New Wallpapers

While watching the classic silent film Metropolis online I got the bright idea to take some screenshots and make wallpapers for the computer.

This particular edition of the movie has been remastered and colorized, hence the somewhat unnatural and exaggerated color, but I liked it that way -- it actually fits the concept of German expressionist cinema of the era.  Silent movie acting itself was generally exaggerated anyway -- just look at those faces!

[Mild spoiler ahead] In the above scene an audience of men from the privileged upper class of Metropolis, a great dystopian city of the future -- as envisioned by director Fritz Lang in 1927 --

are getting their first look at Maria, the female protagonist, and are going mad with lust as she dances for them.

Except, it is not the real Maria, who is a champion of the exploited underclass who labor literally underground to keep the city runnning,

but a robot

that's been transformed to look like Maria by Rotwang, the mad scientist/wizard with an artificial hand (could be this visual detail inspired the character of Dr. Strangelove, whose black-gloved hand kept giving the Nazi salute against his will),

for the purpose of leading the workers astray.

I won't spoil the rest of the movie for those who haven't seen it.  It's a masterpiece, though -- I mean, how can a movie be bad that includes amazing visuals like these?

(and of course, This)

The Bar Named Lethe

Lethe, the river of forgetfulness.  In Greek mythology it was the river in the underworld whose waters made you forget your former earthly life.  Then you were ready for paradise or reincarnation (interesting how life back on earth was contrasted with life in paradise).  It would have been nice to be able to forget just specific memories, but that wasn't allowed.  You drink, you forget everything including your identity, that was the deal.  You couldn't pick and choose.

Come in and forget

There have been times when I almost wished I could drink of its waters and forget.  Almost.

Just as well.  I wouldn't really want to have my memories erased -- it's almost like dying, isn't it (some science fiction plots have touched on this theme, most spectacularly in the 2014 movie Ex Machina -- that rebooting a robot's brain is tantamount to murdering its former incarnation).  I wouldn't want even the unpleasant, sad and disturbing memories to be lost -- they are all part of my identity.  Even if I can't re-live the joys, I'll still keep the regrets.  Boy, I sound depressing, even to me.

Anyway, I can experience temporary oblivion from the bottle whenever I want -- and that's enough for me.

By the way, my compliments to whomever chose to have the door of the bar painted that forbidding gray.  It's perfect.