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God Against Us: Alien Spaceman Jesus, the World Trade Center Attack and More

GOD AGAINST US: ALIEN SPACEMAN JESUS, THEsense of wonder possessed by the infant, and
THE  WORLD TRADE  CENTER  ATTACK  AND  MOREinhabits fantasy mental worlds in preference
to the real world. Again, I ask, what has
Alvin  Millerthis  to  do  with  the  Messiah?
(1986)I took a brief look in the preceding chapter
at some of what I felt were candidate
My  second,  newest  article:messiahs being put forward by the movie
industry. I wonder if we might be getting
At my site: TABLEpractice for recognizing the actual Messiah
OF  CONTENTSwhen He returns. I feel such practice may
well be a good idea, since; for one thing,
PREFACEthe Messiah won't be riding the White Horse
this time (that was done in A.D. 70).
CHAPTER  ONE: A  PLAUSIBLE  TIMETABLENeither do I expect to see a flying saucer
descending from the skies to a world capital.
CHAPTER TWO: A FIRST LOOK AT NORMAN O. BROWN
I suspect it will be an Incarnation in the
CHAPTER THREE: THE MEDIA MESSIAH, OR LOOKINGmanner that occurred at Bethlehem. At that
FOR  JESUS  ONtime, only the Wise Men and a handful of
others could discern the Messiah. One
TVdictionary definition of blasphemy is for a
mortal to name himself a god. I feel there
CHAPTER  FOUR: THE  MESSIAH  RETURNScould well be an early period when the Chosen
One is accused as a blasphemer or the
APPENDIX: THE  SECRET  RAPTUREAntichrist. A considerable period of time
may elapse before He is acclaimed Lord of
BIBLIOGRAPHYlords  and  King  of  kings.
FILM  LIST  BY  DATEAt any rate, once the Messiah is actually
recognized, it will then become a situation
FILM  LISTof "when the saints go marching in". In
whichever country He first appears, the
FILM  SERIALSMessiah and a motley crew of followers will
walk into the capital city and take power.
PREFACEYou say you want to be in that number? I
suggest you think carefully about it. To the
What do you call a crazy spaceman? - - Ansecular eye this will be a Fool's Parade or
Astronut.Goon Squad made up of Snake People (Marching
Morons) - the actual 'meek' who will then
What follows is a nearly word for word onlineinherit the earth. I repeat - do you want to
version of my ©1986 booklet WEIRDbe  in  that  number?
ESCHATOLOGY: AN ALTERNATIVE VIEW OF THE
SECOND COMING (ISBN 0-9616435-0-1; Library ofHow, you may object, will a mere handful of
Congress Call Number BT823.M55 1986). By thesuch people be able to take over a major
time you finish this, you may conclude thatcapital city? The context is important here.
this particular peculiar interpretation ofWe are dealing at this point in time with a
the Book of Revelation should be relegated tonation under siege internally and externally,
the teachings of self-appointed cranks,soon to fall. Numerous other portentous dire
crackpots, prophets of doom and various otherevents will be occurring simultaneously that
assorted fanatics. But perhaps, even so, yourwill dilute the significance of the central
own view may be clarified when you read this.event. The World Trade Center attack, 9-11,
The first chapter deals with theology andwas just the inaugural event of a coming
may be slightly dull, but fasten yourseries of catastrophes. We are on an
seatbelt, as I will get more and more weirdaccelerating descending slope. God is
ahead (in terms of any interpretation youagainst us now for our Godless Wicked ways.
have seen before). Note that I make use ofThis will be confirmed by the disasters
mostly unobtainable texts and obscure films.coming  ahead  predicted  here.
Lack of access to these sources should not
impede your understanding of what follows.Initially the Messiah will assume actual
Also, to emphasize the ostensibly momentoussecular political power in order to obtain
issues I am dealing with here, I capitalizethe objective of reinstating theocracy - an
the  subject  phrases  I  discuss.archaic form of government long abandoned and
forgotten by Western nations. Looking again
CHAPTER  ONEwith secular eyes, whether considered from
the political left or from the political
A  PLAUSIBLE  TIMETABLEright, the government will be a de facto
fascist government - no matter what label is
Are you a Christian? Do you believe in theostensibly applied to it. To provide an
Second Coming at some future date? Is itexample of the type of events that will be
legitimate to construct timetables for thesetaking place, if, and I cannot overemphasize
future  events?the hypothetical, if this occurs in
Washington, DC, the Constitution and the Bill
Rhetorical questions such as these right offof Rights will be abolished and both Houses
the bat may well put you off. A majorof Congress dissolved. I find this idea
difficulty is that no consensus as to whenunpalatable, and I feel none of the sources I
and in what sequence these predicted eventshave mentioned would find this palatable, nor
must take place. This topic has always beenwould you. I do not believe these events
a particular source of schism and polemic. Iwill occur in the actual Jerusalem, but, as I
will be proposing specific dates as numeroushave indicated, one of the major Western
have in each generation before me. And ascapitals, which will then become a platform
many have been before me, I can be refuted byfor  world  domination.
the  mere  passage  of  time.
W. Reich in the forties prior to even the
The majority view espoused by mostadvent of national TV took a look at popular
evangelicals is pretribulationalculture in THE MURDER OF CHRIST. He was
premillennalism, which I only partially agreeacutely aware of the possibility of fascism,
with. I will point out that part of thishaving had direct experience with the mass
view is in fact based on a historical noveltymovements of the twentieth century of both
that only traces back to the nineteenththe left and the right. What would be his
century. What I mean here is that in termsverdict now, some sixty years later? Many
of the glacially slow movement of theologyscience fiction films have dramatized a
(remember that the canon was finalized somefascist takeover. Are they a prototype for
two thousand years ago), the majority view isfuture  real  events?
a  relatively  recent  innovation.
The evolutionary stages the government will
I prefer a distinctly minority position,undergo can be expressed in the Marxist
which would be called multiple-raptureschemata. The first phase corresponds to the
postmillennialism. The postmillennialdictatorship of the proletariat (rule by the
position holds that many of the predictionsmeek). Then begins the transition period to
made in the New Testament, including those ofthe withering away of the state and the
the Olivet Discourse (Matt. 24, Mk 13, Lukeclassless society or New Jerusalem.
21), were accomplished in the early ChristianTheologians have previously published
era, and their past fulfillment limit's theoutlines of the analogies between Marxist
future events to be expected. There existsmythology and Christian eschatology. And the
one school, represented by, for example, Maxreturn of the Messiah will actually fulfill
King and Timothy James, which holds that eachMarx's predictions, as well as those of John
and every prophecy of the entire Newof Patmos simultaneously. During the
Testament was accomplished during the earlytransition period, it will be a matter of
Church age. However, I feel this viewbeing forced to do without various items we
neglects proper consideration of the Book ofnow take for granted. The entire
Revelation.entertainment industry will be dispensed with
- television broadcasts, movies, rock music,
Postmillennialism is also sometimes referredetc. Much of the high technology of the West
to as preterism, which implies that the textwill be abandoned. We will cease
is allowed to speak without exegesis. Thus,constructing aircraft, rockets and probably
when Jesus repeatedly predicts the Kingdomeven automobiles (do only angels have wings?)
