History of a theme

[Brendan Costello]

slinkatzer wrote: 

"... and didn't e.l. doctorow say something about capitalist 
society's being a lot like disneyland in _book of 
daniel_? ....
actually, i seem to remember that the creator beings 
in _dark city_ were not, in fact, mortal in every 
sense."

These two notions so close together reminded me that ol' Walt Disney is
technically not "mortal in every sense," being in cryogenic suspension (or
at least in some kind of elaborate zip-lock/reynolds wrap promotional
gimmick).  I would not be at all surprised if the theories about his
suspension were a sort of urban myth that hangs on precisely because it
fits so well with the world-creating concept of his theme parks, and the
world-dominating philosophy of his company.  (Disney (the company) gives me
the creeps more than Dow, Union Carbide and the OSS combined.)

And of course there are the other immortal-mortals, leaders whom people
refuse to believe are dead.  Ol' V.I. Lenin, quietly raging against the
dying of the light, under glass in the most famous mausoleum in the world.
A-and the infamous secret photo of JFK, Elvis, and Hitler having cafe con
leche on an Argentine patio....  We cannot allow the idea that death can
touch these people (viz. Slothrop's reaction to FDR, much later on).  (Not
to mention God's favorite son, who keeps showing up on tortillas and South
Park and such, and other Orphic archetypes like that....)

Also, slinkatzer (can I call you "slinky?" for fun it's...):  I did not see
The Truman Show, but I like your connection of the paranoid concept to
Slothrop's experience.  Parts of his journey are like "The Slothrop Show"
with, perhaps, Pointsman as director (the Ed harris guy).  Or not.
  
"Hey Slothrop!  Now that you've figgered out the secrets of the Nazi rocket
program, where you gonna go?"
Brendo
______________________________
"If the fool would persist in his folly, he would become wise." -- Wm. Blake

"Communication must be total in order for it to be stopped." -- Wm. Burroughs