thank you all very much good afternoon I want us to think about really popular
want us to think about really popular
want us to think about really popular movies and TV shows of the last couple
movies and TV shows of the last couple
movies and TV shows of the last couple of years if you think about them the
of years if you think about them the
of years if you think about them the Avengers Star Wars Game of Thrones
Avengers Star Wars Game of Thrones
Avengers Star Wars Game of Thrones these are all very fantastical stories
these are all very fantastical stories
these are all very fantastical stories with amazing magical characters yeah
with amazing magical characters yeah
with amazing magical characters yeah you’re right sir yeah and if we wondered
you’re right sir yeah and if we wondered
you’re right sir yeah and if we wondered why that is why are we so drawn to
why that is why are we so drawn to
why that is why are we so drawn to stories like this and when I asked this
stories like this and when I asked this
stories like this and when I asked this question to my students they say we’ll
question to my students they say we’ll
question to my students they say we’ll look professor hunter the Avengers it’s
look professor hunter the Avengers it’s
look professor hunter the Avengers it’s just beautiful actors and actresses and
just beautiful actors and actresses and
just beautiful actors and actresses and explosions it’s just meant to be
explosions it’s just meant to be
explosions it’s just meant to be entertaining it doesn’t mean anything
entertaining it doesn’t mean anything
entertaining it doesn’t mean anything and in this my beloved students are as
and in this my beloved students are as
and in this my beloved students are as so often is the case half right they are
so often is the case half right they are
so often is the case half right they are correct in that these films are designed
correct in that these films are designed
correct in that these films are designed to be entertaining but what I want them
to be entertaining but what I want them
to be entertaining but what I want them and you to think about is what it means
and you to think about is what it means
and you to think about is what it means to be entertaining on a mass scale these
to be entertaining on a mass scale these
to be entertaining on a mass scale these films cost 150 sometimes 200 million
films cost 150 sometimes 200 million
films cost 150 sometimes 200 million dollars to make if you’re investing 200
dollars to make if you’re investing 200
dollars to make if you’re investing 200 million dollars you’re not just throwing
million dollars you’re not just throwing
million dollars you’re not just throwing any old stuff up there on screen and
any old stuff up there on screen and
any old stuff up there on screen and saying gee just make it a little bit
saying gee just make it a little bit
saying gee just make it a little bit entertaining every second of these films
entertaining every second of these films
entertaining every second of these films and TV shows is scrutinized by editors
and TV shows is scrutinized by editors
and TV shows is scrutinized by editors and photographers and directors and
and photographers and directors and
and photographers and directors and producers and marketing people and
producers and marketing people and
producers and marketing people and studio executives and it is designed to
studio executives and it is designed to
studio executives and it is designed to cater to our desires to your desires to
cater to our desires to your desires to
cater to our desires to your desires to be as popular as possible to as many
be as popular as possible to as many
be as popular as possible to as many people as possible and what that means
people as possible and what that means
people as possible and what that means is we can learn something about
is we can learn something about
is we can learn something about ourselves from these films we can learn
ourselves from these films we can learn
ourselves from these films we can learn not just what entertains us but what
not just what entertains us but what
not just what entertains us but what we’re afraid of
we’re afraid of
we’re afraid of and what we want because precisely
and what we want because precisely
and what we want because precisely they’re made to cater to our desires and
they’re made to cater to our desires and
they’re made to cater to our desires and so I want us to think about two things
so I want us to think about two things
so I want us to think about two things that I think popular culture tells us
that I think popular culture tells us
that I think popular culture tells us the first is we really resent
the first is we really resent
the first is we really resent technologies that run our lives we’re
technologies that run our lives we’re
technologies that run our lives we’re going to see a lot of popular films in
going to see a lot of popular films in
going to see a lot of popular films in TV you know we’re not going to see we’re
TV you know we’re not going to see we’re
TV you know we’re not going to see we’re not going to see any cell phones and
not going to see any cell phones and
not going to see any cell phones and we’re not going to see any network
we’re not going to see any network
we’re not going to see any network computers and I’m going to argue that
computers and I’m going to argue that
computers and I’m going to argue that that’s because we resent what these
that’s because we resent what these
that’s because we resent what these things are doing and the control that