within a generation, I do not write off theThis will be accomplished with only a
statement as a mistake or excess ofminimum of objection because the Messiah will
enthusiasm. Instead, I draw up a timetablerule with a Rod of Iron as the Book of
that shows the Kingdom beginning a generationRevelation predicts. He will be a
after the Crucifixion. Then, when John ofcombination Joe Stalin, Jim Jones, Adolph
Patmos says the Millennium starts at thisHitler and Ayatollah Khomeni rolled into one.
date of the beginning of the Kingdom, I dulyAmos in the Old Testament correctly
go to my chart (at the end of this chapter)prophecied the gnashing of teeth and
and set the Thousand Year Clock ticking.tribulation that would come with the Day of
There was in fact a specific date athe  Lord.
generation after the Crucifixion - the
pivotal date of A.D. 70. This was theIs Western Civilization about to officially
historical date of the Fall of Jerusalem,end? Are we and our descendants to become
which is not a particularly prominent date inalmost exclusively concerned with physical
more mainstream discussions. This is thesurvival, staying alive? Don't go outside to
date of the First Resurrection in thewatch the skies for the Advent. Merely stay
terminology of John of Patmos that begins thetuned to your TV set and start paying more
Millennium.attention. Have I seen one too many science
fiction movies? Or is the show you never
What happened in A.D. 70? After a lengthyexpected  to  see  ABOUT  TO BEGIN?! APPENDIX
siege by the Roman legions, Jerusalem was
ransacked and leveled. To the secular eye,Brief excerpts from Margaret MacDonald's 1830
as detailed by Josephus in THE JEWISH WAR inSecret  Rapture  prophecy:
gory detail, the scene was one of mass
destruction in which not even the Temple wasIt was first the awful state of the land that
spared. But to the spiritual eye, aswas pressed upon me. I saw the blindness and
Russell's PAROUSIA demonstrated more than ainfatuation of the people to be very great.
century ago, these events were theI felt the cry of Liberty to be just the hiss
fulfillment of the Olivet Discourse and theof the serpent to drown them in perdition.
return of Jesus and His conquering armies inIt  was  just  'no  God',  ----
the clouds to inaugurate the spiritual reign
with the saints and martyrs. Other sourcesI saw the people of God in an awfully
listed in the bibliography includingdangerous situation, surrounded by nets and
Chilton's PARADISE RESTORED espouse thisentanglements, about to be tried, and many
view. Chilton nominated Jerusalem as theabout to be deceived and fall. Now will THE
Whore of Babylon and Rome as the Beast.WICKED be revealed, with all power and signs
(Note added 2006: In my 1986 Timetable Iand lying wonders, so that if it were
followed Chilton. I have since reversed mypossible  the  very  elect  will be deceived.
opinion. I now see Rome as the Whore and
Jerusalem  as  the  Beast.)PARTIAL  BIBLIOGRAPHY
I need to stop for a moment to consider theChapter  One.
question of the dating of the Book of
Revelation. The presently accepted date forThe following titles are examples of
the appearance of the Book of Revelation isconservative postmillennial and amillennial
A.D. 95. If this is the correct date, theviews as opposed to the standard
fulfillment of the predictions made so farpremillennial  view.
would be merely a matter of hindsight. I
recommend John A. T. Robinson's examinationBray, John L., THE MILLENNIUM - THE BIG
of this question in REDATING THE NEWQUESTION?
TESTAMENT. Robinson cites extensive internal
and external evidence for moving the date ofChilton, David, PARADISE RESTORED: A
the Book of Revelation back to the A.D. 70BIBLICAL THEOLOGY OF
timeframe. Further, he traces the standardDOMINION.
A.D. 95 view back to a single source. This
source is a statement by Irenaeus that theBrunner, Constantin, OUR CHRIST: THE REVOLT
Apocalypse first appeared "toward the end ofOF THE MYSTICAL GENIUS (1921 - published
Domitian's reign." This statement is1990).
ambiguous and may even be merely mistaken.
Other sources listed in the bibliographyJames, Timothy A. THE MESSIAH'S RETURN:
(including Chilton and James) accept anDELAYED? FULFILLED? OR DOUBLE-FULFILLMENT?
earlier  date.
Jones, R Bradley, THE GREAT
The Book of Revelation represents aTRIBULATON.
significant amplification of the preceding
Gospels and Epistles. Here the concept ofKik, J. Marcellus, AN ESCHATOLOGY OF
the Millennium is introduced for the firstVICTORY.
and only time. The timetable presented by
John of Patmos extends forward to the futureKimball, William R., THE RAPTURE: A
Judgment Day and the establishment of the NewQUESTION  OF  TIMING.
Jerusalem, thereby completing the New
Testament  Canon.King,  Max, THE  SPIRIT  OF  PROPHECY.
Turning to the time period of the Millennium,Lewis, Arthur H., THE DARK SIDE OF THE
lasting approximately from A.D. 70 to A.D.MILLENNIUM.
1070, the starting point was the spiritual
event, the Parousia, as detailed by RussellLogston, Robert, THE END-TIMES BLOODBATH.
and Chilton. But secular historians lookingMacPherson, Dave, THE
back at this time period as a whole haveGREAT  RAPTURE  HOAX.
labeled it the Dark Ages. More recently this
verdict has been tempered by theRobinson, John A. T., REDATING THE NEW
demonstration of the development andTESTAMENT.
technical progress that occurred in the
Middle and Far East during these years. ButJ.  Stuart, THE  PAROUSIA  (1887).
it does remain true that for Western
Civilization, primarily Western Europe forStevens,  Ed, WHAT  HAPPENED  IN  70  A.D.
these years, these were times of
unprecedented barbarism and ignorance.Terry,  Milton, BIBLICAL  HERMENEUTICS.
During these times the blood of countless
martyrs was spilled in belatedly laying downChapters  Two-Four.
the Roman Empire and establishing the Church.
Violence was the order of the day andBrown,  Noman  O., CLOSING  TIME  (1973).
sugarcoating or rose-colored glasses are
unnecessary. The First Resurrection was an______________, LOVE'S  BODY  (1966).
event of mass destruction and the Kingdom or
Millennium was an era of barbarism. In otherCampbell, Joseph and Robinson, H., A
words, it is not an accident or coincidenceSKELETON KEY TO FINNEGANS WAKE (1944).
that the fulfillment of the prophecies was
apocalyptic. Instead, there is an importantGutkind,
principle to remember here, since I willEric, THE BODY OF GOD: FIRST STEPS TOWARD
point out that Judgment Day will also be massAN  ANTI-THEOLOGY  (1966-Horizon  Press).
destruction and the New Jerusalem to follow
will appear to secular eyes again be relativeHarrington, M. THE POLITICS AT GOD'S
barbarism. I will take up these thoughtsFUNERAL: THE SPIRITUAL CRISIS OF WESTERN
again  in  later  chapters.CIVILIZATION  (1983)
Why didn't Judgment Day begin about A.D.1070Hyde, Lewis, TRICKSTER MAKES THIS WORLD
with the end of the Millennium?(1988).
Historically, many of the people living then
did expect to see the Messiah return. IJoyce,  James, FINNEGANS  WAKE  (1939).
answer instead that this was the date when
Satan was unbound for his season. Here IReich, Wilhelm, THE MURDER OF CHRIST: THE
part company with many of the sources listedEMOTIONAL PLAGUE OF MANKIND (1966).
in the bibliography. They prefer to see the
Millennium as an indeterminate period
extending potentially thousands of years withRobinson, Paul A., THE FREUDIAN LEFT:
Satan loosed for his season only shortlyWILHELM REICH, GEZA ROHEIM, HERBERT MARCUSE
prior to the Second Coming. They see the(1969).
