Week 11 Flashcards
What political commentary does Pink Floyd’s “Animals” album provide?
A biting critique of British society in the 1970s during political unrest between Tory, Liberal, Conservative, and Labour parties. The album uses animal symbolism to represent different social classes and political figures
How is Pink Floyd’s “Animals” connected to George Orwell’s work?
It serves as an homage to Orwell’s “Animal Farm,” using similar animal allegory to critique society and power structures. Both works show how revolutionary ideals can be corrupted.
What is the central message of Orwell’s “Animal Farm”?
It demonstrates how revolutionary movements can become corrupted, with revolutionary leaders (the pigs) eventually becoming as bad or worse than those they overthrew, exemplified by the phrase “All animals are equal, but some are more equal than others.”
How do Orwell’s “Animal Farm” and “1984” complement each other thematically?
Both works focus on socio-political commentary. “Animal Farm” uses animal allegory to show the corruption of revolutionary ideals, while “1984” examines surveillance and control in a totalitarian state. Both warn about power corruption.
What is the central question posed in the “FUTURE?” regarding “Children of Men”?
“Is there one?” - questioning whether a society without the possibility of new births (children) can have a future at all.
How does the scene with Theo and Nigel illustrate the film’s commentary on apathy?
Nigel represents absolute apathy and non-accountability to the world’s problems despite living comfortably. When Theo asks how he deals with everything happening, Nigel responds, “I just don’t think about it,” showing the loss of moral imagination in society.
How does “Children of Men” connect the absence of children with the absence of future?
The film equates the inability to have children with the loss of future, suggesting that without new generations, society loses its moral imagination, ethical framework, and reason to care about what happens beyond individual lifespans.
What does the flying pig in the window symbolize in the conversation between Theo and Nigel?
It symbolizes the disconnection between the comfortable elite (Nigel) and the chaotic reality outside. The pig serves as an ironic reminder of the Pink Floyd allegory - the business/political class (pigs) floating above and detached from societal problems.
What does the central philosophical question “Is there a future, or is this a TIME OF END?” explore?
whether we can conceptualize our present moment as having a future or if we’re experiencing an apocalyptic predisposition.
Can a moment contain both a future and a time of end?
yes, suggesting that these seemingly contradictory states can coexist.
Why does the professor suggest we consider these concepts (a moment contains both a future and a time of end) experientially?
understanding these abstract concepts requires reflecting on how we experience time and endings in our lived reality
What quote from Children of Men (2006) illustrates the loss of hope in a world without a future?
“Since women stopped being able to have babies, what’s left to hope for?” This quote encapsulates how the absence of reproduction (future generations) leads to a loss of hope and meaning.
What is the relationship between the end of the future and a “time of end” according to slide 26?
“WHEN THE FUTURE ENDS, IT’S A TIME OF END.” This suggests that the absence of a perceivable future creates an apocalyptic predisposition or a time of revelation of a pending eschatological event.
What is the “centripetal force” concept, and how does it relate to Children of Men?
The centripetal force refers to the government’s policy in the book of forcing people to move into city centers for easier resource distribution. This was accompanied by the systematic elimination of people over 60 (the “quietus regulation”) to conserve resources for younger generations.
How does Jasper’s character represent a form of rebellion in Children of Men?
Jasper, who is over 60 and lives in a remote area, represents active rebellion against the government’s centripetal force policy. His isolation and lifestyle (including the chess board symbolizing infinite possibilities) demonstrate resistance to the societal collapse into apathy.
How does the film Children of Men exemplify a “time of end”?
Children of Men depicts a world “soaking in end-ness” where humanity faces extinction through infertility, yet society continues in a state of slow decline rather than immediate destruction. The world exists in anticipation of an end that is coming but hasn’t fully arrived.
How does Melancholia serve as both a “time of end” and an “end of time”?
Melancholia features both states: first as characters await the approaching planet (time of end/apocalyptic predisposition), and then when the actual collision occurs (end of time/eschatological event). It shows both the anticipation and the actual end.
