones it killed. Veidt thinks this same way, that killing many New Yorkers will save the country and world from entering a World War that would kill more, and will help them to achieve world peace. Moloch is a word for sacrifice as well as a character in the novel. Watchmen poses moral questions about sacrifice in order to save better things. This poem helps that; although, in "Gunga Din," nothing better is saved by Gunga Din's death. The famous last line of the poem, spoken by the man who was saved by Gunga Din, admits this, saying, "Tho' I've belted you an' flayed you, By the livin' Gawd that made you, You're a better man than I am, Gunga Din!"
http://www.bartleby.com/103/48.html
"Gunga Din" is a poem by Rudyard Kipling, written in 1892. The poem is about a "bhisti," or water-carrier, who saves the narrator's life and is then killed himself. Sacrifice is a huge theme in The Watchmen. The atomic bomb is discussed many times, and, as my last post shows, the bomb dropped on Hiroshima is shown as being a good thing because it saved many more lives than the ones it killed. Veidt thinks this same way, that killing many New Yorkers will save the country and world from entering a World War that would kill more, and will help them to achieve world peace. Moloch is a word for sacrifice as well as a character in the novel. Watchmen poses moral questions about sacrifice in order to save better things. This poem helps that; although, in "Gunga Din," nothing better is saved by Gunga Din's death. The famous last line of the poem, spoken by the man who was saved by Gunga Din, admits this, saying, "Tho' I've belted you an' flayed you, By the livin' Gawd that made you, You're a better man than I am, Gunga Din!"
http://www.bartleby.com/103/48.html
It was a good thing.
"I like President Truman, the way Dad would of wanted me to. He dropped the atom bomb on Japan and saved millions of lives because if he hadn't of, then there would of been a lot more war than there was and more people would of been killed. I think it was a good thing to drop the atomic bomb on Japan." (Moore, end of Chapter 6, paper by Walter Kovacs from Charlton Home).
This quote shows one theme of the book; killing (or hurting) some to save more. Veidt's plan is the culmination of this theme, the epitome of it. He kills almost all of New York City, in order to prevent a World War from happening and to promote world peace. Rorschach says that Truman did the same thing with the atom bomb. It is ironic that he would say that he likes Truman and is glad he did this, because at the end of the novel when Veidt has launched his plan, Rorschach says that he should not be able to get away with it, that it is wrong.
This quote shows one theme of the book; killing (or hurting) some to save more. Veidt's plan is the culmination of this theme, the epitome of it. He kills almost all of New York City, in order to prevent a World War from happening and to promote world peace. Rorschach says that Truman did the same thing with the atom bomb. It is ironic that he would say that he likes Truman and is glad he did this, because at the end of the novel when Veidt has launched his plan, Rorschach says that he should not be able to get away with it, that it is wrong.
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