I know bleep
We watched What the Bleep Do We Know last night (warning spoilers). They discussed quantum physics (sorta), the non-reality of the material world (it’s made up of thoughts), and brain pathways and receptors.
The ‘experts’ presented exaggerated theories with no evidence. Then like smoke in a magic show, the viewers were sent zooming down neon neuron tunnels. Cue lighting and thunder sounds. The experts had plenty of gray hair and glasses, and were therefore smart. To appeal to a broader audience, they even popped in a swollen, aged blond bombshell that said a lot of words ‘profoundly’ but made little sense. At the end we find out she was ‘channeling someone.’
This was weaved in with Marlee Matlin’s overacted anger. Her husband had cheated, so she resented the world, popped anti-anxiety pills and had some predictable self esteem problems. Marlee rolls her eyes a lot, plays alternative reality basketball with a 10 year-old Yoda kid, and sees cartoon cells instead of wedding guests. When it’s all too much, she aggressively pounds a toothpaste tube (no!) and punches the mirror while yelling ‘I hate you!’ Then hysterical laughter and she uses her light blue eyeliner to draw hearts and soft squiggly lines all over her body (symbolizing her love for herself in case you didn’t get that).
This was abstract to cover the complete lack of a coherent theory. It’s sad, because there is a fascinating story about the elasticity of the brain. I liked a few points they made. Like how repeating negative behavior/thinking actually strengthens the neural pathways, making it more likely you will act that way the next time. Breaking the habit requires interrupting the signal over and over again, until the connection is weakened. Or that all memories have emotions tied to them – and rather then avoid a place that has negative associations, you should return, and develop positive ones. Maybe they didn’t even say that…?
Not recommended.
The ‘experts’ presented exaggerated theories with no evidence. Then like smoke in a magic show, the viewers were sent zooming down neon neuron tunnels. Cue lighting and thunder sounds. The experts had plenty of gray hair and glasses, and were therefore smart. To appeal to a broader audience, they even popped in a swollen, aged blond bombshell that said a lot of words ‘profoundly’ but made little sense. At the end we find out she was ‘channeling someone.’
This was weaved in with Marlee Matlin’s overacted anger. Her husband had cheated, so she resented the world, popped anti-anxiety pills and had some predictable self esteem problems. Marlee rolls her eyes a lot, plays alternative reality basketball with a 10 year-old Yoda kid, and sees cartoon cells instead of wedding guests. When it’s all too much, she aggressively pounds a toothpaste tube (no!) and punches the mirror while yelling ‘I hate you!’ Then hysterical laughter and she uses her light blue eyeliner to draw hearts and soft squiggly lines all over her body (symbolizing her love for herself in case you didn’t get that).
This was abstract to cover the complete lack of a coherent theory. It’s sad, because there is a fascinating story about the elasticity of the brain. I liked a few points they made. Like how repeating negative behavior/thinking actually strengthens the neural pathways, making it more likely you will act that way the next time. Breaking the habit requires interrupting the signal over and over again, until the connection is weakened. Or that all memories have emotions tied to them – and rather then avoid a place that has negative associations, you should return, and develop positive ones. Maybe they didn’t even say that…?
Not recommended.
at
10:29 AM
2 Comments:
I also wondered about that film, thanks for the tip. The idea of negative habits becoming stronger neural pathways is a little scary. I'm going to think twice next time I pick my toosies.
By
Anonymous, at 9/20/2006 9:31 AM
ugh, that was the most painful to watch movie. It seemed to have been made by someone who dropped out of both film school, and graduate school in science.
By
Anonymous, at 9/22/2006 12:50 PM
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