things are doing and the control that
things are doing and the control that they have over our lives the second
they have over our lives the second
they have over our lives the second thing we’re not going to see is 2017 we
thing we’re not going to see is 2017 we
thing we’re not going to see is 2017 we don’t make popular entertainments about
don’t make popular entertainments about
don’t make popular entertainments about right here right now we make them about
right here right now we make them about
right here right now we make them about a past that is cut off from the present
a past that is cut off from the present
a past that is cut off from the present and about a future that is depressingly
and about a future that is depressingly
and about a future that is depressingly well connected to our present moment so
well connected to our present moment so
well connected to our present moment so let’s start our exploration let’s think
let’s start our exploration let’s think
let’s start our exploration let’s think about what the top grossing movies of
about what the top grossing movies of
about what the top grossing movies of 2016 were well if we look at this list
2016 were well if we look at this list
2016 were well if we look at this list we have five superhero movies three
we have five superhero movies three
we have five superhero movies three animated features one CGI remake of an
animated features one CGI remake of an
animated features one CGI remake of an animated feature on a Star Wars film
animated feature on a Star Wars film
animated feature on a Star Wars film okay what about 2015 well here’s 2015
okay what about 2015 well here’s 2015
okay what about 2015 well here’s 2015 two animated features one CGI remake of
two animated features one CGI remake of
two animated features one CGI remake of an animated feature you’re getting to
an animated feature you’re getting to
an animated feature you’re getting to spot the trends for action movies from
spot the trends for action movies from
spot the trends for action movies from established franchises the Martian
established franchises the Martian
established franchises the Martian American sniper and a Star Wars movie
American sniper and a Star Wars movie
American sniper and a Star Wars movie you’ll notice that something very
you’ll notice that something very
you’ll notice that something very important is missing from 19 of the 20
important is missing from 19 of the 20
important is missing from 19 of the 20 most popular films of the last two years
most popular films of the last two years
most popular films of the last two years and that’s something is reality none of
and that’s something is reality none of
and that’s something is reality none of them are about the way we live in 2017
them are about the way we live in 2017
them are about the way we live in 2017 and even the American sniper which is
and even the American sniper which is
and even the American sniper which is the exception is arguably a pretty
the exception is arguably a pretty
the exception is arguably a pretty extreme version of the way we live now
extreme version of the way we live now
extreme version of the way we live now we don’t want to see ordinary life as we
we don’t want to see ordinary life as we
we don’t want to see ordinary life as we experience it what about TV TV is a
experience it what about TV TV is a
experience it what about TV TV is a little more realistic
little more realistic
little more realistic these are the top rated TV series of the
these are the top rated TV series of the
these are the top rated TV series of the 2016-17 season three of them are NFL
2016-17 season three of them are NFL
2016-17 season three of them are NFL football games the farthest thing from
football games the farthest thing from
football games the farthest thing from reality known to human kind
reality known to human kind
reality known to human kind okay top rated show The Walking Dead a
okay top rated show The Walking Dead a
okay top rated show The Walking Dead a fantastical
fantastical
fantastical version of the future populated by
version of the future populated by
version of the future populated by zombies and this is backed up by Game of
zombies and this is backed up by Game of
zombies and this is backed up by Game of Thrones a fantastical version of the
Thrones a fantastical version of the
Thrones a fantastical version of the past populated by dragons and the
past populated by dragons and the
past populated by dragons and the x-files a fantastical version of the
x-files a fantastical version of the
x-files a fantastical version of the present which tells us that what we
present which tells us that what we
present which tells us that what we think of as normal is a thin layer on
think of as normal is a thin layer on
think of as normal is a thin layer on top of unbelievably weird forces that
top of unbelievably weird forces that
top of unbelievably weird forces that are actually ruling our lives all right
are actually ruling our lives all right
are actually ruling our lives all right then there’s Empire and then we think
then there’s Empire and then we think
then there’s Empire and then we think low-cal right all right here’s the real
low-cal right all right here’s the real
low-cal right all right here’s the real I mean here it is right in here right
I mean here it is right in here right
I mean here it is right in here right now the music industry but if you think
now the music industry but if you think
now the music industry but if you think about it Empire is actually a really
