Friday 11/5 – Thor Steinarsson – Klostermann

Summary

The first Klostermann reading, “Space, Time, and DVR mechanics”, discusses the perception difference between TV media content and live events, such as sporting events or concerts. Klostermann discusses how less entertaining and engaging TV media is compared to live events. Klostermann introduces several reasons for this, including the removal of ads, being more distance from the game if you watch it afterwards and it gives the viewer too much control. Additionally, Klostermann discusses some irrational believes to why watching a recording of a sporting event is not as enjoyable. He discusses how some people actually believe that their personal involvement will affect the event and that some people believe that if you do not hear what happened in a specific sporting event, it is not worth watching at all.

The second Klostermann reading discusses how people perceive movies and the “ideas” behind them. Klostermann discusses that there are always less and less new good movies being released due to the fact that movies are not about deep human questions that challenge and question reality anymore. The capitalist environment is only focused on efficient production and good actors. Klostermann later goes on to discuss that the only cultural question of any significant that can be explored in movies nowadays is “what is reality?” He uses the example of the movie “Vanilla Sky” to support his argument. He mentions that he is one of the few movie critics who actually believe Vanilla Sky is a good movie, due to the fact it challenges our normal perception of reality and tries to answer the question “what is reality?”

Example

The example I chose for this weeks reading is an article called “The Philisophy of Absurdism in ‘Rick and Morty'”. Rick and Morty is an adult animated science fiction show that follows the crazy and strange adventures of the mad scientist Rick and his grandson, Morty. The show explores how they split their lives between normal boring domestic family life and crazy and absolutely absurd adventures throughout the galaxy. This particular article discusses the deep meaning of the show and how the creators use the idea of Absurdism, which explores the conflict between the human tendency of seeking for purpose in life and the inability to actually find it.

The Philosophy of Absurdism in ‘Rick and Morty’

Connection

Rick and Morty has become a global phenomenon due to its absurd and crazy adventures that the main characters deal with, which challenge reality similar to movies like Vanilla Sky and The Matrix that Klostermann discuss. This article discuss exactly what Klostermann did in the second reading; how the show tries to explain “what is reality?”. The plot of each show revolves around Rick trying to find the meaning of reality which results in the main characters caught up in unrealistic, illogical, and meaningless adventures that ultimately never answers the question of what reality really is, labelling it pointless. The shows ultimate answer to “what is reality?” is that we live in a universe that is indifferent to us and that we will never be able to understand it. Klostermann talks about how there are always less and less good movies and TV shows being created because they do not ask the reality question, therefore it is not surprise that the show has risen to such incredible fame.