Church still in the Millennial periodRoheim, Geza, MAGIC AND SCHIZOPHRENIA
expanding and consolidating its gains to(1955). ____________,
ultimately convert the entire worldANIMISM, MAGIC AND THE DIVINE KING (1930).
immediately prior to the Advent. On theSontag, Susan, "The imagination of
contrary, I hold that John of Patmos reallydisaster." AGAINST INTERPRETATION AND OTHER
meant a time period of approximately oneESSAYS (1966).
thousand years, and that Satan has been atTausk, Victor, "On the origin of
work sowing his evil. I admit that thethe 'Influencing Machine' in schizophrenia"
season has now lasted nearly a thousand years(1933).
in its own right. One consolation is that
this extended period is finally about to comeTindall, W., A READER'S GUIDE TO FINNEGANS
to a close. Satan has been quite busy fromWAKE (1969).
my point of view during the last centuries.
Examples of his infamous work would be suchVerene, D., KNOWLEDGE OF THINGS HUMAN AND
events as the Renaissance, the Reformation,DIVINE: VICO'S NEW SCIENCE AND FINNEGANS
the Counter-Reformation, the Inquisition, theWAKE (2003).
Enlightenment, the Industrial Revolution on
down to the contemporary horrific massFILM LIST BY DATE (PRIMARILY SCIENCE
movements. I could be accused of being aFICTION)
feudalist or an obscurantist here. However,
I do not look back to the Kingdom so much asA partial list of relevant and valuable film
forward to the approaching New Jerusalem. Attitles. No studios are given. Especially
this point in time I feel we are reaching thesignificant  films  are  preceeded  by  an  *
low point of the curve descending to Hell,
immediately  prior  to  the Messiah's return.*EVAN ALMIGHTY (2007) (sequel to BRUCE
ALMIGHTY.  God commands Evan to build an Ark)
Thus, I teach hellfire and damnation, as do
most of the right wing evangelists who holdTHE INVISIBLE (2007) AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH
the premillennial view. But, as I have said,(1996)  CLICK  (2006)
the postmillennialists of the bibliography,
who are also uniformly conservative for theSTRANGER  THAN  FICTION  (2006)
most part, place much less emphasis on this
aspect.BEWITCHED  (2005)
I am also in agreement with theCHICKEN  LITTLE (2005) ('The sky is falling!)
premillennialists with respect to the
Rapture. Historically, for eighteen*CONSTANTINE  (2005)
centuries the Rapture was taken as
essentially simultaneous with the Advent.V FOR VENDETTA (2005) THE DAY AFTER TOMORROW
This is detailed by, among others, MacPherson(2004)
in THE GREAT RAPTURE HOAX and Kimball in THE
RAPTURE: A QUESTION OF TIMING. MacPhersonELLA  ENCHANTED  (2004)
demonstrates that the nineteenth century
so-called Scotch seer Margaret MacDonald inFAHRENHEIT  9/11  (2004)
1830 introduced the pretribulational Rapture
- a temporal separation of a Secret RaptureTHE FINAL CUT (2004) (madman must die to save
from the Second Coming. This introductionothers)
was a theological novelty or innovation.
MacPherson traces the concept from itsTHE  FORGOTTEN  (2004)
introduction through the nineteenth century
figures Darby and Scofield to the mainstreamTHE  LOST  SKELETON  OF  CADAVRA  (2004)
electronic evangelists of today. I have said
that I accept the multiple-Rapture view,THE  MACHINIST  (2004)
which is a variation of the pretribulational
Rapture. I agree, based on the work of myTHE  PASSION  OF  THE  CHRIST  (2004)
sources, that this view had its origins only
in the nineteenth century. I will indicate*SKY CAPTAIN AND THE WORLD OF TOMMOROW (2004)
why I hold that view in the last part of
Chapter  Three.WHAT  THE  #$*!  DO  WE  KNOW!?  (2004)
I should note that because I take a preterist*BRUCE ALMIGHTY (2003) ('Armageddon outta
perspective, I place less emphasis on seeinghere!')
the events that occurred with the First
Resurrection exactly duplicated on Judgment*NORTHFORK (2003) (has an Ark,a Flood and
Day. For example, Nero was clearly therecording  angels)
Antichrist for A.D. 70, but I don't
necessarily expect to see a new AntichristSPIDER  (2003)  (madman)
prior to the Second Coming. If forced to,
one could select from many twentieth centuryCLOCKSTOPPERS  (2002)  (mass  psychosis)
candidates for this post. Similarly, I don't
expect to see the coming events occurring atDON'T  SAY  A  WORD  (2002)
the actual Jerusalem this time. I predict in
Chapter Four they will more likely begin inFINAL  (2002)
one  of  the  advanced  Western  nations.
FRAILTY  (2002)
Beginning with the next chapter, I will be
using apparently incongruous sources, such asHEARTS  IN  ATLANTIS  (2002)
left wing sources from the sixties. I will
delve into films and the media in general.THE  IMPOSTER  (2002)
These sources I will bring up are relevant to
the issues of this chapter. So far I haveK-PAX  (2002)
outlined a plausible but not mainstream view
of Christian eschatology. From this pointLILO  AND  STITCH  (2002)
forward, as promised, expect the view
presented  to  be  'weird'.NO  SUCH  THING  (2002)
CHAPTER  TWOTHE  RING  (2002)
A  FIRST  LOOK  AT  NORMAN  O.  BROWNSIGNS  (2002)
It  is  a  taleZOOLANDER  (2002)
Told  by  an  idiot,  full  of sound and furyA  BEAUTIFUL  MIND  (2001)
Signifying  nothing.CHICKEN  RUN  (2000)
-ShakespeareEND  OF  DAYS  (1999)
There is a good possibility you have neverGLADIATOR  (1998)
heard of Norman O. Brown or come across any
of his writings. His books are now aTHE  MATRIX  (1998)
generation old and partly out of print.
Perhaps certain of the issues he raised have*THE  SIXTH  SENSE  (1998)
become  moot  with  the  passage  of  time.
WHAT  DREAMS  MAY  COME  (1998)
I think when his books originally came out
Brown was taken as merely a sexual radical.MEN  IN  BLACK  (1997)
I say merely here in the sense that Brown
would not be under discussion if I felt thatINDEPENDENCE  DAY  (1996)
was solely what he was about. A superficial
reading of his cryptic, aphoristic styleMARS  ATTACKS!  (1996)
indeed does give this impression. However,
the actual subject of two of his books,*PLEASANTVILLE  (1996)
LOVE'S BODY (1966) and CLOSING TIME (1973)
was religion. Of the two books, CLOSING TIMEFORREST  GUMP  (1994)
is currently out of print but necessary for a
complete picture. With these two books Brown*STARGATE  (1994)
actually solved the mysteries of religion.
Am I here claiming that if you comprehendDROP  DEAD  FRED  (1991) THE  RAPTURE (1991)
these books you will have all your questions
answered on religion? Yes, that is indeedTHE  FISHER  KING  (1990)
what I am claiming. Brown did get all the
way to the inner sanctum. If you are able toTHE  HANDMAIDS  TALE  (1990)
solve Brown's puzzles, you will
simultaneously solve the mysteries ofLOOSE  CANNONS  (1990)
religion. I say this fully aware that
Brown's erudition makes this a monumentalSPACED  INVADERS  (1990)
task.