about it Empire is actually a really
about it Empire is actually a really really clever Game of Thrones remake
really clever Game of Thrones remake
really clever Game of Thrones remake there’s a king and three sketchy heirs
there’s a king and three sketchy heirs
there’s a king and three sketchy heirs and a queen you really don’t want to
and a queen you really don’t want to
and a queen you really don’t want to cross or you end up dead so it’s for all
cross or you end up dead so it’s for all
cross or you end up dead so it’s for all that it’s said in the here and now it’s
that it’s said in the here and now it’s
that it’s said in the here and now it’s actually a dynastic power play very much
actually a dynastic power play very much
actually a dynastic power play very much drawn from the game of thrones playbook
drawn from the game of thrones playbook
drawn from the game of thrones playbook where is reality
where is reality
where is reality I’ll tell you where reality is reality
I’ll tell you where reality is reality
I’ll tell you where reality is reality is the Big Bang Theory which represents
is the Big Bang Theory which represents
is the Big Bang Theory which represents women with a lot of common sense and
women with a lot of common sense and
women with a lot of common sense and very highly educated socially awkward
very highly educated socially awkward
very highly educated socially awkward white guys who earn much much more money
white guys who earn much much more money
white guys who earn much much more money than they do that my friends is reality
than they do that my friends is reality
than they do that my friends is reality in 2017 yeah so the question is why why
in 2017 yeah so the question is why why
in 2017 yeah so the question is why why why when we imagine the present and the
why when we imagine the present and the
why when we imagine the present and the Avengers is very much set in the present
Avengers is very much set in the present
Avengers is very much set in the present do we imagine a world in which only a
do we imagine a world in which only a
do we imagine a world in which only a thought-out genetically modified World
thought-out genetically modified World
thought-out genetically modified World War two veteran on Norse God and a
War two veteran on Norse God and a
War two veteran on Norse God and a green-skinned a giant with
green-skinned a giant with
green-skinned a giant with anger-management issues are the only
anger-management issues are the only
anger-management issues are the only people who can get anything done that’s
people who can get anything done that’s
people who can get anything done that’s our present when we imagine the past we
our present when we imagine the past we
our present when we imagine the past we imagine this costume parade like Mad Men
imagine this costume parade like Mad Men
imagine this costume parade like Mad Men or Game of Thrones when we imagine the
or Game of Thrones when we imagine the
or Game of Thrones when we imagine the future we imagine the Walking Dead or
future we imagine the Walking Dead or
future we imagine the Walking Dead or threatened by zombies or Mad Max fury
threatened by zombies or Mad Max fury
threatened by zombies or Mad Max fury road complete environmental degradation
road complete environmental degradation
road complete environmental degradation these are they these are the films that
these are they these are the films that
these are they these are the films that we go to see all the millions and
we go to see all the millions and
we go to see all the millions and millions and millions of us so again
millions and millions of us so again
millions and millions of us so again what I’d like to talked about is why
what I’d like to talked about is why
what I’d like to talked about is why there’s this aversion to technology why
there’s this aversion to technology why
there’s this aversion to technology why don’t we see any cell phones or
don’t we see any cell phones or
don’t we see any cell phones or networked computers and what does it
networked computers and what does it
networked computers and what does it mean that they’re located in the past
mean that they’re located in the past
mean that they’re located in the past that’s cut off from us the future that
that’s cut off from us the future that
that’s cut off from us the future that is all too well connected to us but
is all too well connected to us but
is all too well connected to us but never the here and now so let’s start
never the here and now so let’s start
never the here and now so let’s start with the past I want to talk about three
with the past I want to talk about three
with the past I want to talk about three TV shows
TV shows
TV shows there’s the man in the high castle which
there’s the man in the high castle which
there’s the man in the high castle which is set in 1962 stranger things which is
is set in 1962 stranger things which is
is set in 1962 stranger things which is set in 1983 and maybe one of the best
set in 1983 and maybe one of the best
set in 1983 and maybe one of the best things that’s come on television in the
things that’s come on television in the
things that’s come on television in the last 10 years or so Mad Men which is set
last 10 years or so Mad Men which is set
last 10 years or so Mad Men which is set in the decade between 1960 and 1970 now
in the decade between 1960 and 1970 now
in the decade between 1960 and 1970 now some of you may know the man in the high
some of you may know the man in the high
