tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7294499213897153104.post5699303119066996207..comments2024-03-27T09:00:32.195-05:00Comments on The Signal Watch: Sci-Fi Watch: The Time Machine (1960)The Leaguehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04836241071795980225noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7294499213897153104.post-15153467862356395082012-09-30T21:10:55.497-05:002012-09-30T21:10:55.497-05:00Yeah. I think he actually believed in some form o...Yeah. I think he actually believed in some form of world government. So much of the literature of his day reflected an optimism that scientific rationalism would be the driving force of history. Based on the way science and technology was re-making the world in the 19th century, it's no wonder. A lot of stories by H.P. Lovecraft are written around a character who is a good early 20th century rationalist, who when faced with some supernatural, otherworldly horror, can't handle and comes apart at the seams. I think it's a reaction of sorts to the views held by Wells. <br /><br />Wells also wrote a very popular and exhaustive book of human history book called "The Outline of History." Probably has some clues to views as well. "The Time Machine" is a tiny book. I've had a copy on my bookshelf for years. High time I dug into it.Jake Shorehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00124378230594689452noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7294499213897153104.post-46586641014659817722012-09-30T12:43:02.718-05:002012-09-30T12:43:02.718-05:00That's very, very interesting. And you can see...That's very, very interesting. And you can see how in 1900, before history caught up with us, why, as they say, mistakes were made. The breakdown of the George character in the face of Eloi led to the fatting pen of the Morlocks in the context of the movie, is a fascinating character moment. Curiously, I think the film reads as a prescription for remaining deeply distrustful of simply falling back on an unthinking submission to any authority, be it state or sphinx head blaring its siren. If that reflects the novel, that's a curious twist as it seems that Wells' idea of authority may have been those with the control of society as perceived in his day, versus the pervasive view in our day, which is to be mistrustful of a massive government structure. <br /><br />Hmmm. May need to read that book.The Leaguehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04836241071795980225noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7294499213897153104.post-1091192242163599672012-09-30T04:35:30.058-05:002012-09-30T04:35:30.058-05:00Great movie. I've been putting off getting th...Great movie. I've been putting off getting this one on dvd for too long. As far as Wells, I know he was a self described socialist (he even admired Stalin). He had a very dim view of humanity (as the film clearly shows), which is why he saw the state as necessary to keep us from barbarism. And he also believed in Eugenics, which sparked an ongoing debate with G.K. Chesterton.<br /><br />Not my kind of guy, but definitely a man of his time; someone saw the ascendancy of science and rationalism as the basis for organizing society.Jake Shorehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00124378230594689452noreply@blogger.com