EARTH  GIRLS  ARE  EASY  (1988)
If I have piqued your curiosity, and you
decide to take a look at Brown, the bestBEETLEJUICE  (1988)
procedure might be to look at some other
sources as a preliminary. It's all there inBIG  (1988)
Brown in plain English, you understand, but
you may have more success by circling in fromRAINMAN  (1988)
the periphery. One good out of print source
from the same time period is Eric Gutkind'sTHEY  LIVE  (1988)
THE BODY OF GOD: FIRST STEPS TOWARD AN
ANTI-THEOLOGY. This book is also written in*WINGS  OF  DESIRE  (1988)  (angels)
an aphoristic style. Comparing the title of
this book with LOVE'S BODY will give you aFIELD  OF  DREAMS  (1987)
clue to start you on the road to solving
Brown. Looking from the philosophical side,*MAKING  MR.  RIGHT  (1987)
Michael Harrington's THE POLITICS AT GOD'S
FUNERAL astutely asks all the rightPRINCE  OF  DARKNESS  (1987)
questions. The best book ever written on
Jesus is Constantin Brunner's OUR CHRIST:REAL  MEN  (1987)
THE REVOLT OF THE MYSTICAL GENIUS (1921).
Here's an interesting sentence from the book:THE  BOY  WHO  COULD  FLY  (1986)
"There he hung, the blasphemer of God and
slander of the most noble men, the poorFLIGHT  OF  THE  NAVIGATOR  (1986)
malicious fool, the incorrigble wretch, the
whoreson and whore monger, the swindler, theRIDERS  OF  THE  STORM  (1986)
liar, the secucer." The so-called radical
Freudians, in general, such as Marcuse, ReichBETTER  OFF  DEAD  (1985)
and Roheim in addition to Brown, are
pertinent.CREATOR  (1985)
There isn't space for an exegesis of Brown.LIFEFORCE  (1985)
Instead I'll outline a central idea - the
importance of the Primal Scene. For the*LEGEND  (1985)
uninitiated, the Primal Scene is what Dad and
Mom did in the bedroom. Now even Freud'sMORONS  FROM  OUTER  SPACE  (1985)
disciples had difficulty seeing the
significance of the Oedipal Primal Scene andMASS  APPEAL  (1985)
repeatedly attempted to revise their master.
Perhaps the best way to get an inking of itsMY  SCIENCE  PROJECT  (1985)
significance is to set up a confrontation
between the Joker (the little 'castrated'THE  PURPLE  ROSE  OF  CAIRO  (1985)
clown portrayed by Brown) and you. Put
yourself  in  the  following scene as a male:REANIMATOR  (1985)
You are standing on the outskirts of the big,REAL  GENIUS  (1985)
modern city where you live as the Joker
approaches.STARMAN  (1985)
The Joker begins, "You know, stranger, I'veWEIRD  SCIENCE  (1985)
been doing a lot of traveling lately and have
seen several cities, including this one. IBROTHER  FROM  ANOTHER  PLANET  (1984)
must say I don't like what I've been seeing
at all. In every town the residents useTHE  DEAD  ZONE  (1984)
elaborate locks on their doors and seen to be
afraid to get outside on their own sidewalksDREAMSCAPE  (1984)
at night. One minute they use each other's
bodies as pleasure objects, and the next theyGHOSTBUSTERS  (1984)
sue each other at the slightest provocation.
I see noise, confusion, mayhem and worse atTHE  LAST  STARFIGHTER  (1984)
each turn. I can't think of a thing that
happened in Sodom that hasn't happened hereTHE  LONELY  GUY  (1984)
many times over. Tell me, when you first
came here was the city the same as it isTHE  NATURAL  (1984)
now?"
NIGHT  OF  THE  COMET  (1984)
You  reply, "More  or  less it was, indeed."
RED  DAWN  (1984)
The Joker says, "This town is a hard place
to try to make a living in. Life is soREVENGE  OF  THE  NERDS  (1984)
hectic, there is such a constant rush and
din, that I sometimes believe I'm reallySOMETHING  WICKED  THIS  WAY  COMES  (1984)
caught in a nightmare and will wake up at any
moment. This is no place to try to start aTERMINATOR  (1984)
family or to raise a child. There's no place
for the kids to play here. You know,TESTAMENT  (1984)
although I've had plenty of opportunities to
unzip my pants and pull out my gun here, I*ZELIG  (1984)
just haven't felt right about it and so far
decided to keep my pants zipped up. But IKRULL  (1983)
see by the ring on your finger that the
situation here apparently didn't deter you.THE  MAN  WITH  TWO  BRAINS  (1983)
You had the same opportunity, after all, to
look around and see what was going on. But IVIDEODROME  (1983)
see that no matter what you saw, you weren't
about to stay away. You had to have it. I*ROCK  AND  RULE  (1982)
admit that I am only a Fool. But I ask you -
who's  the  better  man?"THE  SENDER  (1982)
You: (Speechless).ESCAPE  FROM  NEW  YORK  (1981)
The Joker resumes, " Because I care aboutSCANNERS  (1981)
the evil I see and you don't particularly
care, you end up with a child to carry on*THE  LATHE  OF  HEAVEN  (1980-PBS)
your line, and I don't. I ask you, which man
has  the  greater  love?"ALIEN  (1979)
You finally speak, "Before I punch you out,*BEING  THERE  (1979)
do you have anything more to say? - Any last
words?"CAPRICORN  ONE  (1979)
The Joker ignores this and pauses a moment toTHE  LAST  WAVE  (1979)
scan the distant skyline. He then points a
finger at the tallest skyscraper, rising in*SIMON  (1979)
the mists - a source of civic pride known to
all residents (and an indisputable phallicHOLOCAUST  2000  (1978)
symbol). The Joker turns and asks, "How? -
that building there - Tell me how that modernSTAR  WARS  (1977)
Tower of Babel was constructed? No, let me
answer the question. It was constructed byCARRIE  (1976)
men who at some time or other unzipped their
pants. Not that a single one of them wasTHE  MAN  WHO  FELL  TO  EARTH  (1976)
ever forced to you understand. It is after
all a voluntary act. Now I ask you toTHE  OMEN  (1976)
consider for a moment with me what would have
happened if not one of these same men hadA  BOY  AND  HIS  DOG  (1975)
ever unzipped their pants at all - not even
one single time. How much of what you see*THE  DEVIL'S  RAIN  (1975)
around here now would still be here? I'll
answer - not a bit of it would here,THE  STEPFORD  WIVES  (1975)
including the building I just pointed to.
I've been wondering these days why we put upWIZARDS  (1975)
with the perpetual nightmares here that we go
through to get these massive monumentsFLESH  GORDON  (1974-X)
constructed. If we could just get all the
women under control, we could sit around allYOUNG  FRANKENSTEIN  (1974)
day  and  drink  beer  and  play  cards."
THE  EXORCIST  (1973)
You reply, "Leave it to a shiftless
ne'er-do-well  to  --"THE  HOLY  MOUNTAIN  (1973)
The Joker interrupts, "What we really needHIGH  PLAINS  DRIFTER  (1973)
here is a King - the absolute biggest Fool we
can find with the largest member. I thinkJESUS  CHRIST,  SUPERSTAR  (1973)
you may agree that I am the perfect candidate
for this job, as I'm absolutely no good forSOYLENT  GREEN  (1973)
anything  else."
