rummuser recently wrote a post that has been a great source of entertainment for me: Movie Scenes That Have Stuck With Me. Since then all sorts of scenes have been popping up in my mind and I’ve been pondering why I remember them and not others. I’ll write more about some of the most meaningful ones in future posts.
For now I’ll just talk about the National Geographic DVD Africa. It’s the second time I’ve watched the series…I bought it a couple of years ago. The part I remember most was a scene showing children playing by a pond. The camera then panned to a crocodile mostly submerged in the water. The crocodile opened his eyes and slowly swam towards the land, presumably towards the children. When he got to the edge of the water he made his move: he opened his mouth and and lunged onto the land. But instead of attacking the children, he briefly fought with another crocodile and slipped back into the water. The creators of the DVD had chosen the scenes to get the viewers’ attention and emotional involvement. I cheerfully admit I was gullible enough to fall for it. (What are the chances that the photographer would really have shown a crocodile attacking children?)
I remembered the scene because I did become emotionally involved and because I was surprised. It turns out in this village the crocodiles don’t attack humans. Instead the local shaman regularly feeds the crocodiles so they will bring rain to the village in times of drought. That reason hadn’t stuck in my memory, just the children and the crocodile, then the scene where the shaman is feeding the crocodiles who have come up to him like happy dogs, opening their mouths so he can throw food in. That wasn’t my idea of how crocodiles operate! My husband and I did notice that the shaman was careful not to get too close.
Exploring Memories
I try to exercise at least a half hour to an hour a day, mostly using my NordicTrack treadmill and my jogging trampoline. I usually watch video tapes or DVDs while I do it, so one thing I’m doing is to watch movies that made an impression on me in the past to check my memory. What have I remembered? What have I forgotten? What have I remembered incorrectly? I’m also noticing what grabs my attention in the new videos I watch. Presumably some of them will stick in my long term memory. It’s a fun and easy way to see how my mind works, to remind myself that the images floating around in my head don’t represent the whole of reality. 🙂
What About You?
What sorts of things do you remember or forget? Does it seem to be random or does there seem to be a reason for the selection process?
A scene from Saint Claire comes to mind. Two boys who are friends get angry with each other. One pushes the other to the ground. As he’s getting up onto his knees, the boy who pushed him swings a baseball bat at him… and hits him in the arm.
This scene really wound me up because I thought the boy would smash the other in the head. And I think most of the folks in the theater reacted that way, too, judging from the hush of collective held breath. It was one of those rare occasions when I forget I’m watching a movie.
I have just seen a video of a great initiative in Pakistan courtesy the New York Times http://video.nytimes.com/video/2008/11/22/opinion/1194833601777/books-not-bombs.html?th&emc=th
What grabbed my attention was the last statement – Pakistan’s elite and the military see its main enemy as India, actually it is not India but illiteracy.
The same can be said about the elite of India and some hot heads that the main enemy is not Pakistan but illiteracy, and a host of other things that need urgent attention.
rummusers last blog post..Marriage Violence and Divorce.
I stopped seeing films and TV shows many years ago and so am completely out of touch with the newer releases. Any number of instances trigger off memories of old films, songs, and plays. Normally, the mind is preoccupied with other things and so I do not get to remember or forget things in this particular area.
rummusers last blog post..Marriage Violence and Divorce.
I just saw a video show courtesy NYTimes http://video.nytimes.com/video/2008/11/22/opinion/1194833601777/books-not-bombs.html?th&emc=th
The concluding voice over says that the elite and the military in Pakistan consider that Pakistan’s main enemy is India whereas the actual main enemy is illiteracy.
As an Indian, I can say that similarly, India should look at illiteracy, much less than Pakistan’s admittedly, but existing nevertheless and other factors. My views about this matter has been spelled out quite clearly on some of my earlier posts.
Such odd viewings bring about thoughts rather than any flash back of memories.
rummusers last blog post..Marriage Violence and Divorce.
Square Peg Guy,
It’s a sign of a good movie when that happens, isn’t it?
I think I’m more susceptible to becoming emotionally involved than some people are. That’s why I’m a good candidate for self-hypnosis, one of my favorite change techniques. The process is very similar to suspending judgment and becoming immersed in a movie or a book. Only one chooses the results.
rummuser,
Are you ever curious about why you remember some things and not others? That’s one subject that is intriguing me right now.
Thanks for the New York Times link. I knew of the problem and that some volunteer groups were trying to help, but this is one of the best discussions I’ve come across
Yes indeed and I found the answers in “Stumbling on happiness” by Daniel Gilbert. The author takes incredible examples to explain this and other phenomenon connected with the human brain.
rummusers last blog post..Marriage Violence and Divorce.
rummuser,
Brains are fascinating, aren’t they? As I’ve said before, my brain is my favorite toy.