some of you may know the man in the high castle is set in a imagine version of
castle is set in a imagine version of
castle is set in a imagine version of 1962 in a world where Germany in Japan
1962 in a world where Germany in Japan
1962 in a world where Germany in Japan won world war two and occupied America
won world war two and occupied America
won world war two and occupied America you can see the West occupied Japan by
you can see the West occupied Japan by
you can see the West occupied Japan by Japan in the east by the United States
Japan in the east by the United States
Japan in the east by the United States but in the the TV show there are these
but in the the TV show there are these
but in the the TV show there are these movies that depict a world where Germany
movies that depict a world where Germany
movies that depict a world where Germany and Japan lost World War two and two
and Japan lost World War two and two
and Japan lost World War two and two atomic bombs were dropped on Japan what
atomic bombs were dropped on Japan what
atomic bombs were dropped on Japan what we know are history
we know are history
we know are history so here you’ve got this show that is
so here you’ve got this show that is
so here you’ve got this show that is perfectly set in 1962 and if you’ve seen
perfectly set in 1962 and if you’ve seen
perfectly set in 1962 and if you’ve seen the show you know what I mean the
the show you know what I mean the
the show you know what I mean the clothes are right all the men are
clothes are right all the men are
clothes are right all the men are smoking the women are all at home it’s
smoking the women are all at home it’s
smoking the women are all at home it’s perfect it’s just that the Nazis are in
perfect it’s just that the Nazis are in
perfect it’s just that the Nazis are in charge so it’s a fantasy version of the
charge so it’s a fantasy version of the
charge so it’s a fantasy version of the past that at once gives us her past and
past that at once gives us her past and
past that at once gives us her past and changes it makes it untrustworthy
changes it makes it untrustworthy
changes it makes it untrustworthy strange of things is set in 1983 with a
strange of things is set in 1983 with a
strange of things is set in 1983 with a bunch of kids playing Dungeons and
bunch of kids playing Dungeons and
bunch of kids playing Dungeons and Dragons and that was me that was me that
Dragons and that was me that was me that
Dragons and that was me that was me that haircut in the middle that is a 1983
haircut in the middle that is a 1983
haircut in the middle that is a 1983 haircut and that was me so I’m here to
haircut and that was me so I’m here to
haircut and that was me so I’m here to tell you very very historically accurate
tell you very very historically accurate
tell you very very historically accurate alas so a bunch of kids playing dungeons
alas so a bunch of kids playing dungeons
alas so a bunch of kids playing dungeons of dragons but at the same time there’s
of dragons but at the same time there’s
of dragons but at the same time there’s this other world that in the show is
this other world that in the show is
this other world that in the show is called the upside down we’re very very
called the upside down we’re very very
called the upside down we’re very very real monsters that belong in dungeons
real monsters that belong in dungeons
real monsters that belong in dungeons and dragons actually break into reality
and dragons actually break into reality
and dragons actually break into reality with very very traumatic effects and
with very very traumatic effects and
with very very traumatic effects and then there’s Mad Men Don Draper the
then there’s Mad Men Don Draper the
then there’s Mad Men Don Draper the perfect alpha male always well-dressed
perfect alpha male always well-dressed
perfect alpha male always well-dressed the per
the per
the per husband the perfect father the type a
husband the perfect father the type a
husband the perfect father the type a successful advertising executive but
successful advertising executive but
successful advertising executive but he’s living a lie early in season one we
he’s living a lie early in season one we
he’s living a lie early in season one we learned that he stole the identity Don
learned that he stole the identity Don
learned that he stole the identity Don Draper from a dead soldier in the Korean
Draper from a dead soldier in the Korean
Draper from a dead soldier in the Korean War to escape his traumatic upbringing
War to escape his traumatic upbringing
War to escape his traumatic upbringing so again we’ve got to place a show where
so again we’ve got to place a show where
so again we’ve got to place a show where there’s this vision of history and this
there’s this vision of history and this
there’s this vision of history and this it’s fundamentally untrustworthy the
it’s fundamentally untrustworthy the
it’s fundamentally untrustworthy the main character isn’t always truthful
main character isn’t always truthful
main character isn’t always truthful about anything and in a way he’s a bit
about anything and in a way he’s a bit
about anything and in a way he’s a bit like John Smith who if you watch the man
like John Smith who if you watch the man
like John Smith who if you watch the man in the high castle you know is one of
in the high castle you know is one of
in the high castle you know is one of the main protagonists there now just
the main protagonists there now just
the main protagonists there now just look at that that’s the Leave It to