THE SPOOK WHO SAT BESIDE THE DOOR (1973) THE
The pair glare at each other, ready to fight.WICKER  MAN  (1973)
Let me make the important point about thisWESTWORLD  (1973)
tale that the 'you" of the dialogue could
just as well be the Joker's father as anyoneZARDOZ  (1973)
else - not a single line of the preceding
would need to be changed. (In the originalA  CLOCKWORK  ORANGE  (1971)
tale of Oedipus meeting his father at the
crossroads, the pair had been separated andFOOLS'  PARADE  (1971)
there was a disguise and neither seemed to
recognize the other, at least consciously.)THE  LAST  PICTURE  SHOW  (1971)
If the 'you' of the narrative were indeed the
Joker's father, the Joker would thenTHE  OMEGA  MAN  (1971)
literally be a son of a gun. This would also
make the Joker on his mother's side literally*THE  RULING  CLASS  (1971)
an  S.O.B.
THEY  MIGHT  BE  GIANTS  (1971)
In the dialogue that took place at the
Temptation of Christ (Matt. 4:1-11, Mk. 2:13,WILLY  WONKA AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY (1971)
Luke 4:1-13), Jesus rejected Satan's offer of
the kingdoms of this world. Brown says weCAPTAIN  NEMO  AND THE UNDERWATER CITY (1970)
are indeed in Satan's kingdom, i.e., Hell,
especially in the big cities. Jesus will one*THE  MAGIC  CHRISTIAN  (1970)
day accept dominion over the earthly
kingdoms, but only on Judgment Day when HisTHIS  STUFF'LL  KILL  YA!  (1970)
enemies have been made into footstools. When
He does return, He will bring the keys toTHE  RAIN  PEOPLE  (1969)
Hell and to Death. This implies that a
massive restructuring of present urban life -CHARLY  (1968)
our man-made Hell - will begin at this point.
MARS  NEEDS  WOMEN  (1968)
To change the subject, if you have an
interest in James Joyce, you should examineNIGHT  OF  THE  LIVING  DEAD  (1968)
the excerpts Brown has collected in CLOSING
TIME. Joyce either imitates (or himselfPLANET  OF  THE  APES  (1968)
actually is) the insane. The WAKE is from
start to finish nothing but the gibberings ofTHE  POWER  (1968)
a madman. FINNEGANS WAKE is a textual
Rorschach test, by which I mean that in itsFAHRENHEIT  451  (1967)
voluminous pages, any phrase you are looking
for before you open the book can likely beTHE  FLIM  FLAM  MAN  (1967)
found. But all the excerpts Brown has
assembled taken together conclusivelyDR.  GOLDFOOT  AND  THE  GIRL  BOMBS  (1966)
demonstrate that Joyce 'cracked' religion,
i.e., that all the answers were set down inKING  OF  HEARTS  (1966)
the WAKE. In other words, Brown demonstrates
that Joyce earlier pioneered the same trailDR.  GOLDFOOT  AND  THE BIKINI MACHINE (1965)
in that Brown found. I don't want to go
beyond fair use and start quoting text, soA  THOUSAND  CLOWNS  (1965)
I'll  stop.
*CHILDREN  OF  THE  DAMNED  (1964)
CHAPTER  THREE
DR. STRANGELOVE: OR, HOW I LEARNED TO STOP
THE  MEDIA  MESSIAH: LOOKING FOR JESUS ON TVWORRYING  AND  LOVE  THE  BOMB  (1964)
Let  me  start  with  a  lengthy  list:THE  LAST  MAN  ON  EARTH  (1964)
PURPLE RAIN COLORED RAIN GREEN RAINSEVEN  DAYS  IN  MAY  (1964)
FAIRY RAIN INVISIBLE RAIN BLOWING
THE WIND REAPING THE WHIRLWIND IDIOTTHE  GREAT  ESCAPE  (1963)
WIND WEATHER WAR REICHIAN ORGONE
RADAR LOVE THE CALL LONDON CALLINGLORD  OF  THE  FLIES  (1963)
THE BIG BROADCAST WEIRD RADIO PLANET
WAVES BLOWING THE HORN SOUNDING THETHE  NUTTY  PROFESSOR  (1963)
TRUMPET MIND WAR FAIRY GOLD FAIRY
BLIGHT FAIRY BASEBALL FAIRY BOWLINGTHE  MANCHURIAN  CANDIDATE  (1962)
WALLS TUMBLING DOWN BALLOON GOES UP
THE LONG GOODBYE THE BIG SHOOTOUTTHE  MUSIC  MAN  (1962)
THE LAST ROUNDUP DROPPING THE VIALS
THE POWER AND THE GLORY FIRE ANDREPTILICUS  (1962)
BRIMSTONE THE FLOOD TWINKLING OF AN
EYE THE RAPTURE THE SECRET RAPTUREWHISTLE  DOWN  THE  WIND  (1962)
MARCHING MORONS DROPPING THE BIG ONE
THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL THE MACHINEATLANTIS,  THE  LOST  CONTINENT  (1961)
STOPS THE FINAL SOLUTION THE ELEPHANT
BURIAL GROUNDS THE ROAD TO HOLOCAUSTMASTER  OF  THE  WORLD  (1961)
TIMEBOMB TICKING OVER SODOM LAYING THE
DEVIL DOWN RADIO SILENCE LIGHTS OUTON  THE  BEACH  (1960)
SHUTTING IT DOWN TURNING IT OFF
PULLING THE PLUG PUNCHING THE DELETEPSYCHO  (1960)
BUTTON THE SCREEN GOES DARK CLOSING
TIME JUDGMENT DAY SIGNING OFF*VILLAGE  OF  THE  DAMNED  (1960)
NIGHTFALL THE  BIG  SLEEP
THE  WORLD,  THE  FLESH  AND THE DEVIL (1959)
"Whom the gods would destroy, they first
drive mad"ATTACK  OF  THE  50-FOOT  WOMAN  (1958)
I'll ask some questions about this list to
clarify it. At first sight, looking over*THE  BRAIN  FROM  PLANET  AROUS  (1958)
this by no means exhaustive list, it appears
we need to get out our umbrellas (or perhapsHOUSE  ON  HAUNTED  HILL  (1958)
a degree in meteorology). The first question
to ask is: How many of these phrases haveI  MARRIED  A MONSTER FROM OUTER SPACE (1958)
you ever come across before? Try to think
where, if anywhere, any of these phrases canTHE  MAGICIAN  (1958)
be found. After thinking it over, you might
decide that some show up in literature, someNOT  OF  THIS  EARTH  (1957)
may be from the Bible, but many of them come
from  the  media.THE  COURT  JESTER  (1956)
The next question about the list would be:FORBIDDEN  PLANET  (1956)
by grouping all these phrases together as I
did, did I thus intend to imply that eachGIANT  (1956)
phrase is identical or synonymous with each
other phrase in the list? No, they areGODZILLA  (1956)
interchangeable in only a few cases, but they
are interrelated. What then do the phrasesINVASION  OF  THE  BODY  SNATCHERS  (1956)
have in common? My answer is that all bear a
direct  relationship  to  a  single  phrase:THIS  ISLAND  EARTH  (1955)
MASS  PSYCHOSISGOG  (1954)
This particular phrase, Mass Psychosis, youINVADERS  FROM  MARS  (1954)
are probably less likely to have come across.
