Thursday, August 04, 2005

Some minor details

Okay, so I rode Spaceship Earth on my day off and I have officially decided that I want Jeremy Irons to be the voice inside my head from now on. I have loved Epcot since the dawn of recorded time (sorry) or at least from 1982 anyway and Spaceship Earth has always brought me comfort and air conditioning just when it's needed most. Yes, for you purists the Walter Cronkite version was much better and of course in it's most Eightiesness it was better but there is something about the soothing aura of today's version that puts me in my happy place. It's like what I imagine living inside of a climate controlled, creosote scented, blueviolet bubble would be like. I could sit in constant roation for eternity.

For those of you who know me really well, let me just say that this is in no way a reflection that I have turned my back on the memory of my beloved Horizons.
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There's a thought that has been troubling me all day. As I was getting ready for work today I flipped to one of the numerous and forgettable non-action figure oriented cartoons I saw growing up like say, Tom and Jerry, and I noticed how everything in that cartoon reeks of the 1940's and 50's. Why didn't I ever question any of this as a kid growing up? For instance, in the kitchen when they slam into the fridge, the freezer is this seperate compartment with a huge block of ice resting over a drip pan? Inside of that same fridge is an entire rack of milk in glass bottles. And how about the old fashioned clothes ringer that Tom innevitably gets cranked through by the kitchen door? In the cartoon, they passed these things off as normal everyday obstacles of the "modern" kitchen. Granted the cartoons were made in the 40's and 50's, 1985 was a long way off from the era that my mom and dad grew up in. Still, even though I didn't have any of the ancient ammenities that are featured in many of these cartoons, my mind bought them hook, line and sinker; I don't get the feeling that I was duped or anything but it troubles me that I never really thought about it before today. That is all.

3 comments:

stephanie said...

Mike! I had the same feeling when I went to Carousel of Progress recently and thought, I used to love this! Have you ever realized how completely sexist it is? This feminist was shocked she never paid attention to it before. It's just how the man wants it! It's so "normal" we never even realize how warped it is!!
-Steph :)

Beta Mike said...

I love the line the father says in it "I blew the whole neighborhood!" Seriously folks

stephanie said...

Closeted suburbanites!!!