look at that that’s the Leave It to
look at that that’s the Leave It to Beaver dad isn’t it he’s a US Army
Beaver dad isn’t it he’s a US Army
Beaver dad isn’t it he’s a US Army veteran he’s a devoted husband he’s a
veteran he’s a devoted husband he’s a
veteran he’s a devoted husband he’s a wonderful father and he’s a brutal Nazi
wonderful father and he’s a brutal Nazi
wonderful father and he’s a brutal Nazi SS officer so we get a past that we
SS officer so we get a past that we
SS officer so we get a past that we can’t trust things that we recognize but
can’t trust things that we recognize but
can’t trust things that we recognize but we can’t connect to ourselves what about
we can’t connect to ourselves what about
we can’t connect to ourselves what about the future well how many of you hands up
the future well how many of you hands up
the future well how many of you hands up if you were made to read 1984 in high
if you were made to read 1984 in high
if you were made to read 1984 in high school yeah most of you it’s very few
school yeah most of you it’s very few
school yeah most of you it’s very few people escape 1984 will you remember in
people escape 1984 will you remember in
people escape 1984 will you remember in 1984 one of the scary things about the
1984 one of the scary things about the
1984 one of the scary things about the world that George Orwell record
world that George Orwell record
world that George Orwell record represents is the technology
represents is the technology
represents is the technology particularly what you can see behind me
particularly what you can see behind me
particularly what you can see behind me the telescreen which allows the
the telescreen which allows the
the telescreen which allows the government to spy on you and you to get
government to spy on you and you to get
government to spy on you and you to get a 24/7 diet of government propaganda now
a 24/7 diet of government propaganda now
a 24/7 diet of government propaganda now when Orwell wrote that book in 1948 that
when Orwell wrote that book in 1948 that
when Orwell wrote that book in 1948 that was a crazy idea that was the dystopic
was a crazy idea that was the dystopic
was a crazy idea that was the dystopic technological future we know it is
technological future we know it is
technological future we know it is reality don’t we doesn’t matter what
reality don’t we doesn’t matter what
reality don’t we doesn’t matter what country you live in Russia China the
country you live in Russia China the
country you live in Russia China the United States the UK every security
United States the UK every security
United States the UK every security service of every country on Earth is
service of every country on Earth is
service of every country on Earth is checking up on our emails and our online
checking up on our emails and our online
checking up on our emails and our online activity we know this this is from
activity we know this this is from
activity we know this this is from October of last year
October of last year
October of last year what Orwell dreaded is 24/7 reality for
what Orwell dreaded is 24/7 reality for
what Orwell dreaded is 24/7 reality for us and that is why we don’t want to see
us and that is why we don’t want to see
us and that is why we don’t want to see our own present-day
our own present-day
our own present-day on screen and the visions of the future
on screen and the visions of the future
on screen and the visions of the future we do make to come back to the Walking
we do make to come back to the Walking
we do make to come back to the Walking Dead and Mad Max fury road show to
Dead and Mad Max fury road show to
Dead and Mad Max fury road show to specific divergent paths The Walking
specific divergent paths The Walking
specific divergent paths The Walking Dead is about the degradation of the
Dead is about the degradation of the
Dead is about the degradation of the human species we’re the problem it’s us
human species we’re the problem it’s us
human species we’re the problem it’s us gone wrong Mad Max fury road is what
gone wrong Mad Max fury road is what
gone wrong Mad Max fury road is what happens if we keep doing what we’re
happens if we keep doing what we’re
happens if we keep doing what we’re doing to the planet on and on and on is
doing to the planet on and on and on is
doing to the planet on and on and on is the total degradation of the environment
the total degradation of the environment
the total degradation of the environment now why zombies zombies in the Walking
now why zombies zombies in the Walking
now why zombies zombies in the Walking Dead are the same as and interestingly
Dead are the same as and interestingly
Dead are the same as and interestingly different from the other monsters we’ve
different from the other monsters we’ve
different from the other monsters we’ve seen you remember these guys but ten
seen you remember these guys but ten
seen you remember these guys but ten years ago so every Hollywood action
years ago so every Hollywood action
years ago so every Hollywood action movie needs something you can kill
movie needs something you can kill
movie needs something you can kill without remorse something that you can
without remorse something that you can
without remorse something that you can just slaughter in hundreds of thousands
just slaughter in hundreds of thousands
just slaughter in hundreds of thousands with no moral qualms for the characters
with no moral qualms for the characters
with no moral qualms for the characters or the audience and in The Walking Dead
