Dear Avid Reader,
Gene Roddenberry believed that the world in the future was free from poverty. And if that is true, that means we would free from time most wasting activities, because all our needs would be met.
And then I could leave early from work.
He's Gonna Be A Fry Cook On Venus
Everyone is going to die. Yes. Everyone. But let's continue with the blog anyway.
Ernest Becker wrote on the topic of death anxiety. He thought that all human endeavors were driven by humanity's awareness that they would one day die. Making a car, turning in homework, applauding a really good taco, all because we are doomed. That's a lot of work staving off death. That's why Ferris invites us to take a day off.
You Realize If We Played By The Rules Right Now We'd Be In Gym?
Usually when someone blows the cover off a scam, it ends the scam. This jig is up. But the great thing about Ferris Bueller is that it may have actually made it more acceptable. America owes John Huges a debt of gratitude.
Obviously kids have been scamming parents into letting them stay home from school and chores for time immemorial. But when kids saw Ferris pulling the same crap, it made the whole act of cutting school seem heroic. He plotted and planned. He showed us that we needed to give parents the fantasy they wanted so that he could live the fantasy that he wanted. It was all part of a game, and he invited audiences to become masters.
Never Had One Lesson
Those scheming kids learned well. Even Bueller could not fool his parents too often and explained that may have to "barf up a lung" in order to take another sick day. Now savvy in the ways of occasionally skipping out on responsibility, the kids applied their art to college and then to jobs. As they grew up their careers grew alongside them.Those kids became bosses and teachers. What would happen when confronted with skipping from their subordinates and students? Would they become the new Rooneys of the world?
I think they have engaged in another path. Look no further than the film itself. Don't fight it...embrace it.
Anyone? Anyone?
Jeannie is the unsung character of Ferris Bueller. Ferris is the goal, he is what the audience aspires to be. Typically the audience identifies with Cameron, the reluctant friend who, despite being as skilled at deceit, lacks the courage to do the awesome things that Ferris can. The movie provides hope for the Camerons. They too can become Ferris, they need only confront their fears. A happy ending for all, or so it seems.
The movie also accounts for the Jeannies. The Jeannies are those that are jealous of Ferris. They are the rule-followers. They want justice. They work hard and Ferris and his ilk do half the work and get off scot-free. Jeannies want to punish Ferris. And in true Ferris fashion, the movie attempts to charm these line-toers and asks them a simple question: seriously?
They Think He's A Righteous Dude
The answer to the question should be "absolutely not". And the reason is that in the end you die. There is no way around it. And only life/death problems should be taken seriously. The Camerons take life too seriously and the Jeannies take themselves too seriously. And like Cameron, Jeannie must come to a decision. They must face the doomed nature of their existence, realize that all of culture is an extension of a fear of death, let go of desire to conform to that culture, as it is ultimately meaningless, and join in the playing of Ferris's game. The only path to peace is to unclench the fists of desire and begin to dance.
The beautiful dance.
Until Next I Blog,
James
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