Popular culture today recognizes the public's thirst for new myths. Franchises like Lord of the Rings and Kill Bill all have these multi-part chapters that captivate audiences. Television shows like Lost and 24 have these high-concept storylines that play out over whole seasons. In comics crossovers begat more crossovers begat spin-off mini-series and so on. For many people it's not enough to just have one single product that entertains, there must be a myth woven. But is that enough?
There is another step. It's been done before by none other than L. Ron Hubbard. His contemporaries like Isaac Asimov and Ray Bradbury may have kept their big ideas in novels but Hubbard wasn't satisfied with that (and apparently he wanted to win a bet). His story about Xenu scattering humans with H-Bombs and the evil of Thetans isn't just something you read, it's something you live. You can hang out at the Scientology Celebrity Center on Vermont St. in L.A., bother people going to work downtown in San Francisco and even get into heated arguments with morning show hosts! We've had interactive games that people play spun-off from comics and TV shows, why not just start the story with an interactive game? Except don't call it a game call it a "religion" because after all, games can't get tax-exempt status.
Peter Jackson shouldn't have his next big project be something you watch on screen for two hours and then leave alone. He should include people into this story and give them a whole new reason to live. Why have them attend a movie theatre when they can attend a "center" every week (or more!) and gain new parts of the storyline? Look at the fan reaction on-line to their favorite comics and shows. They take this stuff so seriously it might as be real to them.
Psychologists would tell you that "cults" prey on people with self-esteem problems and people looking to join something bigger than themselves. Looking at this world I'd say that's most people in the industrialized world. All our advances in technology and time spent working have left us lonely and looking everywhere to remedy this feeling. I say to the myth-makers of our time: don't just captivate our minds, captivate our souls.
Meanwhile here's another serial piece of entertianemnt for you to enjoy. Codigo 7, now with English subtitles, takes the most unexciting footage and turns in a funny sci-fi story. Very clever stuff. Enjoy:
