The Matrix and the Green Conversation
Jun. 1st, 2004 01:42 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
la_rainetteSo ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
copperbadge has a discussion in his LJ about the merits (on non merits, as it were) of the Matrix, and I almost commented in it, then realized this might be too long and decided to post it here instead.
I love the Matrix. First, because I can watch most of the fight scenes without wincing (the context makes them actually quite non-violent to me, so they can beat each other up as much as they want, I don't care.)
And then, there is the Chicken Scene. I love the Chicken Scene. For those who know the Matrix, it is the scene where Expendable Character # 1 rambles on the taste of chicken and what our brain tells us the taste of chicken is like, and everybody else yawns.
Well, I used to have this conversation with my mum as a teenager, but I refer to it as the Green Conversation.
La rainette: How do we know we see the same things? I mean, do you see green the way I see green
Mum: Well, the grass is green. This leaf is green. You see all green objects green, don't you?
La rainette: Yes, yes, yes, but colours have a wavelength, so it would make sense that my brain interprets all objects with the same wavelength consistently, so of course I identify as green the same objects that you do. It still doesn't mean my green is your green.
Mum: I think we should have your brain consistency checked, daughter. You're not making any sense. Green is green.
La rainette: Well, just because we have randomly assigned the word green to a wavelength still doesn't mean our brains see the same thing, you know.
Mum: You're nuts. I love you, but you're nuts.
We've had this conversation a few times now (truth is, we both enjoy it :D ). So last year, I decided to watch the Matrix with her, for the Chicken Scene. Which, of course, didn't make sense to her (I'm not sure it actually made sense to me, but I still loved it).
The end credits arrived and we were both beaming.
Mum: I see why you like this movie. He's quite fetching.
La rainette: Hmmmm. He is, isn't he?
Mum: He's got beautiful dark eyes.
La rainette: And I just love the gap between his front teeth.
Mum: ?...?
La rainette: Er. We're not talking about the same guy, are we?
Mum: Does anyone else know how nuts you are?
Husband (raises hand): I do. But she's got a point about the green
Mum: OH FOR CHRIST'S SAKE. I'm going to bed. Good night.
I love the Matrix. :D
On another note, thank you Sam for pointing me to the Lem book. The only book of his I've read so far is Solaris, and it impressed me enough to make me want more.
copperbadge has a discussion in his LJ about the merits (on non merits, as it were) of the Matrix, and I almost commented in it, then realized this might be too long and decided to post it here instead. I love the Matrix. First, because I can watch most of the fight scenes without wincing (the context makes them actually quite non-violent to me, so they can beat each other up as much as they want, I don't care.)
And then, there is the Chicken Scene. I love the Chicken Scene. For those who know the Matrix, it is the scene where Expendable Character # 1 rambles on the taste of chicken and what our brain tells us the taste of chicken is like, and everybody else yawns.
Well, I used to have this conversation with my mum as a teenager, but I refer to it as the Green Conversation.
La rainette: How do we know we see the same things? I mean, do you see green the way I see green
Mum: Well, the grass is green. This leaf is green. You see all green objects green, don't you?
La rainette: Yes, yes, yes, but colours have a wavelength, so it would make sense that my brain interprets all objects with the same wavelength consistently, so of course I identify as green the same objects that you do. It still doesn't mean my green is your green.
Mum: I think we should have your brain consistency checked, daughter. You're not making any sense. Green is green.
La rainette: Well, just because we have randomly assigned the word green to a wavelength still doesn't mean our brains see the same thing, you know.
Mum: You're nuts. I love you, but you're nuts.
We've had this conversation a few times now (truth is, we both enjoy it :D ). So last year, I decided to watch the Matrix with her, for the Chicken Scene. Which, of course, didn't make sense to her (I'm not sure it actually made sense to me, but I still loved it).
The end credits arrived and we were both beaming.
Mum: I see why you like this movie. He's quite fetching.
La rainette: Hmmmm. He is, isn't he?
Mum: He's got beautiful dark eyes.
La rainette: And I just love the gap between his front teeth.
Mum: ?...?
La rainette: Er. We're not talking about the same guy, are we?
Mum: Does anyone else know how nuts you are?
Husband (raises hand): I do. But she's got a point about the green
Mum: OH FOR CHRIST'S SAKE. I'm going to bed. Good night.
I love the Matrix. :D
On another note, thank you Sam for pointing me to the Lem book. The only book of his I've read so far is Solaris, and it impressed me enough to make me want more.
