Everything I Know I Learned From The Movies

Party on, Dudes...

As sojourners of the 1980s culture, I think that we, as a species, become functionally dependent upon our generation (Pop Culture) as a way to communicate with the host environment. 

Let me explain...

I examine my life in a rather Descartian way, solipsismically questioning the dualism between my consciousness and the influences upon my consciousness. 


In other words, I examine all my thoughts in an attempt to determine which ones belong to me, and which ones were influenced by my external environment. 


For those of you who have seen the movie Inception, you know what I'm talking about in terms of the genesis of thought. 

Filtering through those thoughts, I came across some striking bits and pieces of wisdom that I believe were highly influenced by the movies I saw growing up. 

Here's a few thoughts, from the 1980s movie scene, that I believe to have affected my thinking...

OBSERVATIONS

Always carry Skittles in your pocket in case someone needs to find you.  

The government is a very scary, very organized group of people in dark suits.

Aliens like pizza, beer, and Skittles.

REASONS WHY I THINK THIS MIGHT HAVE AFFECTED MY CONSCIOUSNESS

I always carry chewy candy with me, it is both a sugar booster and an emergency communication device.

Trust and verify is my credo.

If you encounter an alien, give them a candy bar.

OBSERVATIONS

Babysitting can be an exciting adventure.  

Flat tires are no big deal.

Problems can be solved when everyone works together.

REASONS WHY I THINK THIS MIGHT HAVE AFFECTED MY CONSCIOUSNESS

I homeschool my kids while traveling internationally. 

I have Emergency Road Side Service. 

Everyone's input matters.

OBSERVATIONS

Parapsychology is cool if you have the right gadgets. 

Theme songs are important while debunking public opinion. 

"Cool" people will save the day. 

REASONS WHY I THINK THIS MIGHT HAVE AFFECTED MY CONSCIOUSNESS

I majored in Philosophy and love technology.

Popular Culture and good humor brings people together.

I think in terms of two dichotomies: "KEWL" vs "not KEWL" 

OBSERVATIONS

Skipping school gives you time to have adventures. 

Do not hand over a Spider California, Ferrari 250 to Valet.

Beware of teachers.

REASONS WHY I THINK THIS MIGHT HAVE AFFECTED MY CONSCIOUSNESS

My children and I explore the world Nomadically. 


I park my own car.

Speak with people not at them.

OBSERVATIONS

Science fiction and comedy go together.

Entire worlds exist at the microscopic level.

If we invent a Shrink Ray, we can build robots and fix broken stuff inside our bodies.

REASONS WHY I THINK THIS MIGHT HAVE AFFECTED MY CONSCIOUSNESS

I explore humor studies in the morning and teach literature from Science Fiction novels.

I am obsessed transferring my consciousness into carbon nanotubes.

I have a manufacturing facility where I hope to someday build a Shrink Ray Gun, a carbon-nano-based humonoid vessel, and a Space Ship to exit Planet Earth, if necessary. 

OBSERVATIONS

In the future, we will be able to rebuild our bodies (just like the Bionic Man and Bionic Woman).

Technology is inherently good.

There is a human face behind all machines.

REASONS WHY I THINK THIS MIGHT HAVE AFFECTED MY CONSCIOUSNESS

I am obsessed with transferring my consciousness to a symbiotic mechanism, potentially made from carbon nanotube structures mixed with very tiny electromagnetic, noospheric devices and wifi.

I believe technology is a language that should be mastered.

Understand machines, understand ourselves. 

OBSERVATIONS

Cartoon characters are real.

ACME is a KEWL company.

No one dies in the cartoon world.

REASONS WHY I THINK THIS MIGHT HAVE AFFECTED MY CONSCIOUSNESS

Some of my best friends are cartoon characters.

We manufacture ACME-like products at our facility.

I would transfer my conscious existence to a cartoon if the option were available.

OBSERVATIONS

Dancing is cool.

Dancing with your friends is SUPER COOL. 

Break the rules.