What are the two frames or ways of experiencing a “Time of End”?
1) “A rushing to the exits” - where everything happens quickly and chaotically; and 2) “A time of museums” - where change has stopped, people no longer look forward but instead look back slowly and pensively, with a feeling of wistfulness (defined as “full of yearning or desire tinged with melancholy”).
How does Mulholland Drive exemplify a “Time of End”?
In Mulholland Drive, the character Diane experiences a personal “Time of End” where she has lost all hope and is incapable of anticipating a future for herself. Though the world hasn’t ended, her individual focus and sense of future possibility has been lost, creating a subjective experience of a “Time of End.”
What does “wistful” mean in the context of a “Time of Museums”?
“Wistful” means “full of yearning or desire tinged with melancholy.” In the context of a “Time of Museums,” it describes the emotional state of looking back at the past with longing and sadness, characteristic of a slower, more reflective experience of a “Time of End.”
How does Blade Runner (1982) represent a “Time of End”?
In Blade Runner, Roy Batty experiences a personal “Time of End” as his entire existence is limited to just 4 years. He’s been created to burn intensely and is always hurtling toward his death from the moment of his creation. This represents a predetermined, rigged future where the end is always imminent.
How does the scene with Theo and Nigel exemplify the concept of “Time of End”?
- Represents the “Time of Museums” aspect of a “Time of End.”
- Nigel lives comfortably amidst art restoration but displays complete apathy toward the world’s problems, saying “I just don’t think about it.”
- He represents those who hoard the past without giving it meaning, showing how moral imagination has vaporized in society.
- Theo’s conversation with Nigel highlights the contrast between those who still seek meaning and those who have surrendered to apathy.
What does the Guernica painting symbolize in Children of Men?
- Symbolizes the “Time of Museums” concept.
- It depicts the violence of war, but is now just a preserved artifact with no active meaning for Nigel.
- “a not-so-subtle statement that history is messy and progress involves periods of doubt and question.”
- The painting serves as background to Nigel’s apathy, showing how even powerful symbols of human suffering have been reduced to mere decorations in this “Time of End.”
What does the graffiti “Last one to die, please turn off the light” (slide 46) represent in the film?
- Represents the quiet desperation and resignation of people waiting for the end to come
- The ‘please’ in the middle symbolizes a society that has accepted its inevitable extinction and is just waiting for history to end
- This passive waiting contrasts with the more chaotic “rushing to the exits” frame of a “Time of End” and exemplifies the slow, excruciating decline depicted in Children of Men.
How do the train scenes contribute to the film’s portrayal of a “Time of End”?
The train scenes show people in “quiet desperation” passively waiting for the end. The screens above acknowledge “a slow and painful unfolding of disasters” while proclaiming that “only Britain soldiers on.” This propaganda suggests Britain is being protected from the “scourge of immigrants,” which the director uses to comment on anti-immigrant sentiment. The confined space of the train represents the limited horizons of a society that has lost hope for the future.
What do the cages containing immigrants symbolize in Children of Men?
- Symbolize the human condition in this “Time of End” - a world without hope or future
- “all the cages look the same wherever you see them,” representing the universal experience of despair and lack of freedom. The treatment of immigrants in cages is a direct critique of anti-immigrant policies and xenophobia. The director uses these images to comment on the dehumanization that occurs when society loses its moral imagination and sense of future.
What does the scene with Theo looking out the window at Kee represent?
Theo looking resigned and darkened, gazing through broken, dirty glass, symbolizing his initially hopeless perspective. The professor noted that in the distance (though not clearly visible in this slide), Kee can be seen by a swing set, representing a distant possibility of hope. The contrast between Theo’s darkened figure and the potential for hope in the distance creates a visual representation of the film’s central question: Is there still a future in this “Time of End”?
What is the significance of Jasper’s wife and Kee in relation to different timelines?
