Creationism
Random thoughts in my mind after
watching Tron Legacy. Warning,
there may be spoilers if you have
not yet seen it.
This will only partially be a critique entry,
but more-so about the underlying message
as a mirror to Humanity. Probably nothing
new to crossing our minds, but that doesn't
mean we should allow our individual thoughts
to stagnate just because "someone else
thought of it first".
Be-Fore-thought
I didn't quite know what to expect of the movie. I saw the trailer in theaters, though
I can't remember with which movie. All I remember was thinking it looked really cool,
though I was skeptical of the quality since so many modern movies are too reliant on
special effects rather than actual talent in acting or stunts... but that is the actual
chicken and the egg, isn't it? Creator and creation, which ends up creating and
becoming a creator; whether in self-perpetuating reproduction of the species,
or something truly new - a miracle of new sentience.
I barely remember the original movie, but remember liking it, and seeing it on
every so often at various night clubs, and was at least curious about the sequel.
So, a few nights ago, I saw the dvd on the shelf at work, so I did what any other
curious, hard-working person with the internet would do - download it :P Please
spare me your lecture on "stealing", for those who made the movie get plenty
from those who see it in theaters. Besides, I often find if it's good enough, I buy
the dvd later anyway for all the extra goodies. It's no different than a free sample
of food or another product before you buy it, and it's not like I'm selling it.
Preview
By the way, a catchy remixed song from the movie, to
images of a teaser trailer they used back in 2008
(Mostly images from the game, but the teaser part
incorporates actual images of Jeff Bridges' part
as Flynn which are in the actual movie).
Anyway... chicken and the egg...
or should I say the mirror of mirrors creating
more mirrors that reflect different aspects?
Aside from the great visuals and soundtrack, as well as acting, the part that
spoke loudest to me was about the ISO's (Isomorphic Algorhthyms), the
"miracle" race that manifested in the Grid that Jeff Bridges' character talks
about in a flashback over dinner with his son. A whole new life form that
just "came to be", and pretty much took Bridges' character from a computer
user to a God. He may not have created them directly, but was a catalyst.
An ISO from the movie, Quorra,
played by Olivia Wilde
ISO's appear practically the same as the other
programs (which, in the Lore, I think are called
"Basics") in the world of The Grid, as they're both
digital, but ISO's have this glowing racial "tattoo"
on the arm, and, as aforementioned, manifested
rather than were simple creations and mirrors of
Humans that are easily reprogrammed.
Racial "tattoo"
However, most of them were killed in genocide by Bridges' "evil twin", C.L.U.
a la "the Devil". All Bible-parallels aside, it did make me start wondering more
about what form such a new life-form would manifest as if/when mankind one
day does find/create A.I. or some other equivalent. My biggest question, of
many others, is if it's truly a greater form of creating new life without reprodu-
ction that lies in our destiny as a race.
It's been ingrained in us ever since The Bible and other tales of greater beings.
What if it's either from a superior being who may have created us, or a collective,
conscious racial memory that resonates in us, waiting to be unlocked when we're
ready, to become creators and shape our world in a more evolved fashion with the
aid of a new form of life; a perfected, or so we hope, version of ourselves. Or, much
like in Tron's example, a race which we don't really directly create, but does
manifest as a result of what we're trying to do.
Here's to hoping it inherits the better traits of Humanity, rather than
destroys us out of jealousy or any number of other negative Human
traits and motives. Much like the Bible's Angels, created by God,
with one falling and becoming more or less the Creator's evil twin.
I'm no Bible humper or even Christian/Catholic/Jewish, being Buddhist,
but it doesn't mean I won't look at other religions and believe there is
at least some fact that the myths are based on, and using it to look
forward and wonder "what if..." ... like "What if 'History' repeats itself,
and another sentient race is writing such stories about us as divine
entities?", and, if that happens, "Where do we go and what do we
do now?"... go as 2.0's and have a chat over coffee with the 1.0's
and 0.1's?
... Oh, and I don't care if it gets me called a "Cyber Goth" or whatever
subculture sports the look, but I REALLY want Bridges' cloak from the
movie (the one which is black outside, and lined inside with white light :P
watching Tron Legacy. Warning,
there may be spoilers if you have
not yet seen it.
