Putting the 'i'rony back in existentialism..

Considering irony has only contigent value, i'm sure existentialism wouldn't acknowledge such a notion. However, I do find it interesting that Firefly writer's decided to name a black character Jubal Early. Jubal Early was a confederate general who founded the idea of The Lost Cause post Confederate losing the Civil War. Basically the Lost Cause movement is that the war was 'unfair', the Confederates were cheated out of a win and their slave-owning based economy was just a different way of life. The latter being a sort of existential perspective.

Firefly's Jubal Early and the Civil War's Jubal Early are comprable due to the same existential ideology. Both had a certain 'code' they lived by. One was a bounty other the other a slave owner. Both could be valid reasons to criticize existential, that there are no values, only 'freedom' (which is ironic thought when thinking about slave-owning societies). Existentialism applied in the wrong way can be a very dangerous tool. When I think about it usually I see it as a positive way to be analytical about cookie cutter expectatioins that are put forth by whatever powers at be. Apparenlty this sort of intellectual freedom that existentism allows can be used to justified rape, murder and baby dashing. So maybe a dash ,not of baby, but of utilitarianism in with my existentialism would be fine just fine.

Also, applying existentialism onto objects is absurd to me as Derrida's Deconstruction approach to literature. Viewing things independent of context other than just that specific object, work, whatever is an over simplification for a creature that feels the need to create a philosophy to explain such madness. When River pulled up the gun/branch part of me wanted to laugh or just throw someting at the screen. I get the symbolism for the bigger picture, but the literal application of objects just seems a bit pointless to me. Us humans should enjoy the utilization of tools that our ancestors created without getting to caught up in some pretentious philosophy consciousness that evolution 'gifted' us with. This is going under the assumption that River is trying to be some sort of teacher or is a use of symbolism for the writers, not that River is mentally deranged. Given the transition to a clever creature by the end of the episode I'd find that hard to do (also how did that transition happen.

River could have done us all a favor and shot all the characters so I wouldn't have to read Firefly fans talk about the blindness (Harris) of a text like it has potential for the greatest profundities for anything that the texts lacks (for now). The show was cancelled for legit reasons. It was on a network that doesn't do well with sci-fi and expects shows to gross lots of cash. Atleast, that is what I've read. For the cost of each episode it wasn't drawing enough of viewers. I've read both sides though... but you either way Firefly fans win with new episodes on the Science Channel. Hurray.

Pink Floyd, rat race, vampires, 1950's and wall paper

I was listening to Pink Floyd today and stumbled upon lyrics from the song "Three Four" that reminded me of the struggle of characters in this episode. My mind then parralleled the anti-rat race song themed to the purpose of the wall paper in the Yellow Wall Paper. The main character in the Yellow Wall Paper (as I've notice some of you have mentioned already) eventually breaks down the design of the wall paper into a woman constantly struggling to get out of the design.

The song "Three-Four" is about a similar theme to break the mold, the pointless constant struggle of humanity, especially Western outlook, to suceed in what can be perceived as a pointless struggle. Although this view tends to coincide with a bunch of stinky, drug happy hippies, its validity can be shown in some schools of thought, like existentialism.

All of the characters who have judgement cast on them, the marxist, Judy, and Angel, try to break out of these superficial standards. However, the design of 1950's society will not allow them to just be people or soulful vampires.

Anyways here are the lyrics and a link to the song. (link and image will have to wait my browsers are rebelling against me) :(




The memories of a man in his old age
Are the deeds of a man in his prime.
You shuffle in gloom of the sickroom
And talk to yourself as you die.

Life is a short, warm moment
And death is a long cold rest.
You get your chance to try in the twinkling of an eye:
Eighty years, with luck, or even less.

So all aboard for the American tour,
And maybe you'll make it to the top.
And mind how you go, and I can tell you, 'cause I know
You may find it hard to get off.

You are the angel of death
And I am the dead man's son.
And he was buried like a mole in a fox hole.
And everyone is still on the run.

And who is the master of fox hounds?
And who says the hunt has begun?
And who calls the tune in the courtroom?
And who beats the funeral drum?

The memories of a man in his old age
Are the deeds of a man in his prime.
You shuffle in gloom in the sickroom
And talk to yourself as you die.