The Incredible Shrinking Man
The Incredible Shrinking Man
Newly declassified test footage of nuclear blasts https://goo.gl/ai1B6r shared by David Amerland brought this brilliant SciFi film of the 1950s to mind.
Superb writing during the time of Hollywood blacklisting. Filled with nuggets. And the ending quantum monologue.
What? You're a film buff and haven't seen it? Highly recommend.
(SPOILER)
I was continuing to shrink, to become... what? The infinitesimal? What was I? Still a human being? Or was I the man of the future? If there were other bursts of radiation, other clouds drifting across seas and continents, would other beings follow me into this vast new world? So close — the infinitesimal and the infinite. But suddenly, I knew they were really the two ends of the same concept. The unbelievably small and the unbelievably vast eventually meet — like the closing of a gigantic circle. I looked up, as if somehow I would grasp the heavens. The universe, worlds beyond number, God's silver tapestry spread across the night. And in that moment, I knew the answer to the riddle of the infinite. I had thought in terms of man's own limited dimension. I had presumed upon nature. That existence begins and ends in man's conception, not nature's. And I felt my body dwindling, melting, becoming nothing. My fears melted away. And in their place came acceptance. All this vast majesty of creation, it had to mean something. And then I meant something, too. Yes, smaller than the smallest, I meant something, too. To God, there is no zero. I still exist!
https://youtu.be/VnDfrveCADo
Newly declassified test footage of nuclear blasts https://goo.gl/ai1B6r shared by David Amerland brought this brilliant SciFi film of the 1950s to mind.
Superb writing during the time of Hollywood blacklisting. Filled with nuggets. And the ending quantum monologue.
What? You're a film buff and haven't seen it? Highly recommend.
(SPOILER)
I was continuing to shrink, to become... what? The infinitesimal? What was I? Still a human being? Or was I the man of the future? If there were other bursts of radiation, other clouds drifting across seas and continents, would other beings follow me into this vast new world? So close — the infinitesimal and the infinite. But suddenly, I knew they were really the two ends of the same concept. The unbelievably small and the unbelievably vast eventually meet — like the closing of a gigantic circle. I looked up, as if somehow I would grasp the heavens. The universe, worlds beyond number, God's silver tapestry spread across the night. And in that moment, I knew the answer to the riddle of the infinite. I had thought in terms of man's own limited dimension. I had presumed upon nature. That existence begins and ends in man's conception, not nature's. And I felt my body dwindling, melting, becoming nothing. My fears melted away. And in their place came acceptance. All this vast majesty of creation, it had to mean something. And then I meant something, too. Yes, smaller than the smallest, I meant something, too. To God, there is no zero. I still exist!
https://youtu.be/VnDfrveCADo
A classic. I first saw it on Friday night, late night TV when I was 13. :) Zara Altair
ReplyDeleteDavid Amerland Sticks with you. :)
ReplyDeleteZara Altair totally! And I was pretty impressionable back then :D
ReplyDeleteOh my! I totally forgot about that movie. Wild monologue. Wow.
ReplyDelete:O)) fancy letting the cat in!
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