There is a scene in the movie Bladerunner which is as telling an image of evil in its death throws as has ever been portrayed.
The replicants, as they are called, are genetically created androids which are indistinguishable from humans in every way excepting one characteristic. They are completely devoid of an empathetic response. They don’t feel anything when other creatures are hurt. This is one apt definition of sociopathological evil.
In the last part of the movie one of the main female replicants, Pris, is shot by the protagonist and hits the ground kicking-n-screaming; but even this display is patently abnormal. It’s a lightning fast repetitive semi-mechanical impersonation of a child’s hate and frustration temper tantrum. It’s Pinocchio on steroids, on his back refusing to die; but it’s mechanical fishlike flopping, kicking and fist pounding betrays the fact that it’s never loved, let alone lived. It’s a frightening display which sends chills down the spine of anyone who has a spine and is paying attention.
The irony is you feel sorry for the creature; but you simultaneously realize there is no way in hell the creature feels the same about you or anything else (no more than a tractor or eggbeater). If you go a step further you also realize the creature believes your sympathetic response is your exploitable weakness. You think, “Oh God, please die, because if you get up there’ll be hell to pay and neither I nor any other sane person has that much currency”!
It’s a stunning display.
Ashley Todd, a McCain Campaign Volunteer is now facing potential charges because she faked a story that she was mugged by a black male at an ATM. She'd originally claimed her money was stolen and the attacker beat, kicked and, when the attacker noticed a sticker showing her support for McCain, carved a letter "B" on her cheek.
Michele Bachmann, Representative for the Sixth District in the State of Minnesota, has called for a press investigation to find out who in congress are pro or anti American, and is now rapidly backpedaling.
Robocalling runs rampant, accusing Obama of being soft on crime.
Both McCain and Palin, and ties to their campaigns, suggesting their competitors are associating with terrorists and is a Muslim (not that there’s anything wrong with that).
Effigies of a hanging black-Obama type; envelopes of white powder sent to democratic campaign offices; and the ole black-men-are-apes joke expressed with Curious George shirts and other paraphernalia; Fires set; shouts of “terrorist” and “kill him” from McCain/Palin campaign crowds, where we must assume the Secret Service is present and watching (but inconspicuously NOT doing their jobs by NOT trouncing on some ass, when this happened).
All of this... also a stunning display. And it doesn’t stop. The mechanical kicking and screaming only repeats... like a child’s temper tantrum.
I am a fan of a particular book by the late M. Scott Peck, M.D. His tomes are laced with Christian theology and psychology. Many of his critics believe the religion and psychiatry are too fluid in his works, often masquerading and otherwise confused with each other, and not in a productive and good way in their opinions. I was raised Christian, but am not certain I would fit that definition by anyone who knows that they are. What I am, is an (amateur) Jungian and as such I am interested in archetypes and anything remotely archetypal and, well, evil (and good too)... Evil and all of its historic personages and manifestations, well, that’s way up there... and this single book by Mister Peck is invoked repeatedly (and often not carefully enough) in relation to his proposed new view and psychological definition of a pathology. Because, in what may be his most compelling work, People of the Lie, this is what he posits:
“Be that as it may, the time is right, I believe, for psychiatry to recognize a distinct new type of personality disorder to encompass those I have named evil. In addition to the abrogation of responsibility that characterizes all personality disorders, this one would specifically be distinguished by:
(a) Consistent destructive, scapegoating behavior, which may often be quite subtle.
(b) Excessive, albeit usually covert, intolerance to criticism and other forms of narcissistic injury.
(c) Pronounced concern with public image and self-image of respectability, contributing to a stability of life-style but also to pretentiousness and denial of hateful feelings or vengeful motives.
(d) Intellectual deviousness, with an increased likelihood of a mild schizophreniclike disturbance of thinking at times of stress.”
The replicants, as they are called, are genetically created androids which are indistinguishable from humans in every way excepting one characteristic. They are completely devoid of an empathetic response. They don’t feel anything when other creatures are hurt. This is one apt definition of sociopathological evil.
In the last part of the movie one of the main female replicants, Pris, is shot by the protagonist and hits the ground kicking-n-screaming; but even this display is patently abnormal. It’s a lightning fast repetitive semi-mechanical impersonation of a child’s hate and frustration temper tantrum. It’s Pinocchio on steroids, on his back refusing to die; but it’s mechanical fishlike flopping, kicking and fist pounding betrays the fact that it’s never loved, let alone lived. It’s a frightening display which sends chills down the spine of anyone who has a spine and is paying attention.
The irony is you feel sorry for the creature; but you simultaneously realize there is no way in hell the creature feels the same about you or anything else (no more than a tractor or eggbeater). If you go a step further you also realize the creature believes your sympathetic response is your exploitable weakness. You think, “Oh God, please die, because if you get up there’ll be hell to pay and neither I nor any other sane person has that much currency”!
It’s a stunning display.
Ashley Todd, a McCain Campaign Volunteer is now facing potential charges because she faked a story that she was mugged by a black male at an ATM. She'd originally claimed her money was stolen and the attacker beat, kicked and, when the attacker noticed a sticker showing her support for McCain, carved a letter "B" on her cheek.
