Re: Salinger turns to the Dark Side

jason varsoke (jjv@caesun.msd.ray.com)
Tue, 29 Jun 1999 16:33:02 -0400 (EDT) 

Jim Wrote:
> We do have to be careful when we're talking about the beliefs of others
> :)  I think that's one point that we both need to learn...
> 
> If you define "gods" as "one possessing supernatural powers" then I
> suppose you could say that.  But the Christian church rejected dualism a
                                   ^^^
   Which Christian church are we talking about?  Is there only one again?
I think the protestant movement would fully support Thor's view if he can
ground it in the text.  I don't think anything but a subset of
Christianity has rejected anything.  May of my Christian friends interpret
the bible to read that the Devil is not a being.  He is a metaphor.  Just
different readings of the same text, happens all the time, especially on
this list.   Keep learning.


   As far as the fight between good an evil, and the black and whiteness
of Lucas's view, consider Darth Vader v. Anakin Skywalker.  Remember the
odd lie that Obi-wan tells Luke in the very first movie?  He says, "A
young jedi named Darth Vader rose up and struck down your father."  Later
in the series he explains that in a sense that is what happened.  "The man
I knew as your father ceased to exist."  Now, Yoda claims that "Once you
start down the path of the Dark Side, forever with it govern your
destiny."  This all seems pretty strait forward and black and white.
Obi-wan and Yoda both claim that the Darkside is a oneway door -- there is
no turning back.  However, Lucas's synthasis comes in _Return of the
Jedi_.  Most people think of the title as "Return of Luke and his
buddies" but really it is "Return of Anakin Skywalker, Jedi."  The last
movie is about Darthvader and his redeption, among other things.  This
kind of redemption is completely foreign to Yoda and Obi-wan.  They even
state it point blank when Luke says he think he can turn his father.  The
short guy says, "nope, ain't gonna happen kid."  But that's just what
Lucas shows us.  He shows us Darth Vader unmasked.  He shows us Evil
unmasked, and underneath is a loving father who still gave his life for
his son.  As if this weren't proof enough, the last scene (before the
fireworks) shows the spirits of Yoda, Obi-wan and Anakin standing in their
Jedi atire.  Redemption, duelism, a coin, the Force.
   As if that weren't enough, what color does Luke wear throughout the
entire last film?  Black.  The Jedi uniform seems more tan and brown
(great camo in the desert where he plans to do battle).  However, Lucas
wants to give the hint that Luke has it in him to become Evil.  He is a
product of his father.  He is like his father.  Luke, supposid symbol of
purity and goodness also has a mechanical hand.  His RIGHT hand in fact.
The hand of goodness is in a black glove and is mechanical, like his evil
father.  Lucas is certainly blending good and evil.  He knows Luke can go
either way.  He's showing us he could.  He's showing us that there isn't a
whole lot seperating Luke and Vader.  He's intimating that it's illusion
that there is any difference at all.
   Sure on the surface this looks like a classic story of Good v. Evil.
And it is, on the surface.  There is a lot going on that takes a 6 year
old mind over 20 years to distill.  But there is a hell of a lot there.
   And yes, he may still present the Way of the Force v. the Darkside, but
then again it's a dark "side."  Which is certainly more in line with
Thor's interrpretation of a coin.

   As far as who presents a more cohesive view, Vedas or Lucas, well I
don't know.  I'm ignorant of Vedas and have never heard that Lucas was
trying to put Vedas on the screen.  Even if he had, i'd give him the
artistic license to fudge with it.

   Okay, I have more where this came from, but I'll take a breath here.


-jvarsoke