I am a huge fan of Shyamalan for many different reasons. He never ceases to create a movie that is artistically brilliant and thought provoking: the two common denominators for my favorite movies! I recently saw The Happening with my brother. Though my jaw hurt from grinding my teeth during the entire film, and I refused to give my mother a synopsis of the movie unless she turned more lights on in the house, my brain was quite happy feasting on the philosophical ideas and themes.
Theme 1: An Epistemological Critique on a Post-Enlightenment culture.
For those of you who lead normal lives and do not read Plato's Complete Works for your quiet times, let me explain a major epistemological shift in the history of thought. Pre- Enlightenment, the way one knew something for certain was through reason. Senses were understood as being decieving and untrustworthy for certain knowledge. Post-Enlightenment, and the influeces of Hume, Bacon, etc., it is impossible to know something unless you can hear, taste, touch, see, or smell it. Scientific experimental theory developed and empiricim has reigned ever since. In Shyamalan's movie, the main characters all have empirical occupations. One is a mathematician, another is a high school science teacher. They all find their comfort and explanation of reality in scientific theories and mathematical equations. In the story, there is such an unexplained catastrophe that occurs, that the math and science guy seem completely ludicrus as they are not only unable to stop what is going on, but also are unable to understand what is going on. In one scene, to keep a lady from freaking out at the sight of dead bodies everywhere, the math guy says, "look at me! look at me! I'm going to give you a math equasion that I want you to figure out. If I give you a penny one day and two pennies the next day and three pennies the third day and continue for a month, how many pennies will you have?" As they are attempting to focus on math to gain some type of security, they too die a horrible and futile death at the hand of something they cannot understand or explain.
Theme 2: This World Unseen
In light of the epistemological message Shyamalan promotes, one would think he would point his viewers toward a transcendent reality by which absolute, rational knowledge of the metaphysical realm is possible. However, this director most certainly points not to the "other world" but to this world unseen. The "spirit of nature" prevails and has the ability to overpower mankind. Nature is one within itself. The rocks, trees, and grass can communicate with each other. (I mean, you don't see the trees talking to the grass in the movie, but the message is explained that they are one.) There is some force within this world that has complete power over man and scoffs in the face of their method of security: empiricism.
Theme 3: Environmentalism
Another theme clearly displayed is envoronmentalism and the threat humanity has on nature. In fact, this theme is so prevalent that it gives away the movie in the first 10 minutes. Humans are the invaders and nature, who is able to evolve as necessary to protect herself, has come to the place where she is able to expell the rising threat. Though I am quickly becoming a theologically justified "green freak," I think Shyamalan's environmental message based on the forces of this world unseen is flawed. Nature being a spirit and a unified whole seeking to expell humanity is clearly based on a Moby Dick mentality that we are at the mercy of nature. (except, the humans don't prevail in this case.) Many evangelicals view mankind as the dominator of nature. The proper perspective is not to view nature as the dominator of man but man as the steward of nature. Part of becoming Christ-like is also taking part in his redeeming of creation, whether that be care of the earth or care of the suffering.
Overall impression? Wonderful movie, intellectual-candy, artistic brilliance. Just make sure you are prepared for a very post-modern ending (aka: forget Aristotle's notion of resolution or "happily ever after") and it might be a good idea to immediately follow it up with a mindless comedy of some sort - just until your jaw stops hurting and you don't use a coat hanger to flip on the light switches before you enter a room.
No comments:
Post a Comment