ACF Critic Series #34 Alan Moore

 

This week, I’m joined again by my friend Peter Paik, Professor at University of Wisconsin in Milwaukee and at Yonsei University in Seoul, author of a book on pop-culture visions of radical political change that’s most timely: From Utopia To Apocalypse.

Peter and I talk about the comic books of Alan Moore, the main subject of his book: Watchmen, made into a movie by Zack Snyder and now about to become an HBO series; V for Vendetta, made into a movie by the Wachowskis, the Matrix creators; From Hell, made into a movie by the Hughes brothers, starring Johnny Depp; and Miracleman, a Cold-War-to-End-of-History story that has not yet been adapted.

We talk about these visions of radical political change and greatness wrought of great suffering, both idea anathema to End Of History liberalism, and hence why these stories don’t work so well in Hollywood. And we also talk about the significant changes in how we think about politics in just these first decades of the 21st century and why they are reflected so much more in pop culture than in public discourse or politics.

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  1. Judge Mental Member
    Judge Mental
    @JudgeMental

    Re: From Hell

    I always thought it would be hilarious if the royal family issued a statement saying, “Okay, you got us.”.

    • #1
  2. Titus Techera Contributor
    Titus Techera
    @TitusTechera

    1.Would have made for a good-to-great hoax.

    2.The comic has a great view of the hoax from the other side. The crazy murderer has a vision of our times & realizes all his human sacrifices weren’t worth it!

    • #2
  3. Gary McVey Contributor
    Gary McVey
    @GaryMcVey

    Titus Techera (View Comment):

    1.Would have made for a good-to-great hoax.

    2.The comic has a great view of the hoax from the other side. The crazy murderer has a vision of our times & realizes all his human sacrifices weren’t worth it!

    Human sacrifices are always worth it!

    • #3
  4. Samuel Block Support
    Samuel Block
    @SamuelBlock

    Excellent, Titus! Will be ordering Paik’s book soon. I’m a bit backlogged on your recent posts because I’m finishing up my last semester of school, but I’ll be catching up shortly.

    The discussion reminded me of Alan Watts’ – the Chestertonian-turned-Buddhist who emphasized the centrality of the “double bind,” that, after thwarting all attempts at personal betterment, allows for the individual to become aware of the absurdity of their endeavor.  Once in on the joke, the person is then, paradoxically, able access a certain wisdom (if such a thing exists).

    Particularly, his conversation about the human need for enemies in order to grow strikes me as pertinent.

    Anyway, great conversation!

    • #4
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