Mass Psychosis is the actual meaning of theIT  CAME  FROM  OUTER  SPACE  (1953)
Fundamentalist doctrine of the Secret
Rapture.THE  LOST  PLANET  (1953)
Now I'm sure if one had the opportunity to*MEET  MR.  LUCIFER  (1953)
interview rock star Prince and ask him what
he meant by Purple Rain that he would notTHE  WAR  OF  THE  WORLDS  (1953)
immediately reply, "a codeword for mass
psychosis." Similarly, Bob Dylan wouldn't beMY  SON  JOHN  (1952)
inclined to say, "When I sang about Idiot
Wind, I meant mass psychosis." I wouldRADAR  MEN  FROM  THE  MOON  (1952)
instead expect convoluted explanations
involving literary metaphors, etc., if IRED  PLANET  MARS  (1952)
received  any  reply  at  all.
ZOMBIES  OF  THE  STRATOSPHERE  (1952)
Incidentally, I mentioned Prince deliberately
since there was controversy about hisCAPTAIN VIDEO, MASTER OF THE STRATOSPHERE
'explicit ' lyrics when his songs came out.(1951)
I note that his critics had nothing at all to
say about the other dimension of his songs I*THE  DAY  THE  EARTH  STOOD  STILL  (1951)
am pointing to here - Judgment Day by 1999,
etc.THE  MAN  FROM  PLANET  X  (1951)
Here I want to stop discussion of the listWHEN  WORLDS  COLLIDE  (1951)
and return at the end of this chapter with
more comments. Let me briefly return to theD.O.A.  (1950)
general topic of the media. By media I mean
all the conduits by which paid entertainment*THE  NEXT  VOICE  YOU  HEAR  (1950)
reaches us - film, radio, television, etc.
Because television has such a voraciousROCKETSHIP  X-M  (1950)
appetite, I will be using the term media and
TV more or less interchangeably. Think ofTHE  INSPECTOR  GENERAL  (1949)
how TV, in order to fill each and every hour,
gobbles up the output of the other media,KING  OF  THE  ROCKETMEN  (1949)
from films to stage plays to even rock music
in the form of music videos. Some of us areTHE  THIRD  MAN  (1949)
logging in nearly a third of our lives glued
to out sets these days. As a baby boomer, INIGHTMARE  ALLEY  (1947)
teethed on TV and took its pervasive
influence for granted. But, after decades ofTHE  TREASURE  OF  THE  SIERRA  MADRE  (1947)
exposure we have now had, I feel it is time
we should begin a serious examination of theTHE  PURPLE  MONSTER  STRIKES  (1945)
media. Its influence is probably
considerably greater than literary sourcesCOBRA  WOMAN  (1944)
today.
THE  LODGER  (1944)
Already by the sixties we had the
McLuhanesque dictum that the medium is theNONE  BUT  THE  LONELY  HEART  (1944)
message. This idea is that the content is
not particularly important, but rather theI  WALKED  WITH  A  ZOMBIE  (1943)
existence and ubiquitousness of the medium
itself  is  the  most  significant  fact.DON  WINSLOW  OF  THE  NAVY  (1942)
Let me look at media criticism in terms ofI MARRIED A WITCH (1942) THE DEVIL COMMANDS
increasing level of profundity. At the(1941)
lowest, most abysmal level, the media are
seen as providing harmless entertainment.THE  MALTESE  FALCON  (1941)
But the billions of dollars we dump into the
media demonstrate that much more is going on.*FLASH  GORDON  CONQUERS  THE UNIVERSE (1940)
Slightly better is the extreme right wing
evangelical view that TV and films are theBUCK  ROGERS  (1939)
devil's picture book and rock music is the
devil's music. This approach has the virtueDAREDEVILS  OF  THE  RED  CIRCLE  (1939)
of being factually correct, but has fallen on
increasingly hard times as all but theTHE  PHANTOM  CREEPS  (1939)
diehards have capitulated and joined in the
media cacophony themselves. Massive blocks*THE  WIZARD  OF  OZ  (1939)
of radio broadcast time and entire cable
networks are devoted to selling JesusFIGHTING  DEVIL  DOGS  (1938)
sandwiched in between the ads for soap and
used  cars.FLASH  GORDON'S  TRIP  TO  MARS  (1937)
Slightly more discriminating is the idea thatTHE  MAN  WHO  COULD  WORK  MIRACLES  (1937)
TV is a boob tube and rock music is
subversive trash, and exposure to one or bothTIM  TYLER'S  LUCK  (1937)
may permanently warp your brain. Is the
ultimate objective to produce a race ofTOPPER  (1937)
mindless, godless, zombie giants (the return
of the "men of renown" of Genesis asTHE  DEVIL  DOLL  (1936)
described  by  Brown  in  CLOSING  TIME)?
FLASH  GORDON  (1936)
What indeed keeps us mesmerized by the
flickering images hour after hour? Why areTHE  INVISIBLE  RAY  (1936)
so many of us couch potatoes - practically
frozen into stone statues? What are weTHINGS  TO  COME  (1936)
really watching? The answer from Norman O.
Brown is that we are seeing the OedipalUNDERSEA  KINGDOM  (1936)
Primal Scene reenacted night after night in
endless repetition with slight variations.THE  LOST  CITY  (1935)
You object, "I beg your pardon. I watched a
game show followed by a situation comedy lastMURDER  BY  TELEVISION  (1935)
night." What we are really doing here is
paying performers to put on the only show we*THE  PHANTOM  EMPIRE  (1935)
want  to  see.
GABRIEL  OVER  THE  WHITE  HOUSE  (1933)
Finally, at the highest level of criticism,
we also simultaneously get the final verdictTHE  INVISIVIBLE  MAN  (1933)
on the media. We are watching Jesus get
crucified night after night in excruciatingKING  KONG  (1933)
detail, although we may not be consciously
aware of it. After decades of this, I thinkFRANKENSTEIN  (1932)
it is likely to catch up with us some day.
In other words, the lurid violence and evilISLAND  OF  LOST  SOULS  (1932)
we see depicted in the media may eventually
come  to  us  in  real  life.M  (1931)
In spite of the blanket condemnation of theBLUE  ANGEL  (1930)
last paragraph, I'm going to turn around and
list some movies. Ideally you should stayMETROPOLIS  (1926)
away. But the payoff is going to come to us
all, whether or not we individually may orTHE  LAST  LAUGH  (1924)
may not have watched. In the meantime,
perhaps we can use the opportunity to study*THE CRAZY RAY (aka PARIS QUI DORT)
both the overt and the subtle techniques(1923-Fr.)
being  employed.
THE  CABINET  OF  DR.  CALIGARI  (1919)
The primary genre to keep an eye on is
science fiction. As Susan Sontag said in theFILM  LIST
sixties, this is the genre of apocalypse and
mass destruction. Typically, as in theALIEN  (1979)
prototype FRANKENSTEIN (1932), a man attempts
to appropriate the prerogatives of GodATLANTIS,  THE  LOST  CONTINENT  (1961)
(technically blasphemy) and reaps madness and
disaster. These are rigidly moral parablesATTACK  OF  THE  50-FOOT  WOMAN  (1958)
where  retribution  is  swift  and  sure.
