In the future, we still grapple with the essential questions. We are pretty good with the "what" of things, even decent with the "how" of things. But the "why" of things, the big questions of purpose and reason, continue to elude. Or at least, elude the preferred singular approach of science (the process of figuring out the physical workings of things) and even philosophy (or at least, the approach of which uses language to parse ad infinitum and break things down into their tiniest pieces parts in concept). The whys continue to defy. There have been attempts in some materialistic and philosophical circles to dismiss the importance of the whys entirely, that they are all just creations of our inner electrochemical workings. But no one buys that. Not even the proponents of such views. Because, you wait long enough...some of them waffle publically. When we look into the outer dark or the inner light, no one can be long term satisfied by the idea that it is all for nought.
Nonetheless, it is reasonable to assume some will still try and will turn our greater and greater technological prowess to the purpose of the same. In the future, it is reasonable to assume that computing power will be greater. Fortunes will be more immense (for some) and those managing said fortunes might find talented individuals, such as a Mr. Quohen Leth (Christoph Platz), an obsessed loner waiting for a phone call to give him a purpose in his life. Well, Management does not have a purpose for him. But it does have a job. Management wants to hire him for his computer operating and number crunching skills to solve an immense mathematical formula, the Zero Theorem, whose resolution will put this God question to rest, once and for all, one way or another. Or so they hope.
Is the universe purposeless and meaningless? Are we eventually just lazily spinning our way to the Heath Death of the universe? Or is there something more going on here?
We live in a curious time now where our technological prowess is stunning and growing. Our knowledge is expanding. Yet, idealogically, assumptions seem more unstable than ever. Traditional religion is being openly questioned, and yet, contrary to those asking those questions, religion and spirituality is pushing back, both in ways terrifying and against the spirit of Spirit (terrorism, militant fundamentalism) and hopeful (ordinary people finding the answers offered by the materialists have been found wanting and people have begun to look at religion and spirituality anew).
One of the most stunning is the release of The Principle, a film that seemingly asks for another look at the pre-Copernican idea of the universe. Such a view has been reacted to as "heresy" among the materialists and has been called one of the most negatively reviewed non-viewed films. Now, that is a nutty idea, the idea that perhaps Copernicus took civilization off the rails in ways. However, the idea the filmmakers had is that Copernican theory was a platform that science then launched off of in ways that evidentially and philosophically are increasingly unsupportable. That is, the universe as a big, mindless machine.
The Zero Theorem, contrary to what some might expect, is not an embrace of the mindless materialism, the God-null. In fact, Terry Gilliam's religious and spiritual views are far more complex than that. He allows for a universe of mystery. Of active engagement.
Of where we mere mortals need to look to the outer and inner, we need to wonder and seek it out.
The Zero Theorem almost is a call to action to just that. That spiritual auto-pilot, our inner sleep, is a big part of what is messing us up.
Good film.
No comments:
Post a Comment