This machine mildly irritates fascists

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L.I. Underhill is a media critic and historian specializing in pop culture, with a focus on science fiction (especially Star Trek) and video games. Their projects include a critical history of Star Trek told through the narrative of a war in time, a “heretical” history of The Legend of Zelda series and a literary postmodern reading of Jim Davis' Garfield.

5 Comments

  1. Daru
    July 2, 2014 @ 10:54 pm

    Gotta say, especially in response to your final comments on how this show shaped sci-fi that it is fascinating to discover this show I have never previously heard of. That's why I come here.

    I love what you say about the knowledge of Kei and Yuri – and another thing I really liked about this episode was that in the first heist scene he chamber broken into was chock full of apparently religious objects. I like that that, that the character denoting himself King of media and attempting to take over the narrative places himself in the centre of a maze filled with sacred objects – whose religions perhaps he has already appropriated on his networks – all designed to tempt people.

    Interesting also that the most magnetic object of all is called the Golem. A piece of Jewish myth where inanimate matter was animated and controlled – sometimes used to attack or defend against others. Hubris is important here, as often Golems are hard to control and end up killing their creators, and as you indicate King's whole enterprise turns against him.

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  2. Josh Marsfelder
    July 4, 2014 @ 9:13 am

    And indeed, the Lovely Angels, themselves fictional characters supposedly "created" by somebody, are the ones whose presence orchestrates King's fall from glory. Ideas, stories and symbols gain power and agency through the meaning they are imparted with.

    Kei and Yuri's symbolic power transcends even their own narrative. And this is the truth that comes back to keep the "Dirty Pair Concept" going time and time again.

    Great thoughts: I'm really glad you're enjoying the series!

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  3. Daru
    July 9, 2014 @ 8:12 pm

    Yes am enjoying the series. Just been away at a conference for a few days on Narrative Practice & & Healing in relation to psychosis, with Cherokee psychotherapists and other Maori and Aboriginal practitioners. Amazing!

    "stories and symbols gain power and agency through the meaning they are imparted with"

    This point above was actually central to the conference's themes – and the idea was being presented that an individual's story had no less power because of it being communicated via voices the person is hearing – a lot of the work was around the idea of the person taking back control of their own narrative, away from the medicalised story being presented to them.

    Am working my way through the series and will comment as I continue! Thanks again.

    Reply

  4. Josh Marsfelder
    July 10, 2014 @ 5:49 pm

    You always seem to end up going to the most interesting conferences and workshops: I remember the one you went to last summer on interactive storytelling, which I still think was fascinating. I think this one sounds fascinating too.

    Thanks for watching: I look forward to your thoughts!

    Reply

  5. Daru
    July 10, 2014 @ 6:54 pm

    Yes, it was amazing! I like hunting out events that can add a new edge to my work – always looking for new approaches to story. Enjoying watching, cheers Josh!

    Reply

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