REASONS WHY I THINK THIS MIGHT HAVE AFFECTED MY CONSCIOUSNESS

I dance in my rollerblades.

I love hanging out with friends and dancing on the Wii or Xbox360.

What rules?

  

OBSERVATIONS

High society is boring.

Sometimes things aren't what they seem.

Romance happens on the dance floor. 

REASONS WHY I THINK THIS MIGHT HAVE AFFECTED MY CONSCIOUSNESS

I do not belong to any social circle - I only visit.

Things are never what they seem - question everything. 

I have decided to take up dancing again.

OBSERVATIONS

Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now.

Dress up is fun.

Love brings artifacts to life.

REASONS WHY I THINK THIS MIGHT HAVE AFFECTED MY CONSCIOUSNESS

I am a risk taker.

My closets resemble department stores with seating, pictures, and music.

I work in the preservation of antiquities.

OBSERVATIONS

Build it and they will come.

Skepticism will get you nowhere.

Bet everything you've got on your dreams.

REASONS WHY I THINK THIS MIGHT HAVE AFFECTED MY CONSCIOUSNESS

I create often.

I am a highly optimistic person.

I continually bet my life savings on projects in the hopes of bringing everyone together to play and have a little fun.

OBSERVATIONS

High rise buildings blow-up. 

Spy skills are important.

There is big money behind every system.

REASONS WHY I THINK THIS MIGHT HAVE AFFECTED MY CONSCIOUSNESS

I live close to the ground.

I delight in learning new skills and techniques, and have amassed a large collection of survival handbooks (how to survive alien attacks, pirates, politics, zombies, etc.)


I have become adept in tracing back objects to their origins.

OBSERVATIONS

Driving slowly on the freeway to save gas is lame.

Intelligence, sports, and good cheerleading go hand-in-hand.

Electronic music is cool.

REASONS WHY I THINK THIS MIGHT HAVE AFFECTED MY CONSCIOUSNESS

I drive in the fast lane.

I value learning, fitness, and the internal fortitude and motivation that helps get things done. 

I meditate to techno music.

OBSERVATIONS

Elite circles can be highly treacherous.

If someone's station in society is constricted, they will find a way to fight back.

Poverty is not the ideal suitor.

REASONS WHY I THINK THIS MIGHT HAVE AFFECTED MY CONSCIOUSNESS

I am entertained by the exploits of others.

I believe in open-source sharing.

I support people who work toward the betterment of humanity.

OBSERVATIONS

Portable music is essential.

It's important to say what you feel.

Kickboxing is cool.

REASONS WHY I THINK THIS MIGHT HAVE AFFECTED MY CONSCIOUSNESS

Walkman, iPod, iTouch, iPhone...nuff said.

I am faithful to myself.

I have a kickboxing bag in my bedroom.

OBSERVATIONS

Stereotyping is leads you to the wrong conclusions.

It's important to use a good conditioner.

Sometimes good things come out of bad experiences.

REASONS WHY I THINK THIS MIGHT HAVE AFFECTED MY CONSCIOUSNESS

I value individuality.

My hair is thick and silky, just like the commercial.

I always look for the good in any given situation (even if I don't want to).

OBSERVATIONS

Never underestimate anyone.

Autism is just another way to see the world.

Cross-country road trips are cool.

REASONS WHY I THINK THIS MIGHT HAVE AFFECTED MY CONSCIOUSNESS

I make a point to explore many subjects so I can expand my ability to relate to others.

I sometimes wonder if I have a touch of autistic savantness.

I take a major road trip every year.

OBSERVATIONS

Drugs are bad.

Violence is bad.

Oppression is bad.

REASONS WHY I THINK THIS MIGHT HAVE AFFECTED MY CONSCIOUSNESS

Anything thought or substance in excess is not healthy.

I avoid negativity.

I work on behalf of everyone's freedom of expression.

OBSERVATIONS

Sentience can happen anywhere and in anything.

Handle all objects with care.

Technology should be used to further peace and intelligence, not war.

REASONS WHY I THINK THIS MIGHT HAVE AFFECTED MY CONSCIOUSNESS

I look for signs of conscious life in everything I see.

