Okay, I'm gonna' sound like a big idiot, but bear with me for five seconds....
I've never tried any drugs as of yet. BUT, a lot of my friends (including my
sister) have and they tell me stories that are eerily similar to Pirsig's
description. Reality breaking down and the like. I hear my girlfriend
spouting off Pirsigian-esque type intuitions and she's never read him before.
And anyone who's read Nausea by Sartre, or any other mind-bending existential
stuff, will basically know what happens. It really does seem to break down
static barriers. I think it could wonderful for experimentation and controlled
use. Much like alcohol and legal drugs can be in controlled dosages.
But the real reason I wrote in (because I've never actually taken drugs) was to
exclaim my amazement at a recent movie (in the U.S.). Ever since losing my
intellectual cherry to the MoQ, the more good movies I see, the more I see
incredible MoQ connections. It makes my favorite movies all the better. The
most recent though, is, well, amazing.
Memento
I don't know how wide it's release has been, or when it will be released, but
if you get a chance to see it, do so. Besides being a fabulous
mystery/film-noir, it is an amazing example of Dyamic Quality. Why? The main
character suffers from a rare neurological disorder called anteriograde amnesia
that prevents him from creating any new memories. This isn't the first I've
seen it a movie: the first was the German movie Winter Sleepers
(Winterschläfer). But in Memento the whole movie revolves around it.
What happens is Guy Pearce (who plays the main character) suffers brain damage
to his hippocampus. That gives him anteriograde amnesia. He can still
function in the world with all previously made memories/static patterns still
being around (like Pirsig's baby grasping an object or, say, driving a car),
but he cannot make new ones. No new static patterns. At least those in his
head. He does have a systematic way of leaving notes around, some of which he
tattoos on his body (a literal form of "note to self").
But, whatever. That's the plot. The point is, it sure seems like the guy
lives off of almost pure DQ. Not completely pure. Or maybe not even pure at
all. But he certainly lives in the now (or not, depending on interpretation).
Hunh. Now that I've completely not taken a stance or said anything
intelligible....
At the very least he deals with experience that, other than former static
patterns, is all new. I'm seeing several different interpretations, now that I
think about it.
But think of the connection with the MoQ through a case study of anteriograde
amnesia. No new static patterns. Or almost no new ones. I don't wanna' ruin
the movie.
Damn, the thing was so . . . intoxicating.
Radiohead,
Matt
p.s. Ignore this and reply to David's about the drug-thread, 'cuz I don't think
I really added anything about drugs.
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