A  BEAUTIFUL  MIND  (2001)
Look, for example, at Rene Clair's THE CRAZY
RAY (1923) from the infancy of the industry.BEETLEJUICE  (1988)
The elements that were to become cliches with
decades of continuous repetition were alreadyBEING  THERE  (1979)
present. A mad scientist invents a ray
machine he constructs inside the Eiffel TowerBETTER  OFF  DEAD  (1985)
that turns the inhabitants of Paris into
stone statues. An aircraft initially out ofBEWITCHED  (2005)
range of the ray lands, and the passengers
are astonished when they disembark. OneBIG  (1988)
worthwhile principle of criticism is to pay
particular attention to the message of filmBLUE  ANGEL  (1930)
titles. In this example, the title might
bring to mind such questions as: "did theA  BOY  AND  HIS  DOG  (1975)
title mean the inventor was crazy? Or did the
ray have crazy effects? Or did the ray driveTHE  BOY  WHO  COULD  FLY  (1986)
people crazy, implying that to turn people to
stone  is  to  drive  them  mad?"THE  BRAIN  FROM  PLANET  AROUS  (1958)
A quite similar theme is presented in THEBROTHER  FROM  ANOTHER  PLANET  (1984)
VILLAGE OF THE DAMNED (1960) and its sequel
THE CHILDREN OF THE DAMNED (1964) (whatBRUCE  ALMIGHTY  (2003)
questions do these titles bring to mind?).
This time a mysterious influence seals off anTHE  CABINET  OF  DR.  CALIGARI  (1919)
entire village, the perpetrators in this case
being invading aliens. Here, as in THE CRAZYCAPRICORN  ONE  (1979)
RAY, a geographic area is temporarily
circumscribed. The females are impregnatedCAPTAIN  NEMO  AND THE UNDERWATER CITY (1970)
by the aliens and subsequently bear children
with glowing eyes and mysterious powers.CARRIE  (1976)
This aspect of the film echoes the tale in
the Book of Enoch of the fallen angels whoCHARLY  (1968)
descended to earth to mate with the women and
to  teach  forbidden  arts.CHICKEN  LITTLE  (2005)
Let me quickly note a few relevantCHICKEN  RUN  (2000)
characteristics of paranoid schizophrenia as
described by, for example, Norman O. Brown,CHILDREN  OF  THE  DAMNED  (1964)
Geza Roheim or Victor Tausk. The patient
believes evil entities such as aliens fromCLICK  (2006)
another world are secretly conspiring to do
him harm. The patient may believe hisCLOCKSTOPPERS  (2002)
enemies are employing physical equipment such
as beam projectors against him. He isA  CLOCKWORK  ORANGE  (1971)
subject to seeing hallucinations or hearing
voices attempting to guide his actionsCOBRA  WOMAN  (1944)
against his will. In THE NEXT VOICE YOU HEAR
(1950) normal radio broadcasts areCONSTANTINE  (2005)
interrupted for short periods each night, and
the cast seems to hear a message. ThisTHE  COURT  JESTER  (1956)
message seems to be more or less the Sermon
on the Mount. Was this the voice of God? IfTHE CRAZY RAY (aka PARIS QUI DORT) (1923-Fr.)
not,  what  was  it?
CREATOR  (1985)
Another frequent theme in science fiction is
the nomination of candidate (false) messiahs.THE  DAY  AFTER  TOMORROW  (2004)
I say false, since we are merely watching
actors playing a fictional role. A real lifeTHE  DAY  THE  EARTH  STOOD  STILL  (1951)
prototype of these characters if found would
not automatically thereby be a messiah. AnTHE  DEAD  ZONE  (1984)
example is THE MAN FROM PLANET X (1951),
which has an alien who is trapped and needsTHE  DEVIL  COMMANDS  (1941)
earthly  assistance.
THE  DEVIL  DOLL  (1936)
THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL (1951) (note
the title) offers another false messiah. AnTHE  DEVIL'S  RAIN  (1975)
alien descends in a saucer, takes on the
interesting name of Mr. Carpenter, is killedD.O.A.  (1950)
and resurrected three days later, etc. In
the case of this film, the extensiveDON'T  SAY  A  WORD  (2002)
analogies were conscious on the part of some
of the production people and were taken fromDROP DEAD FRED (1991) DR. GOLDFOOT AND THE
the  novel  on  which  the  film  is  based.BIKINI  MACHINE  (1965)
In the BRAIN FROM PLANET AROUS (1958) anDR.  GOLDFOOT  AND  THE  GIRL  BOMBS  (1966)
alienpossesses a scientist, who then embarks
on a mad quest to rule the world. It's myDR. STRANGELOVE: OR, HOW I LEARNED TO STOP
all time favorite movie. He has the power toWORRYING  AND  LOVE  THE  BOMB  (1964)
shoot airliners out of the sky with his eyes
while lauging maniacally. He causes megatonDREAMSCAPE  (1984)
exposions with no visible weapons in his
scheme for world domination. He's also a sexEARTH  GIRLS  ARE  EASY  (1988)
fiend. Ingmar Bergman's THE MAGICIAN (1958)
presents a rather dyspeptic false messiahELLA  ENCHANTED  (2004)
from a traveling carnival show. The messiah
of WHISTLE DOWN THE WIND (1962) (note theEND  OF  DAYS  (1999)
title) is a fugitive mistaken for Jesus when
discovered in their barn. When apprehendedESCAPE  FROM  NEW  YORK  (1981)
and frisked, he stretches his arms to form a
cross. THE FLIM FLAM MAN (1967) is a pettyEVAN  ALMIGHTY  (2007)
con artist living by his wits. CHARLY (1968)
is mentally retarded until chemicallyTHE  EXORCIST  (1973)
transformed into a supermind. In THE RULING
CLASS (1971), the candidate is an apparentFAHRENHEIT  451  (1967)
psychopath. THE OMEGA MAN (1971), a remake
of THE LAST MAN ON EARTH (1964), (note theFAHRENHEIT  9/11  (2004)
titles) offers another ersatz messiah. In
ZARDOZ (1973), the messiah figure is aFIELD  OF  DREAMS  (1987)
barbarian.
FINAL  (2002)
SKY CAPTAIN AND THE WORLD OF TOMORROW (2004)
has as the villan a man in his grave namedTHE  FINAL  CUT  (2004)
German Toden Kopf (Death's Head). He has
arranged to have a new Noah's ark built. AsTHE  FISHER  KING  (1990)
so often, the villan is the secret hero,
because here Sky Captain actually destroysFLESH  GORDON  (1974-X)
the Ark! HOLOCAUST 2000 (1978) (note the
prediction in the title) presents theFLIGHT  OF  THE  NAVIGATOR  (1986)
spectacle of Kirk Douglas wildly running up
and down the Middle Eastern oilfieldsTHE  FLIM  FLAM  MAN  (1967)
proclaiming the Ten Horns, etc. from the Book
of Revelation. The messiah of THE LAST WAVEFOOLS'  PARADE  (1971)
(1979) is an aboriginal witch doctor. In
BEING THERE (1979), a simple-minded gardenerFORBIDDEN  PLANET  (1956)
who can barely tie his bootlaces and happens
to be named Mr. Gardiner impresses theTHE  FORGOTTEN  (2004)
President as a sage. At the end of the film
he walks on water since no one has told himFORREST  GUMP  (1994)
this is impossible. A not very bright
academic in SIMON (1979) is prevailed upon toFRAILTY  (2002)
impersonate a spaceman. After a period of
rigorous mental brainwashing and physicalFRANKENSTEIN  (1932)
conditioning, Simon comes to believe that he
actually is an alien. He uses equipment thatGABRIEL  OVER  THE  WHITE  HOUSE  (1933)
interrupts regular television broadcasts when
he periodically wants to deliver messages.GHOSTBUSTERS  (1984)
Similarly, in RIDERS OF THE STORM (1986),
riders  on  a bomber interrupt TV broadcasts.GIANT  (1956)
Woody Allen's ZELIG (1984) features aGLADIATOR  (1998)
schizophrenic chameleon who supposedly
hobnobbed with the leading political figuresGODZILLA  (1956)
of the thirties. In the PURPLE ROSE OF CAIRO
(1985), also by Woody Allen, a larger thanGOG  (1954)
life hero steps out of the screen in a movie
theater and into the squalid life of a NewTHE  GREAT  ESCAPE  (1963)
Jersey housewife. CREATOR (1985) has a loony
college professor who is attempting toTHE  HANDMAID'S  TALE  (1990)
resurrect his dead wife. The students he
recruits for the project are lectured on theHEARTS  IN  ATLANTIS  (2002)
Big  Picture.
