Saturday, November 08, 2008

Evolution is Science Fiction

I read Serenity by Keith DeCandido, after the film of the same name, based on the best SciFi-series ever. The novel follows the series and the film very, very closely. This is a shame, because I liked the style of the author and he seems like someone who could bring neat additions to novels that follow films. Content-wise, the book doesn't add anything if you've seen the series/film, and it even seems awkward if you've read the unauthorized essays, because some of the character's thoughts don't add up (others, rarely, explain certain events better, which is what such a novel should do, in my book).
Novels that are fashioned after films usually disappoint me. It's rare that they bring originality into the plot, often because the writers are simply not allowed to think for themselves and expand the verse - the creator's fear of having someone else kill their darlings.
(A fear that may be understandable if you know certain types of fanfiction.)

***

There's this theory that was apparently very prominent in the 19th century. It describes the existence of "a racial or animal memory throughout the evolutionary process - a subliminal knowledge of generic past experience in each individual creature at her particular level of developed consciousness."
Today you call it basic instinct, I guess. Still, something in me refuses to accredit this theory. It seems weird to believe that, if you speak in theological terms, some memory or, rather, being of Lilith and Eva should be in me (given they existed, but we're talking theoretically here, so that's not the point). That all the past that there is in one's bloodline could be summoned up if you reach a certain level of consciousness, from the oppression in patriarchy back to the times when there were matriarchates.
We're more than the sum of our parts, true, but are we that much more?

***

I love this song by Tori Amos.

It reminds me of the time when I went to a ball and couldn't really relate to any of the people there, so I just went around trying to smile happily, while I was utterly bored inside. At some point a guy told me "You smile nicely, but you don't talk at all", which kinda ruined my attempt to fit it.
And this is what the song is to me.

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

nice pic.
exept the of right elbow and the cigarette^^

greez

Manuela said...

Anatomy is evil ;)

As for the cigarette: I'm a victim! It's in the song.
But, thankfully, pictures don't smell.

Anonymous said...

Yeah, I know, especially joints are hard to draw (thanks that I don't need to draw them all too exactly^^)

@cig. Ok, thats an excuse ;)

BtW: Amnasty International is holding a bookfleamarket this weekend:

http://www.linztermine.at/detail.asp?id=45655&cat=43&subcat=0&lang=de

Maybe there will be some bargains

Manuela said...

Dammit, I'm not here this weekend! :(

Why is all the good stuff going on when I'm not here? The health fair in Wels, book fleamarket in Linz,...

This sounds like there would have been some nice books for me there. Hmpf.

Anonymous said...

What are you doing this WE?

Manuela said...

I'll be in Innsbruck again, at a Kendo seminar and a tournament. It feels like I'm too confident with my progress, so I'm in need of some people kicking my butt to put me in my place ;)

Anonymous said...

So then: good luck and have FUN!!! (this is the most important part of life!)

Anonymous said...

An aticle I came across you might be interrested in:

http://nymag.com/restaurants/features/37273/

Manuela said...

Thanks for the link to the article! Indeed very interesting. That guy really is dedicated.

I'm already happy if I can get some vegetables from the garden, and fruits. Growing chicken is a thought I never dared entertain. Wicked. What all these people doing ecological experiments seem to have in common, though, is that their relationships went downhill very quickly ;)