Represents two different relationships to time. Jasper’s wife (the older woman) represents the past - she was a journalist who exposed truths in dangerous times but was attacked and now exists in a static, unresponsive state. Kee (in yellow) represents the future - she carries the unborn child that embodies possibility and hope. Their juxtaposition in the same frame highlights the film’s exploration of different temporal perspectives: looking backward versus looking forward, stasis versus potential.
How does Fukuyama’s “end of history” relate to the concept of “time of end” in Children of Men?
Both represent slow, excruciating decline rather than sudden apocalypse; history has “ended” but people continue living
How does the course define “the future”?
The future is what we don’t know yet. It lives in, as, and through the question mark
What are two ways films convey the idea of future possibility?
1) Through technological advances and brilliant discoveries, and 2) Through the unborn child as a symbol
What dual nature does technology have in representing the future in film?
Technology represents progress and possibility but also has an ominous side that can threaten humanity
How does the unborn child function as a symbol in film?
As a temporal device representing all future possibilities, change, and hope
How does the unborn child in “Daughters of the Dust” represent the future?
She serves as a connection between generations, representing everything that hasn’t happened yet
Why is the “nightmare” reference significant in relation to technology and the future?
It suggests that technological futures can be threatening and dystopian rather than utopian.
What does welcoming a child symbolize in religious and film contexts?
Welcoming the child is equivalent to welcoming the future itself. The child represents possibility and hope.
How does film use the unborn child as a temporal device?
The unborn child functions as a temporal device in the poetic universe, connecting generations and representing what hasn’t happened yet within the sacred space of film.
What are the two disciplinary perspectives from which the unborn child can be studied?
The unborn child can be studied from both religious perspectives and socio-political perspectives (politics, economics, society)
What makes the unborn child a “definitional site” in film?
The unborn child represents all change and possibility, serving as the definitional site for potential futures and justice for future generations
What does “spend now; invest in the future” suggest about the unborn child as a symbol?
It suggests that our present actions and investments are made for the benefit of future generations, with the unborn child embodying that future potential
What religious imagery is referenced in the slides about the unborn child?
the angel Gabriel announcing to Mary that she will bear a child, connecting to the theme of unexpected birth and divine revelation
What does “flipping the script” mean in relation to the unborn child?
It refers to inverting traditional perspectives about children and beginnings, challenging viewers to reconsider how we understand potential, possibility, and the future
How does the concept of the unborn child relate to moral imagination?
The unborn child enables moral imagination by giving us reason to plan, hope, and take responsibility for creating a better world for those who will come after us
What does “Omega” symbolize in Children of Men?
- the last letter of the Greek alphabet, symbolizing the end
- “Omegas” refers to the last generation of children born before global infertility, representing the end of humanity rather than new beginnings.
Why is the concept of “children as lasts” problematic?
It inverts the natural order where children represent beginnings and hope. The film suggests “something is wrong” when children symbolize endings rather than future possibilities.
How do crowds react to images of Baby Diego in the film?
They’re transfixed by images of the baby rather than the 18-year-old who died, showing society’s nostalgia for a time when they had faith in the future. This scene anticipates social media’s ability to distract people from engaging with each other.
Why is the child described as “not yet defined”?
Unlike adults who are defined by their past, the child represents pure potential and openness to all possibilities, contrasting with a world where people believe “it’s all over.”
What power does bearing possibility confer in dark times?
To bear possibility (like Kee’s pregnancy) in a hopeless world is to wield messianic power - the ability to restore hope and meaning to society when all seems lost
How does the film connect control of children to control of the future?
he film suggests that controlling reproduction and children (as seen in works like The Handmaid’s Tale) is an attempt to control what people can imagine about the future, representing an extraordinary form of power
How does Theo’s character transform in relation to the child?
Theo moves from apathy and alcoholic stupor to having his moral imagination enabled by Kee’s pregnancy. The possibility of new life breaks him out of his apathy and gives his life meaning and direction.