or the audience and in The Walking Dead
or the audience and in The Walking Dead zombies used to be these guys or these
zombies used to be these guys or these
zombies used to be these guys or these guys or these guys but it’s not so very
guys or these guys but it’s not so very
guys or these guys but it’s not so very long since it was these guys or these
long since it was these guys or these
long since it was these guys or these guys Holli was actually changed a lot in
guys Holli was actually changed a lot in
guys Holli was actually changed a lot in the 1930s we represented Native
the 1930s we represented Native
the 1930s we represented Native Americans and African tribesmen as the
Americans and African tribesmen as the
Americans and African tribesmen as the this other this force that had to be
this other this force that had to be
this other this force that had to be disciplined contained or if necessary
disciplined contained or if necessary
disciplined contained or if necessary eradicated for civilization to triumph
eradicated for civilization to triumph
eradicated for civilization to triumph in the 60s and 70s we figured it out a
in the 60s and 70s we figured it out a
in the 60s and 70s we figured it out a bit and we projected all this onto
bit and we projected all this onto
bit and we projected all this onto aliens it’s okay you don’t have to care
aliens it’s okay you don’t have to care
aliens it’s okay you don’t have to care about the aliens you can slaughter them
about the aliens you can slaughter them
about the aliens you can slaughter them and you don’t have to feel bad well
and you don’t have to feel bad well
and you don’t have to feel bad well welcome to the 21st century and now the
welcome to the 21st century and now the
welcome to the 21st century and now the monster is us we’re the monster it’s a
monster is us we’re the monster it’s a
monster is us we’re the monster it’s a degraded version of us it’s the zombie
degraded version of us it’s the zombie
degraded version of us it’s the zombie version of our friend and our cousin
version of our friend and our cousin
version of our friend and our cousin that’s trying to kill us and eat us it’s
that’s trying to kill us and eat us it’s
that’s trying to kill us and eat us it’s a representation in other words of human
a representation in other words of human
a representation in other words of human beings gone wrong we no longer project
beings gone wrong we no longer project
beings gone wrong we no longer project it out onto the other the problem the
it out onto the other the problem the
it out onto the other the problem the paraphrase the Sex Pistols is us
paraphrase the Sex Pistols is us
paraphrase the Sex Pistols is us and so we get these representations this
and so we get these representations this
and so we get these representations this could be from a 19th century pioneer
could be from a 19th century pioneer
could be from a 19th century pioneer movie isn’t it there’s Rick and Carl
movie isn’t it there’s Rick and Carl
movie isn’t it there’s Rick and Carl father and son and the son even has
father and son and the son even has
father and son and the son even has these kind of us cavalryman’s hat on and
these kind of us cavalryman’s hat on and
these kind of us cavalryman’s hat on and they’re growing their food and it’s
they’re growing their food and it’s
they’re growing their food and it’s awesome
awesome
awesome until you look in the background and
until you look in the background and
until you look in the background and there they are the return of the
there they are the return of the
there they are the return of the repressed waiting to eat them all right
repressed waiting to eat them all right
repressed waiting to eat them all right it’s all very well if you can keep the
it’s all very well if you can keep the
it’s all very well if you can keep the wall up but you can’t always keep the
wall up but you can’t always keep the
wall up but you can’t always keep the wall up can you in Mad Max fury road
wall up can you in Mad Max fury road
wall up can you in Mad Max fury road people don’t want a condo in Park Avenue
people don’t want a condo in Park Avenue
people don’t want a condo in Park Avenue they want clean water that’s as high as
they want clean water that’s as high as
they want clean water that’s as high as their desires go welcome to our future
their desires go welcome to our future
their desires go welcome to our future and it’s a perfectly believable future
and it’s a perfectly believable future
and it’s a perfectly believable future as you’ll hear from some of our other
as you’ll hear from some of our other
as you’ll hear from some of our other speakers but what about Star Wars surely
speakers but what about Star Wars surely
speakers but what about Star Wars surely Star Wars can save us from this the
Star Wars can save us from this the
Star Wars can save us from this the biggest the most popular pop cultural
biggest the most popular pop cultural
biggest the most popular pop cultural mythos of all but Star Wars their
mythos of all but Star Wars their
mythos of all but Star Wars their relations its relationship to technology
relations its relationship to technology
relations its relationship to technology is very very subtle so sure we want the
is very very subtle so sure we want the
is very very subtle so sure we want the Death Star because there has to be a big
Death Star because there has to be a big
Death Star because there has to be a big quest for the heroes to succeed act and
quest for the heroes to succeed act and
