Jan Svankmajer: Dimensions of Dialogue Part 2

Why do you reject the fallenness of man?

Why would anyone accept it? -- that's my question. I understand that humans are a part of a natural world wherein, individually at least, humans work really hard to be "good" (however they define the term). Humans are no more fallen than are copperheads or bunny rabbits -- much less so, I would say, because humans at least understand our actions in ways that copperheads and bunnies don't, and therefore we can improve.

I guess the argument I don't buy is that there is some notion of perfection out there. Humans can't be fallen unless there was a better "human" to fall from. I don't see any evidence that humans were ever perfect creatures; in fact, I see liberal humanity as an attempt to reach out to such a notion -- kind of like Plato's form of human -- as if that notion were in the future of humanity, not in some distant and mythic past.

I can see the value of looking forward to a "better" human -- something to aspire to become, but I fail to see the value of looking to past for one. Adam is a mythic father-man meant to prove the superiority of Israel, the Noble Savage is a raping and pillaging cretin, the brilliant Greeks where misogynistic ethnocentric jerks. It's going to take a lot of effort to get away from the worship of such historical hogwash, but with effort I really do think we can get to a place where we do recognize humanity as worthy of the love and sacrifice of a Christ figure.

Don't get me wrong: I live in a world of stupidity with a life deeply affected by physical, emotional, and sexual abuse at the hands of parents. I totally understand the depravity to which humans are capable and the extent to which they are able to argue for the morality of their actions in the face of such harm. Still, it is the ability of humans to recognize wrongs and apologize sincerely which I applaud as a good. I don't believe that a baby's greed or a toddler's wanton destruction are sins. They are normal stages in the development of the human animal. And I'm not prepared to see any kind of fall unless it is that fall from the creativity and joy of a child discovering the world into the mundane existence of an adult who finds nothing but fear and trembling in that same world

Final class time as an actual student

This first posting signifies two occasions: first, I've finally gotten around to starting the blog after creating it last summer; second, I'm completing the end of my time in class as an actual student. Tonight marks the final class meeting of my final class -- and it isn't even a class I'm taking for the PhD studies. Rather, it's a class I need to finish the Women/Gender Studies certificate program.

Still, this class (Francophone Film -- mainly from Africa) has been wonderful. I'm writing on Claire Denis' Chocolat for the class, but tonight we're discussing several other films. Throughout the semester, my fellow students have been engaged and engaging -- not something I can always say about my coursework. In a few minutes I will evaluate the class, but I'm thinking something less formal would be more appropriate -- or maybe more formal, like an actual peer-evaluation.

At any rate, I'm going to get to the evaluation. And hope to get back to this blog tomorrow ;)