I help people preserve their valuables.

I believe that merging good intentions with technology will exponentially yield positive results... I regularly send out good energie (frequencies).

OBSERVATIONS

Use the Force.

Always support your friends.

Become a Jedi Master.

REASONS WHY I THINK THIS MIGHT HAVE AFFECTED MY CONSCIOUSNESS

I explore energie via Quantum Mechanics.

I put my friends and family first. 

I strive to find a harmonious balance in my experience of existence.

OBSERVATIONS

Martial arts are cool.

We have to defend ourselves against bullies.

We're always learning new skills.

REASONS WHY I THINK THIS MIGHT HAVE AFFECTED MY CONSCIOUSNESS

My kids and I study Taekwondo and Tai Chi.

I spent many elementary school lunch hours in the principal's office for "fighting" (defending others).

True learning can be found anywhere.

OBSERVATIONS

Books are magical portals to other worlds.

We can outsmart bullies by reading.

Everything we do affects the world.

REASONS WHY I THINK THIS MIGHT HAVE AFFECTED MY CONSCIOUSNESS

I have an extensive library.

I read for knowledge and share what I learn with others who will find my explorations and discoveries of value.

I constantly scan my thoughts and actions in an attempt to maximize my ability to contribute positively to the world.

OBSERVATIONS

Don't trust a bio-exorcist.

Don't drive on bridges.

Do not switch numbers with African's in the afterworld.

REASONS WHY I THINK THIS MIGHT HAVE AFFECTED MY CONSCIOUSNESS

Experts can make mistakes.

I pay very close attention when I drive over bridges.

I respect everyone's property, including my own, and consider us all custodians of the objects of humanity. 

OBSERVATIONS

A Time Machine is the most important device in the universe.

A Time Machine can help you right wrongs. 

A Time Machine can make your family rich.

REASONS WHY I THINK THIS MIGHT HAVE AFFECTED MY CONSCIOUSNESS

The first component part I drew for my Time Machine was a U-Turn Signal.

In the absence of a functioning Time Machine, I use my mind and body to project energie, strengthening the probability of the energie strands that result in the specific manifestation of positive thoughts and outcomes.

When I win the Lottery, I will share with my good fortune with all my friends and family. 

The Nostalgia of McDonalds

One day after Kindergarten, my Grandma picked me up from school and took me to McDonald's for the very first time.  I remember it like it was yesterday.... 

It was April - chilly in the morning, but by recess, it had warmed up enough for me to take off my sweater and play on the monkey bars. Of course, when you take your sweater off in Kindergarten, you have to put it away, in your cubby. 

That's always the hardest part to remember because it feels so very far away from the playground and you could lose your spot if you leave. 

Then, I remember standing in line at the door waiting for the bell to ring, running through my checklist... lunch pail, thermos, sweater (pause for effect), note we're supposed to take home about Open House and "bring back signed"... Got it, got it, if I forget it, I will get into big trouble, got it, got it, got it... good.

The bell rang and to my surprise, my Grandma was standing right outside the door, on the side so she didn't get trampled by the kids, though we were supposed to exit the building in single-file line.

"Where Mommy?" 

From what my Grandma said, she had to take my little brother to the doctor and that we were going to have a special afternoon and go get a treat. At that moment, I felt very special. Then, the news. "We were going to see Ronald McDonald."

Just the way she said his name, I knew he was important. 

We pulled into the driveway and got a park right in front because my Grandma had those handicap plates, which let us park near the door. That was very nice. I knew that I liked conveniences right then and there. 

We walked through the doors and it was like going to the Circus! It was bright and colorful and clean - very clean. I wondered what it would be like to rollerskate on those shiny floors. 

I got the Fish Fillet Meal! 

That was the best afternoon of my young life!

I thought McDonalds had existed since the dawn of time and that only special people got to go there for a treat. 

As for those Yellow Arches, every kid knows exactly what they are... 

Magical Bendy French Fries!

