Week 11 Flashcards
What political commentary does Pink Floyd’s “Animals” album provide?
A biting critique of British society in the 1970s during political unrest between Tory, Liberal, Conservative, and Labour parties. The album uses animal symbolism to represent different social classes and political figures
How is Pink Floyd’s “Animals” connected to George Orwell’s work?
It serves as an homage to Orwell’s “Animal Farm,” using similar animal allegory to critique society and power structures. Both works show how revolutionary ideals can be corrupted.
What is the central message of Orwell’s “Animal Farm”?
It demonstrates how revolutionary movements can become corrupted, with revolutionary leaders (the pigs) eventually becoming as bad or worse than those they overthrew, exemplified by the phrase “All animals are equal, but some are more equal than others.”
How do Orwell’s “Animal Farm” and “1984” complement each other thematically?
Both works focus on socio-political commentary. “Animal Farm” uses animal allegory to show the corruption of revolutionary ideals, while “1984” examines surveillance and control in a totalitarian state. Both warn about power corruption.
What is the central question posed in the “FUTURE?” regarding “Children of Men”?
“Is there one?” - questioning whether a society without the possibility of new births (children) can have a future at all.
How does the scene with Theo and Nigel illustrate the film’s commentary on apathy?
Nigel represents absolute apathy and non-accountability to the world’s problems despite living comfortably. When Theo asks how he deals with everything happening, Nigel responds, “I just don’t think about it,” showing the loss of moral imagination in society.
How does “Children of Men” connect the absence of children with the absence of future?
The film equates the inability to have children with the loss of future, suggesting that without new generations, society loses its moral imagination, ethical framework, and reason to care about what happens beyond individual lifespans.
What does the flying pig in the window symbolize in the conversation between Theo and Nigel?
It symbolizes the disconnection between the comfortable elite (Nigel) and the chaotic reality outside. The pig serves as an ironic reminder of the Pink Floyd allegory - the business/political class (pigs) floating above and detached from societal problems.
What does the central philosophical question “Is there a future, or is this a TIME OF END?” explore?
whether we can conceptualize our present moment as having a future or if we’re experiencing an apocalyptic predisposition.
Can a moment contain both a future and a time of end?
yes, suggesting that these seemingly contradictory states can coexist.
Why does the professor suggest we consider these concepts (a moment contains both a future and a time of end) experientially?
understanding these abstract concepts requires reflecting on how we experience time and endings in our lived reality
What quote from Children of Men (2006) illustrates the loss of hope in a world without a future?
“Since women stopped being able to have babies, what’s left to hope for?” This quote encapsulates how the absence of reproduction (future generations) leads to a loss of hope and meaning.
What is the relationship between the end of the future and a “time of end” according to slide 26?
“WHEN THE FUTURE ENDS, IT’S A TIME OF END.” This suggests that the absence of a perceivable future creates an apocalyptic predisposition or a time of revelation of a pending eschatological event.
What is the “centripetal force” concept, and how does it relate to Children of Men?
The centripetal force refers to the government’s policy in the book of forcing people to move into city centers for easier resource distribution. This was accompanied by the systematic elimination of people over 60 (the “quietus regulation”) to conserve resources for younger generations.
How does Jasper’s character represent a form of rebellion in Children of Men?
Jasper, who is over 60 and lives in a remote area, represents active rebellion against the government’s centripetal force policy. His isolation and lifestyle (including the chess board symbolizing infinite possibilities) demonstrate resistance to the societal collapse into apathy.
How does the film Children of Men exemplify a “time of end”?
Children of Men depicts a world “soaking in end-ness” where humanity faces extinction through infertility, yet society continues in a state of slow decline rather than immediate destruction. The world exists in anticipation of an end that is coming but hasn’t fully arrived.
How does Melancholia serve as both a “time of end” and an “end of time”?
Melancholia features both states: first as characters await the approaching planet (time of end/apocalyptic predisposition), and then when the actual collision occurs (end of time/eschatological event). It shows both the anticipation and the actual end.
What are the two frames or ways of experiencing a “Time of End”?
1) “A rushing to the exits” - where everything happens quickly and chaotically
2) “A time of museums” - where change has stopped, people no longer look forward but instead look back slowly and pensively, with a feeling of wistfulness (defined as “full of yearning or desire tinged with melancholy”).
How does Mulholland Drive exemplify a “Time of End”?
- Diane experiences a personal “Time of End”
- She has lost all hope and is incapable of anticipating a future for herself
- Though the world hasn’t ended, her individual focus and sense of future possibility has been lost, creating a subjective experience of a “Time of End.”
What does “wistful” mean in the context of a “Time of Museums”?
- “full of yearning or desire tinged with melancholy.”
- It describes the emotional state of looking back at the past with longing and sadness, characteristic of a slower, more reflective experience of a “Time of End.”
How does Blade Runner (1982) represent a “Time of End”?
- Roy Batty experiences a personal “Time of End” as his entire existence is limited to just 4 years
- He’s been created to burn intensely and is always hurtling toward his death from the moment of his creation
- This represents a predetermined, rigged future where the end is always imminent
How does the scene with Theo and Nigel exemplify the concept of “Time of End”?
- Represents the “Time of Museums” aspect of a “Time of End.”
- Nigel lives comfortably amidst art restoration but displays complete apathy toward the world’s problems, saying “I just don’t think about it.”
- He represents those who hoard the past without giving it meaning, showing how moral imagination has vaporized in society.
- Theo’s conversation with Nigel highlights the contrast between those who still seek meaning and those who have surrendered to apathy.
What does the Guernica painting symbolize in Children of Men?
- Represents the “Time of Museums”
- War’s violence turned into lifeless display
- Nigel sees it as just decoration, showing how powerful history loses meaning in a world without purpose or progress
What does the graffiti “Last one to die, please turn off the light” (slide 46) represent in the film?
- Shows quiet desperation—people waiting for the end
- The word “please” reflects a society that’s given up, accepting extinction
- It contrasts with chaotic scenes and highlights the slow, painful decline in Children of Men