What does the crowd’s reaction to seeing Kee with her baby represent?
It represents a moment of revelation that transcends language barriers and stops violence. The unexpected presence of new life creates a sense of awe and quietness, fulfilling a prophetic moment that people struggle to find words for
Who is P.D. James and what was her approach to “Children of Men”?
- wrote “Children of Men” (1992)
- She approached the story from a Christian perspective, exploring what would happen to society after universal infertility
- The book became “something of a Christian fable,” though she hadn’t initially set out to write one.
How does the novel “Children of Men” differ from the film adaptation?
takes a more humanist perspective compared to the novel’s Christian themes. The director didn’t read the full book (only a synopsis) and updated the story for contemporary audiences, focusing more on immigration and social issues
What does the Pietà sculpture symbolize in relation to “Children of Men”?
The Pietà (showing Mary holding the dead Jesus) symbolizes the “culture of death” that develops in a world without births (2009-2027). It represents grief and loss in a society without new life, contrasting with the hope that emerges with Kee’s pregnancy
How is revelation portrayed in the scene where Kee and her baby appear during battle?
The scene portrays revelation as a moment of awe that transcends language barriers. The unexpected appearance of a baby after years of infertility creates a profound silence and sense of wonder, momentarily halting the violence as people struggle to comprehend what they’re seeing.
What is the significance of Theo’s name in “Children of Men”?
evokes “theology.” It symbolizes his transformation from total apathy to a rebirth of hope and purpose. His character arc represents the journey from resignation to having a mission and vocation
What does the “hinge” metaphor represent in relation to revelation?
The “hinge” represents a pivotal moment of new revelation that changes everything. Like a physical hinge that allows a door to open to new possibilities, a revelatory experience opens one’s perspective to new understandings and directions, fundamentally altering their worldview.
What does “The Human Project” symbolize in Children of Men?
It symbolizes hope for the future and acts as a stand-in for religion itself. It represents belief in something unseen that might offer salvation, despite limited evidence of its existence.
How does “The Human Project” function as a religious concept?
It creates a religious response to revelation, offering structure and explanation during intense moments of uncertainty. People look to it for hope when faced with the end of humanity.
What elements are associated with the concept of “Future” in Children of Men?
Future is associated with planning, birth, hope, imagination, and “a world.” These elements together create the possibility for what is new
How does the future enable moral imagination?
gives people reason to care for others, make plans, and hope for something better. Without a future, moral imagination vaporizes, leading to apathy and lack of accountability
What is “The Golden Package” in the context of the film?
It’s the part of the “moment of now” that remains open to all possibility. The child/baby represents the manifestation of this idea
How does the concept of “The Golden Package” relate to hope?
represents the potential for something extraordinary to happen even in a seemingly hopeless world. Every moment contains the possibility of unexpected revelation
What is Derrida’s critique of the “moment of now”?
Derrida suggests the “now” is always already divided, constituted by traces of the past and anticipation of the future, making it impossible to grasp as a pure, isolated moment
How is the future represented in “Do The Right Thing”?
The future exists in “actions not yet taken, in decisions not yet made.” It emphasizes ethical choices in the present moment that shape what’s to come
What ethical principle does “Do The Right Thing” suggest about future-oriented action?
It suggests doing the right thing in the present moment, even without knowing the immediate outcome, because it’s the right way to act. Ethical behavior requires a concept of the future
How does “Everything Everywhere All At Once” challenge Western concepts of time?
It presents time as simultaneous and multiversal rather than linear and teleological, suggesting infinite possible timelines existing at once rather than a single future
What are the three perspectives on the future?
1) Ending/No change in direction is anticipated, 2) Static/No Change, and 3) Futured/Hope - the possibility that there might be something to hope for that we can imagine
How does ethical behavior relate to the concept of future in the film?
Ethical behavior requires a concept of the future. The film questions whether linear, teleological time is necessary for ethics or if ethics can exist in a simultaneous, infinite multiverse.