Michele Bachmann, Representative for the Sixth District in the State of Minnesota, has called for a press investigation to find out who in congress are pro or anti American, and is now rapidly backpedaling.
Robocalling runs rampant, accusing Obama of being soft on crime.
Both McCain and Palin, and ties to their campaigns, suggesting their competitors are associating with terrorists and is a Muslim (not that there’s anything wrong with that).
Effigies of a hanging black-Obama type; envelopes of white powder sent to democratic campaign offices; and the ole black-men-are-apes joke expressed with Curious George shirts and other paraphernalia; Fires set; shouts of “terrorist” and “kill him” from McCain/Palin campaign crowds, where we must assume the Secret Service is present and watching (but inconspicuously NOT doing their jobs by NOT trouncing on some ass, when this happened).
All of this... also a stunning display. And it doesn’t stop. The mechanical kicking and screaming only repeats... like a child’s temper tantrum.
I am a fan of a particular book by the late M. Scott Peck, M.D. His tomes are laced with Christian theology and psychology. Many of his critics believe the religion and psychiatry are too fluid in his works, often masquerading and otherwise confused with each other, and not in a productive and good way in their opinions. I was raised Christian, but am not certain I would fit that definition by anyone who knows that they are. What I am, is an (amateur) Jungian and as such I am interested in archetypes and anything remotely archetypal and, well, evil (and good too)... Evil and all of its historic personages and manifestations, well, that’s way up there... and this single book by Mister Peck is invoked repeatedly (and often not carefully enough) in relation to his proposed new view and psychological definition of a pathology. Because, in what may be his most compelling work, People of the Lie, this is what he posits:
“Be that as it may, the time is right, I believe, for psychiatry to recognize a distinct new type of personality disorder to encompass those I have named evil. In addition to the abrogation of responsibility that characterizes all personality disorders, this one would specifically be distinguished by:
(a) Consistent destructive, scapegoating behavior, which may often be quite subtle.
(b) Excessive, albeit usually covert, intolerance to criticism and other forms of narcissistic injury.
(c) Pronounced concern with public image and self-image of respectability, contributing to a stability of life-style but also to pretentiousness and denial of hateful feelings or vengeful motives.
(d) Intellectual deviousness, with an increased likelihood of a mild schizophreniclike disturbance of thinking at times of stress.”
He also mentions three other weaknesses: A self-centeredness which betrays a non-understanding of love; the second, since the scientific method is blatantly anti-narcissistic and anti-deception, a disdain and lack of understanding of science. The third quality observed of the evil and indeed, of Satan himself according to Peck, is, “... not only demonic brilliance but also extraordinary demonic stupidity.”
So evil is also, like a child... Well, it’s not too swift.
Many out there believe that this is just an antagonistic campaign strategy meant to incite a radical militant rightwing hateful crowd into a destructive fervor of harmful and perhaps murderous intent towards their critics, and even Obama himself. Some feel it’s a kind of endgame strategy. They know they’re going to lose, so they’re setting up an climate of criticism they can later point to, after an Obama administration shows it’s imperfections by not being instantaneously perfect, and say how they were right all along.
Some people even believe this is about conservatism versus liberalism; I’m with another crowd...
This will represent a generational change. In fact, many of the men who are now fighting this tide of change will actually physically, literally die off during the next 8 or more years of this sea change, as will their policies with them.
And this kicking and screaming. This uncreative, repetitious and mechanical flailing and finger pointing and hateful spewing are simply the best impersonation of a childish temper tantrum that a soulless and shattered android can muster...
It is not exactly the death knell of evil... because evil, or Satan, or an android can’t die...
But it is a reasonable facsimile I can live with.
So evil is also, like a child... Well, it’s not too swift.
Many out there believe that this is just an antagonistic campaign strategy meant to incite a radical militant rightwing hateful crowd into a destructive fervor of harmful and perhaps murderous intent towards their critics, and even Obama himself. Some feel it’s a kind of endgame strategy. They know they’re going to lose, so they’re setting up an climate of criticism they can later point to, after an Obama administration shows it’s imperfections by not being instantaneously perfect, and say how they were right all along.
Some people even believe this is about conservatism versus liberalism; I’m with another crowd...
This will represent a generational change. In fact, many of the men who are now fighting this tide of change will actually physically, literally die off during the next 8 or more years of this sea change, as will their policies with them.
And this kicking and screaming. This uncreative, repetitious and mechanical flailing and finger pointing and hateful spewing are simply the best impersonation of a childish temper tantrum that a soulless and shattered android can muster...
It is not exactly the death knell of evil... because evil, or Satan, or an android can’t die...
But it is a reasonable facsimile I can live with.
Jerry'O
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Copyright © October 2008 by Gerald Ollison. All rights reserved (Excepting the photos, maybe... My bad, Tee-hee...).
I have been dealing with what, I guess, some call a midlife 'job' crisis. As a result, I've been dealing with a particularly unusual Jungian projection...
