Re: Gee Whiz - Alan - Films/DVD Asylum

Re: Gee Whiz

65.114.77.131

Posted by Alan on July 11, 2001 at 17:08:23

In Reply to: Gee Whiz posted by Troy on July 11, 2001 at 12:00:13:

All I can say is that my personal and clinical impression of families is that the worst of them are destructive, and the best of them are a neurotic mess. The "hugs" thing is just a metaphorical way of stating that, again in my opinion, nobody gets the childhood they deserve. (Besides, how did this get to be my thing, you started it with the mommy didn't hug me enough comment.) In further thinking about the David character in A.I. he exhibits exactly the neurotic neediness that pretty much all of us have. But we're humans, we develop physically and intellectually, but to some degree never emotionally and we act out our neurotic neediness in adult ways. David was not provided the capacity to develop beyond his childish neediness. He's stuck in it. Why? Because we (adults, parents, society) MADE HIM THAT WAY! The movie is simply pointing this out. You're right, the excuse that problems are generated by the external stimuli is simplistic crap. Those of my cohort saw more violence on TV in a week than kids today see in a month.

One other point about the movie. Many have made the biological son of the couple out to be the villan in the movie, and take issue that it's a cheap shot by SS. The kid is clearly not the villan, he's just a regular human child on his way to adulthood, learning all the tricks from his parents and the culture. And the ending isn't about tear jerking, it doesn't matter who the aliens are, how they got there, who they decended from, or any of that. As I said in my first post, it's only to remind us that, in the end, it's always about the parents, it's never about the kids. Who cares about the format?

I think the reason why we have this disagreement is more our difference of philosophy than anything else. Sorry, but I think you give parents too much credit. I think the culture gives parents too much credit. But then, the culture is parents, and what are they gonna say...I suck? In fact most of my work is not with "bad cases" but with families that would be seen by outside observers, neighbors, fellow church goers, as healthy models for the community. And they're a sick neurotic mess.

Good discussion though, despite what Dr. Freud says. Sorry if I went at the quality of the previous posts the way I did. Just a little pissed off I guess. I am, after all a fellow needy neurotic adult. I was made that way.

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Follow Ups Full Thread

Topic - A.I. - Alan 21:24:24 07/10/01 (29)

Re: A.I. - TAFKA Steve 17:59:41 07/11/01 (7)

Re: A.I. - caa 23:55:44 07/11/01 (6)

Re: A.I. - Alan 09:46:53 07/12/01 (5)

Re: A.I. - caa 19:00:13 07/12/01 (0)

Re: A.I. - Dr. Freud 14:39:55 07/12/01 (1)

Well spelled again Doc. - Alan 12:34:19 07/13/01 (0)

"My parents made me eat liver." - clarkjohnsen 11:14:01 07/12/01 (1)

Re: "My parents made me eat liver." - Jeff Starrs 11:19:16 07/12/01 (0)

response (includes spoilers) - tunenut 13:08:29 07/11/01 (3)

Re: response (includes spoilers) - Randy Bey 22:45:12 07/11/01 (2)

a further explanation - tunenut 14:36:56 07/12/01 (0)

I guess you liked the ending as is - tunenut 00:35:39 07/12/01 (0)

Well, thanks for a new take on it... - Ed M 11:00:53 07/11/01 (1)

Thanks Ed...NM. - Alan 17:18:04 07/11/01 (0)

Jeepers - Troy 23:58:32 07/10/01 (15)

Your comments on Alan are uncalled-for. - clarkjohnsen 10:57:03 07/11/01 (2)

Thanks Clark....NM - Alan 17:19:01 07/11/01 (0)

Sure they are! - Troy 11:31:18 07/11/01 (0)

Jeepers Creepers - Alan 08:30:25 07/11/01 (10)

Re: Jeepers Creepers - Dr. Freud 13:00:18 07/11/01 (3)

Very deep Doc. - Alan 17:20:37 07/11/01 (2)

Re: Very deep Doc. - Dr. Freud 19:22:02 07/11/01 (1)

Basic Adult Education - Alan 21:44:53 07/11/01 (0)

Gee Whiz - Troy 12:00:13 07/11/01 (4)

Re: Gee Whiz - Alan 17:08:23 07/11/01 (3)

Everybody's sick - Bruce from DC 11:33:03 07/12/01 (1)

Re: Everybody's sick - Alan 13:59:43 07/12/01 (0)

Philosophy and Mental Onanism - Dr. Freud 17:38:08 07/11/01 (0)

Re: Maybe you should wait.. - Jeff Starrs 09:52:16 07/11/01 (0)

Follow Ups

Re: Gee Whiz - Alan 17:08:23 07/11/01 (3)

Everybody's sick - Bruce from DC 11:33:03 07/12/01 (1)

Re: Everybody's sick - Alan 13:59:43 07/12/01 (0)

Philosophy and Mental Onanism - Dr. Freud 17:38:08 07/11/01 (0)

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