What is “Quietus” in the context of Children of Men?
A government-sponsored suicide pill marketed as giving people control over when they die in a world without hope for the future
How does the government market Quietus to the population?
As a form of agency and control - suggesting that while everything else is out of control, individuals can still control when they die
What does Quietus reveal about society’s response to a world without children?
It shows how hopelessness leads to viewing death as preferable to living in a world without future generations, reflecting the collapse of moral imagination
What does the burning cow scene symbolize in Children of Men?
Environmental degradation as a potential cause of infertility, suggesting that humanity’s mistreatment of the environment has led to the crisis, contrasting with P.D. James’s Christian perspective of divine punishment.
What symbolism is present in the barn scene with Kee?
It symbolically connects to nativity imagery - Kee is pregnant in a barn surrounded by cows, representing hope and new life in humble circumstances, activating religious themes from a humanist perspective
How does unexpected revelation relate to knowledge creation?
Unexpected revelations bring questions about known truths, creating space where new knowledge must be developed, often requiring new vocabulary as old language cannot account for what has come to be
What does Julian’s character represent in terms of responses to revelation?
Rebellion - she actively works against the system, helping Kee and committing what could be considered “religious acts” even if not conventionally religious
What is the significance of Julian being bathed in yellow light?
The yellow light connects her visually to the “repenting people” who wear yellow garments, suggesting both are responding to revelation by trying to change something through action
What are the six responses to revelation identified in Children of Men?
Apathy (Nigel), Rebellion (Julian), Anarchy (Omegas), Quietus (Suicides), Repentance/Renunciation (Repenting People), and Hedonism/Isolation (Jasper)
Why are Julian and the Repenting People highlighted in yellow in the chart?
They represent those who believe the future is possible and are actively trying to do something about the situation, either through faith (Repenting People) or action (Julian)
What does Nigel’s response of “apathy” represent?
The vaporization of moral imagination - his “I just don’t think about it” attitude reflects a chilling indifference to suffering and a loss of ethical concern for others
How does Jasper’s “hedonism/isolation” differ from other responses?
Jasper retreats from society, living remotely (breaking rules about centralization) while finding pleasure in small moments, representing a different form of rebellion through withdrawal
Why is Kee positioned separately from the other responses to revelation?
She embodies the future itself by carrying the unborn child, placing her on a different plane than those looking back at the past in various ways
What does it mean that Kee “doesn’t have a definite plan”?
Unlike others with fixed responses, Kee represents open possibility and potential - she acknowledges her unique situation but seeks help rather than claiming messianic power
What three religious concepts require a future to exist?
Creation, revelation, and redemption all require a future to exist and have meaning
Why does creation require a future?
Creation requires a future into which something can be created. Without a future, creation becomes merely restoration of past elements.
How does revelation relate to the future?
Revelation brings new knowledge that must be accommodated in the future. Without a future, revelation cannot bring transformation or new understanding.
What happens to redemption without a future?
Without a future, redemption loses its purpose as it represents a future state of rescue or salvation that cannot be realized.
What happens to truth when there is no future?
Without a future, truth becomes limited to past elements without new context. It becomes static rather than dynamic.
What scene in “Children of Men” represents creation and revelation?
The scene where Kee’s baby is revealed during battle represents both creation (the baby) and revelation (the awe-inspiring effect on witnesses). It creates hope and a new pathway in a moment of chaos
What does the boat named “Tomorrow” symbolize?
the possibility of a future beyond the current despair. Its name directly references hope for what comes next, even as the film questions whether it’s real
How does the fog in the final scenes relate to religious faith?
The fog represents the uncertainty inherent in faith - believers must trust without clear vision, similar to how characters must believe in the Human Project without proof.
What is the relationship between redemption and sacrifice in the film?
Theo’s sacrifice (giving his life to help Kee reach the Human Project) suggests that redemption requires personal cost and commitment to something beyond oneself