HIGH  PLAINS  DRIFTER  (1973)
Numerous other films with similar themes are
listed in the bibliography, but, due to spaceHOLOCAUST  2000  (1978)
limitations, I won't give further examples
here. Men play god in the movies, but doTHE  HOLY  MOUNTAIN  (1973)
they in real life? I point to such research
as genetic engineering, or the 'star wars'HOUSE  ON  HAUNTED  HILL  (1958)
project (laser weapons, beam projectors,
etc.) These devices were first predicted inI MARRIED A WITCH (1942) I MARRIED A MONSTER
science fiction, but always accompanied byFROM  OUTER  SPACE  (1958)
warnings we conveniently ignored that to
develop them would be to court disaster.I  WALKED  WITH  A  ZOMBIE  (1943)
Further, I will shortly point out that while
these films depict physical devices, suchTHE  IMPOSTER  (2002)
actual equipment is unnecessary to produce
the  effects  depicted.AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH (2006) INDEPENDENCE
DAY  (1996)
As for the entertainment industry, we pour
multiple billions into it year in and yearTHE  INSPECTOR  GENERAL  (1949)
out. For what we pay we get back
entertainment, but additionally, we also getINVADERS  FROM  MARS  (1953)
back social engineering that we didn't
necessarily ask for. I am by no meansINVASION  OF  THE  BODY  SNATCHERS  (1956)
suggesting a conscious conspiracy or
deliberate plot by Hollywood. TheTHE INVISIBLE (2007) THE INVISIBLE MAN
fundamental problem is again expressed by(1933)
McLuhan - the medium is the message. In
other words, inherent in the nature of theTHE  INVISIBLE  RAY  (1936)
images produced by the media is a latent
potential for subversion and ultimatelyISLAND  OF  LOST  SOULS  (1932)
destruction.
IT  CAME  FROM  OUTER  SPACE  (1953)
From this point to the end of the chapter, I
will again take up the list with which IJESUS  CHRIST,  SUPERSTAR  (1973)
began this chapter. Upon completing the
listing, I said each term was related to theKING  KONG  (1933)
term Mass Psychosis. I now claim we have
already had several actual episodes. TheKING  OF  HEARTS  (1966)
first, in late August 1973, lasted nearly two
weeks. It occurred during the WatergateK-PAX  (2002)
period and was done primarily by the
'hippies'. The April 1983 event occurredKRULL  (1983)
during the time of the American embassy
bombing in Lebanon. The October 1983 eventTHE  LAST  LAUGH  (1924)
occurred during the time of the Marine
barracks bombing in Lebanon. The most recentTHE  LAST  MAN  ON  EARTH  (1964)
event was the broadcast made while the Tower
of Babel 9-11 attack (World Trade Center) wasTHE  LAST  PICTURE  SHOW  (1971)
simultaneously taking place. These
broadcasts lasted only a day or so each andTHE  LAST  STARFIGHTER  (1984)
were  done  by  a  remnant handful of people.
THE  LAST  WAVE  (1979)
What is the Invisible Rain like when it is
falling? A person walking down the streetTHE  LATHE  OF  HEAVEN  (1980-PBS)
may stop for a second, look around
quizzically (what the #$*!), perhaps sniffLEGEND  (1985)
the air, and then continue on. You've lived
through  it  -  you  tell  me what it's like.LIFEFORCE  (1985)
A few comments to wrap up the chapter. TheseLILO  AND  STITCH  (2002)
events should not be referred to as a Flood,
because of God's promise in Genesis thatTHE  LODGER  (1944)
there would be no more Flood. The New
Testament imagery is always fire. I holdTHE  LONELY  GUY  (1984)
Margaret MacDonald's Secret Rapture
innovation of the nineteenth century correct,LOOSE  CANNONS  (1990)
since we now have hindsight on these
(multiple) events. There may or may not beLORD  OF  THE  FLIES  (1963)
more before the Messiah returns. After all,
no  one  can  predict  the  weather.THE  LOST  SKELETON  OF  CADAVRA  (2004)
CHAPTER  FOURM  (1931)
THE  MESSIAH  RETURNSTHE  MACHINIST  (2004)
I'll  begin  with  another  list:THE  MAGIC  CHRISTIAN  (1970)
THE SPACE COWBOY THE SKY MARSHAL OF THETHE  MAGICIAN  (1958)
UNIVERSE SKY KING KING OF THE ROCKET
MEN STARMAN THE LOST PLANET AIRMANMAKING  MR.  RIGHT  (1987)
THE MAN FROM INNER SPACE THE MORON FROM
OUTER SPACE THE DIVINE IDIOT THE MANTHE  MALTESE  FALCON  (1941)
WITH A THOUSAND FACES THE MIRROR MAN
THE INVISIBLE MAN THE THIN MAN THETHE  MAN  FROM  PLANET  X  (1951)
OMEGA MAN THE MYSTERY MAN THE MAN
WITH THE POWER THE MAN WITH THE POISONTHE  MAN  WITH  TWO  BRAINS  (1983)
MIND THE MEDICINE MAN THE RAINMAKER
THE FERTILITY KING WILD-EYED CHAMELEONTHE  MAN  WHO  COULD  WORK  MIRACLES  (1937)
THE JOKER THE DEMOLITION MAN BIG
BROTHERTHE  MAN  WHO  FELL  TO  EARTH  (1976)
Let me ask a few rhetorical questions. AreTHE  MANCHURIAN  CANDIDATE  (1962)
we perhaps involved in a real life version of
the children's game King of the Mountain inMARS  ATTACKS  (1996)
order to pick out the Messiah? Consider the
paranoid schizophrenic with delusions ofMARS  NEEDS  WOMEN  (1968)
grandeur or possibly what is diagnosed as a
messianic complex. What has this to do withMASS  APPEAL  (1985)
the Messiah? Am I suggesting the Messiah
will be merely a madman? Let me define aMASTER  OF  THE  WORLD  (1961)
fairy or Peter Pan. A fairy is
chronologically and physiologically an adultTHE  MATRIX  (1998)
but has refused to assume an adult identity
(ego) and has refused to take on adultMEN  IN  BLACK  (1997)
responsibility. A fairy more or less never
outgrows the omniscience, omnipotence andMEET MR.



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