This will only partially be a critique entry,
but more-so about the underlying message
as a mirror to Humanity. Probably nothing
new to crossing our minds, but that doesn't
mean we should allow our individual thoughts
to stagnate just because "someone else
thought of it first".
Be-Fore-thought
I didn't quite know what to expect of the movie. I saw the trailer in theaters, though
I can't remember with which movie. All I remember was thinking it looked really cool,
though I was skeptical of the quality since so many modern movies are too reliant on
special effects rather than actual talent in acting or stunts... but that is the actual
chicken and the egg, isn't it? Creator and creation, which ends up creating and
becoming a creator; whether in self-perpetuating reproduction of the species,
or something truly new - a miracle of new sentience.
I barely remember the original movie, but remember liking it, and seeing it on
every so often at various night clubs, and was at least curious about the sequel.
So, a few nights ago, I saw the dvd on the shelf at work, so I did what any other
curious, hard-working person with the internet would do - download it :P Please
spare me your lecture on "stealing", for those who made the movie get plenty
from those who see it in theaters. Besides, I often find if it's good enough, I buy
the dvd later anyway for all the extra goodies. It's no different than a free sample
of food or another product before you buy it, and it's not like I'm selling it.
Preview
Click to viewBy the way, a catchy remixed song from the movie, to
images of a teaser trailer they used back in 2008
(Mostly images from the game, but the teaser part
incorporates actual images of Jeff Bridges' part
as Flynn which are in the actual movie).
Anyway... chicken and the egg...
or should I say the mirror of mirrors creating
more mirrors that reflect different aspects?
Aside from the great visuals and soundtrack, as well as acting, the part that
spoke loudest to me was about the ISO's (Isomorphic Algorhthyms), the
"miracle" race that manifested in the Grid that Jeff Bridges' character talks
about in a flashback over dinner with his son. A whole new life form that
just "came to be", and pretty much took Bridges' character from a computer
user to a God. He may not have created them directly, but was a catalyst.
An ISO from the movie, Quorra,
played by Olivia Wilde
ISO's appear practically the same as the other
programs (which, in the Lore, I think are called
"Basics") in the world of The Grid, as they're both
digital, but ISO's have this glowing racial "tattoo"
on the arm, and, as aforementioned, manifested
rather than were simple creations and mirrors of
Humans that are easily reprogrammed.
Racial "tattoo"
However, most of them were killed in genocide by Bridges' "evil twin", C.L.U.
a la "the Devil". All Bible-parallels aside, it did make me start wondering more
about what form such a new life-form would manifest as if/when mankind one
day does find/create A.I. or some other equivalent. My biggest question, of
many others, is if it's truly a greater form of creating new life without reprodu-
ction that lies in our destiny as a race.
It's been ingrained in us ever since The Bible and other tales of greater beings.
What if it's either from a superior being who may have created us, or a collective,
conscious racial memory that resonates in us, waiting to be unlocked when we're
ready, to become creators and shape our world in a more evolved fashion with the
aid of a new form of life; a perfected, or so we hope, version of ourselves. Or, much
like in Tron's example, a race which we don't really directly create, but does
manifest as a result of what we're trying to do.
Here's to hoping it inherits the better traits of Humanity, rather than
destroys us out of jealousy or any number of other negative Human
traits and motives. Much like the Bible's Angels, created by God,
with one falling and becoming more or less the Creator's evil twin.
I'm no Bible humper or even Christian/Catholic/Jewish, being Buddhist,
but it doesn't mean I won't look at other religions and believe there is
at least some fact that the myths are based on, and using it to look
forward and wonder "what if..." ... like "What if 'History' repeats itself,
and another sentient race is writing such stories about us as divine
entities?", and, if that happens, "Where do we go and what do we
do now?"... go as 2.0's and have a chat over coffee with the 1.0's
and 0.1's?
... Oh, and I don't care if it gets me called a "Cyber Goth" or whatever
subculture sports the look, but I REALLY want Bridges' cloak from the
movie (the one which is black outside, and lined inside with white light :P