From Carolyn

In Continuing The Grande Quoting Tradition of Carolyn Marcello:

“Human beings are funny. They long to be with the person they love but refuse to admit openly. Some are afraid to show even the slightest sign of affection because of fear. Fear that their feelings may not be recognized, or even worst, returned. But one thing about human beings puzzles me the most is their conscious effort to be connected with the object of their affection even if it kills them slowly within.”

Sigmund Freud

Documentarians are supposed to be objective to avoid having any effect on the story, and yet we have more effect than anyone because we decide to tell it. And we decide how it ends. Will your story be yet another sad one of yet another man who just wanted to be happy? Or will your story acknowledge the very nature of stories and embrace the fact that sharing the sad ones can sometimes make them happy.

Abed

Also, a final wrap up on EII and ELIC

A while ago I mentioned to Schieffelin that Alex reminds me a lot of the Tarot card The Fool, and since we finished ELIC I must of course add Oskar to this comparison. This card is usually numbered 0, which represents both the infinite number of choices that lie before The Fool as well as completion or wholeness; he knows who he is and that is enough. The numerology also indicates that the Fool is “somehow outside of society” and separated from the norm, for Alex his inability to communicate and express himself truly, for Oskar his grief and inward turned frustration and longing. In the same way that Alex’ and Oskar’ story of growth and change comes to light throughout the journey along the Tarot deck.

The Fool is depicted dancing dangerously close to the edge of a crumbling cliff, carelessly gamboling about. He is accompanied by a small dog (Sammy Davis Jr., Jr. and sorta Buckminster) either dancing with him or ripping the seat of his pants off (Coppertone Girl anyone?). The Fool wears “chameleon” like clothing in order to show how he can replace another card and to represent his status as a trouble-maker and balance up setter. Alex and Oskar hide their feelings and emotions so as not to further harm their families and often adopt masks in order to make their relations happier or more at ease.

The Fool is a blend of the spiritual and physical: he searches for Truth and Meaning and “trusts in the Universe to provide him with whatever he needs” while still holding onto Earthly values. In Arthurian legend The “Perfect Fool” was Sir Percival, or the innocent, who “could ask the questions no one else would, because he didn’t know he shouldn’t”(awkward Oskar/Alex moments). Always “thinking about right now“ isn’t very much like Alex or Oskar, but their dreamer-esque attitudes seem to draw parallels. He can break rules because he doesn’t know they’re there, but this can lead to disaster if one is not careful.

The Fool searches, but does not always like what he finds; changes, but does not wish to change; lives and suffers and acts and is a contradiction and a process. I think that sums up.