An underlying theme of the film is rebellion as a form of self-actualization. In an Existential universe, the only meaningful respsonse to the insanity is to howl. Manny eptiomizes this response. His rebellion seems to have no genesis. He's just enraged. The scene where he urges Buck to adopt an attitude of conformity is one of the high points of the film. "If you can do that (conform) then you can be the President of corporations, -- Chase Manhattan -- if you could do that." Buck rejects that idea and asks Manny if he can do it. "I wish I could," is Manny's response.
As a chronic rebel myelf, this speaks to me. I often think that I could have been happier, and certainly richer, had I only been able to wear a business suit, not raise my hand at meeting to point out how moronic the boss was, or just generally roll my eyes at important moments of public group-think. Luckily, I now work for a union, where my job is to sit at meetings and raise my hand to point out varioius absurdities. As we existentialists like to say, "if you can't be part of the solution, make sure you're part of the problem."
Of course, on a larger level, the fact that I have been employed for 30 years, never arrested, unsullied by various scandals, lawsuits, fistfights, gunbattles, horsewhippings, and the like, does tend to argue that, in spite of any illusions about my outlaw status, I have always managed to "clean that spot."
Many people just live in their common day to day life, always wanting more. But the theories of Existentalism say that we should live and enjoy every single day, because it might be the last we have, and that we should do what makes us happy in life. We all question what we could've done in life, and how things could be better right now. You're the man Mr Bennett, you manage to enjoy and live for every day
ReplyDeletethe grass is always greener on the other side. Humans tend to live unsatisfied, stomachs growling for more.
ReplyDeleteWhat we don't do is reflect on the whole of our lives, because if we did, we would realize our life is actually pretty awesome. So most of us do end up cleaning that spot
By thinking about how happy you could have been if you chose a different path in life, will actually lead to unhappiness. By comparing your life, to another one it automatically sets your life as the worse one. Therefore in order to be happy with your current life, one must not think about alternative choices.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, as a person who has no problem accepting the decisions of his superiors, I can honestly say, from experience, that by not rebelling, one submits to letting the world walk over him. One cannot rise up while his boss is sitting on his face. It is only through standing up and kicking your boss in the rear that you can move anywhere; hence, if you did not "point out how moronic the boss was" you would have just been left with the burden of his stupidity weighing you down. You cannot do this, so good for you, Mr.. Bennett. :)
ReplyDeleteWhen existentialism is seen from a non-existentialist point of view, it is seen as a negative way of living. While that kind of view can be understood, existentialism is all about living life how you want to live it, and not being controlled by anyone. Living as an existentialist can be tough sometimes, but one can take example from the way you lived your life, and try to achieve the same kind of happiness and serenity that you have achieved.
ReplyDeleteHuman beings are hard wired to never be satisfied. Regardless of how far we advance in technology, luxury, society, power, nothing will satiate the hunger for more. There is no way to change this, but there is a way to believe one is truly happy. It can be creating an idealized reality, that everything is going great, or it can be just accepting the way life is. I'd rather accept the good and the bad parts of life without having to give up who I am, but if it's to make a living, then so be it.
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