quest for the heroes to succeed act and we’re prepared to believe that there’s
we’re prepared to believe that there’s
we’re prepared to believe that there’s this magical shield that can cover a
this magical shield that can cover a
this magical shield that can cover a whole planet but nobody uses anything
whole planet but nobody uses anything
whole planet but nobody uses anything like a cell phone and nobody
like a cell phone and nobody
like a cell phone and nobody communicates on anything like a computer
communicates on anything like a computer
communicates on anything like a computer network in fact when you get to that
network in fact when you get to that
network in fact when you get to that it’s really charmingly old-school and
it’s really charmingly old-school and
it’s really charmingly old-school and that’s not the only old-school thing
that’s not the only old-school thing
that’s not the only old-school thing about Star Wars when we meet Han Solo
about Star Wars when we meet Han Solo
about Star Wars when we meet Han Solo there’s a strong sense that we’ve seen
there’s a strong sense that we’ve seen
there’s a strong sense that we’ve seen something like this before but we’re not
something like this before but we’re not
something like this before but we’re not really in the future you look at Han
really in the future you look at Han
really in the future you look at Han Solo’s blaster could that be any more
Solo’s blaster could that be any more
Solo’s blaster could that be any more like a peacemaker cult it could be John
like a peacemaker cult it could be John
like a peacemaker cult it could be John Wayne or if you’re old like me round-off
Wayne or if you’re old like me round-off
Wayne or if you’re old like me round-off Scott or for those of you who don’t
Scott or for those of you who don’t
Scott or for those of you who don’t remember those guys it could be Slade
remember those guys it could be Slade
remember those guys it could be Slade Eastwood so everything about the story
Eastwood so everything about the story
Eastwood so everything about the story is reassuringly old it’s not new so the
is reassuringly old it’s not new so the
is reassuringly old it’s not new so the climax of rogue one there’s gin and
climax of rogue one there’s gin and
climax of rogue one there’s gin and she’s got the super secret plans of the
she’s got the super secret plans of the
she’s got the super secret plans of the Death Star and look she’s got them on
Death Star and look she’s got them on
Death Star and look she’s got them on what is clearly a VHS videocassettes
what is clearly a VHS videocassettes
what is clearly a VHS videocassettes like what the heck is going on with that
like what the heck is going on with that
like what the heck is going on with that right they have faster than like travel
right they have faster than like travel
right they have faster than like travel they have a
they have a
they have a shield that can cover an entire planet
shield that can cover an entire planet
shield that can cover an entire planet but no no it’s analog media only when
but no no it’s analog media only when
but no no it’s analog media only when the story gets going and there’s poor ol
the story gets going and there’s poor ol
the story gets going and there’s poor ol bode rook getting shot at why is he
bode rook getting shot at why is he
bode rook getting shot at why is he getting shot at because they only have
getting shot at because they only have
getting shot at because they only have dial-up internet on this space station
dial-up internet on this space station
dial-up internet on this space station apparently he’s got to plug in the cable
apparently he’s got to plug in the cable
apparently he’s got to plug in the cable it’s like a fire hose we wouldn’t put up
it’s like a fire hose we wouldn’t put up
it’s like a fire hose we wouldn’t put up with that in 2017 and it’s funny when
with that in 2017 and it’s funny when
with that in 2017 and it’s funny when you think about it but it’s absolutely
you think about it but it’s absolutely
you think about it but it’s absolutely deliberate the makers of Star Wars are
deliberate the makers of Star Wars are
deliberate the makers of Star Wars are very very smart they know we don’t want
very very smart they know we don’t want
very very smart they know we don’t want to see network technology because that’s
to see network technology because that’s
to see network technology because that’s part of the world that we don’t like so
part of the world that we don’t like so
part of the world that we don’t like so to conclude these things show is the
to conclude these things show is the
to conclude these things show is the past that we can’t really feel connected
past that we can’t really feel connected
past that we can’t really feel connected to a future that we’re afraid we’re
to a future that we’re afraid we’re
to a future that we’re afraid we’re going to make and a present that has
going to make and a present that has
going to make and a present that has none of the technology that runs our
none of the technology that runs our
none of the technology that runs our lives in it we are the unknown and the
lives in it we are the unknown and the
lives in it we are the unknown and the future which may be unknowable is
future which may be unknowable is
future which may be unknowable is unfortunately for us unthinkable
unfortunately for us unthinkable
unfortunately for us unthinkable thank you very much
thank you very much
thank you very much [Applause]
”
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