Nostalgia is a funny thing. No two people integrate McDonald's or other popular culture objects as part of their self-identity in the same way, but signs and symbols communicate with us in very profound ways, even if we're over 40 and can no longer tolerate the stuff.

I recently had the distinct privilege having the author of The Evangelical Hamburger, Professor Emeritus Asa Berger, share with me his account of the early days when McDonald's first came on the scene: 

"It probably all started in 1962 or 1963 when I was walking down a street in Minneapolis and noticed that what had been an empty lot now had a small building in it. It was my first encounted with golden arches and McDonald's. At the time, hamburgers cost thirteen cents - or something like that. I bought one and ate it. 

I spent a bit of time observing the operation. I noticed that the clerks had a set routine of questions they asked, I saw a sign on the side of the building indicated how many people had eaten McDonald's hamburgers since it was founded, and I couldn't help but wonder about the symbolism of the golden arches. 

I concluded that McDonald's had the same dynamics of evangelical Protestant churches and wrote an article for The Minnesota Daily titled "The Evangelical Hamburger." I saw a ritual, I saw religious symbolism in the arches, I saw (in the sign) membership in a group or congregation that is constantly growing, and thus argued that McDonald's hamburgers symbolized something of enormous importance. The article caused a bit of a scandal, since a number of people in Minneapolis thought it was sacrilegious." 

After my son mispronounced Arthur Asa Berger's name as Arthur Awesome Burger, the name has since stuck with our family. My daughter helped me create this design for him (above photo). 

For my readers who, like me, love a good laugh, you'll enjoying learning that Arthur Awesome Burger has been best friends with one William Fry for 40+ years.

I guess burgers and "fry's" really do go together! 

Humor Sets Your Dogma Free

Humor

Ethnic identity is often buttressed by religion, as in the case of many peoples around the world, but it is also touched by nostalgia in many ways. 

Traveling back and forth since the dawn of civilization, immigrants from all over the world have found their worldview, and hence, their sense of humor, changed by individual behavior adjustments to new environments as well as exposure to new cultural patterns. 

Health and social well-being, personified in humor, expresses our cultural and political values, our social and economic achievements, and family status. While such assumptions are commonsensical enough to go unnoticed, they are the subject of humor and thus, part of the environment that shapes self-identity. 

In a time when technological connectivity is bridging the divide between geographies, old dogmas represented in territorial lines of demarcation have made an undeniable shift toward valuing our common human heritage... delighting ourselves as we delve head first into a new environment, a new era, whereby we are all nostalgic immigrants venturing into the land of the unknown. 

Laughing and clicking "like" when the coast is clear 

so that all our friends & neighbors may venture forward with us. 

sets your Dogma Free...

The Simplicity of Humor

We tend to ignore the subtleties, inconsistencies, and complexities of our existence and to think in terms of simple, mutually exclusive dichotomies: 

Funny vs. not Funny               

  

The allure of this way of thinking is simplicity...

The tendency to think about the true nature of humor in terms of dichotomies is illustrated by two kinds of questions that people commonly ask about expressed humor (comedy): 

(1) Is it physiological, or is it psychological? 

(2) Is it inherited, or is it learned? 

Both questions have proved to be misguided attempts; 

yet they are among the most common kinds of questions asked in humor studies. That is why I am dwelling on them here. 

(C) Joseph-Nicolas Robert-Fleury

Galileo before the Holy Office. 

One-two punch! 

The idea that human processes fall into one of two categories, physiological or psychological, grew out of a 17th-century conflict between science and the Roman Church. 

Humor, in the form of epigrams and inscriptions, dates back to the funeral mounts during the classical and Hellenistic epoch of ancient Greece when funerals included joyful elements such as games, competitions, dancing, and acts intended to recreate life and restore balance to the earth in response to a belief that nature was dying. 

Norwich Cathedral

In the right corner, we have Descartes (1596-1650) weighing in on the side of science

In the left corner, we had the Roman church, 

then people started mixing things up and eventually, we found the Matrix...

and the dogmas protested

and some of us laughed

because it was that simple...