Raving about 'Post-Modern Prometheus' *LONG*
Rachael Bahl
Rachael's Ravings : Post-Modern Prometheus
Chris Carter surprises us once again with this parody/satire/fairy tale
X-File. 'Post-Modern Prometheus' (PMP) turns the concept of a Monster Of
The Week on its head and questions the notions of romanticism and
post-modernism as it relates to the X-Files universe. At the same time it
presents a narrative framed in such a way as to leave most of us
scratching our heads at the end and wondering what the hell happened.
PMP operates on many levels, but not always successfully and not always
coherently. A bit like this review really - so bear with me. :)
There are so many 'pieces' to this tale - it's hard to do them all
justice.
From the beginning it is clear that this is no 'ordinary' X-File. I
think the music hits you first. The quirky light music that seems so out
of place on this program. Then the comic book opening to...
"Introducing the new monster on the block, the great Mutato"
"Somewhere in the land a monster lurked..."
The black and white cinematography. The strange, almost timeless town
and characters with names like Izzy and Booger. It was surprising,
unsettling and it really had me wondering what was going to happen next!
THE CAST
Pattie Tierce was absolutely wonderful as Shaineh Berkowitz. She had the
right balance of caring and crankiness. Not only that, but she got all
the best lines!
Izzy: "I'm 18, I can go anywhere I want!"
Shaineh: "Yeah, but where you gonna live when you get back?"
Shaineh: "Izzy's got more brains than that. Not much more, but he values
his life."
John O'Hurley played Dr. Pollidori - the Victor Frankenstein of our
story - and he did an excellent job.
Chris Owens was the great Mutato. You may not have recognised him under
the make-up, but he also played the young CSM in 'Demons' and
'Musings...'.
Duchovny and Anderson were under utilised in the episode, but everything
they did was perfect. The whole interrogation scene at the Pollidori house
with Mulder raving about violated frying pans was priceless!
CINEMATOGRAPHY
There was a lot to like visually in this episode, but a lot that didn't
quite work. The black and white gave it a great look, but one has to
wonder whether they really shot it in black and white, or whether it was
de-coloured. And if they shot it in black and white, whether they were
advised on some of the changes required to make black and white work
properly (in the way that the old black and white movies worked). It
seems to me (and I would love to be wrong here) that this wasn't really
thought out properly. The black and white effect could have worked so
much better.
But it *was* good overall and particular shots were just wonderful.
I loved the shots of the road and the sky, both when Mulder and Scully
are on their way to the town and as they are leaving, as well as the
shot of Mulder and Scully in the window watching Dr. Pollidori leave his
laboratory. The Great Mutato dancing in the smoke was also excellent.
THE MAD SCIENTIST
Mulder: "Why would you do that?"
Dr. Pollidori: "Because I can" <lightning> <there seemed to be a need
for gales of evil laughter here too, but that must have got lost in the
final edit!> <g>
Mulder: "Given the power, who could resist the temptation to create life
in his own image?"
Scully: "We already have that power Mulder, it's called procreation."
Yet, Dr. Pollidori doesn't believe in procreation - it creates "mewling
little monsters".
Mulder: "When Victor Frankenstein asks himself whence does the principle
of life proceed and then as the gratifying summit to his toils
creates a hideous phantasm of a man he pre-figures the
post-modern Prometheus, the genetic engineer, whose power to
re-animate matter - genes - into life - us - is only as limited
as his imagination is."
Scully: "Mulder, I'm alarmed that you would reduce this man to a
literary stereotype - a mad scientist."
But Dr. Pollidori *is* a literary stereotype and behaves as such. It is
clear that *he* is the monster of this tale - made even clearer when he
says that his father's life was taken "by that which he gave life. By his
own horrible creation..." - his son, the good Doctor.
BELIEF
What X-File would be complete without a comment on belief?
Shaineh Berkowitz says of the WolfBoy "I can't believe this", yet she
can believe that somewhere in the land a monster lurks!
Mulder says (when talking about alien abductions) "I don't even know if I
believe that stuff anymore." Possible continuity reference?
And of course Scully's question,
"Is there anything that you *don't* believe in Mulder?"
Sometimes we don't know what to believe and this is so clearly
illustrated with the townspeople of this place. One day believing in
Mulder and Scully and the next day turning against them.
WHAT'S IT ALL ABOUT?
So what *was* Chris Carter trying to do here?
He is quoted as saying that he set out in PMP to do a tribute to
the Frankenstein story. Mary Shelley's original novel 'Frankenstein, or
the Modern Prometheus' reveals the inspiration for the episode title while
the movie 'Frankenstein', starring Boris Karloff, is the inspiration for
much of the look of the episode.
But this only works in part. I haven't read Mary Shelley's
'Frankenstein' - I have tried - but it's language really is that of 150
years ago and I find it makes it somewhat unapproachable. I therefore
can't comment on what, if anything, other than the title connections,
Carter has borrowed from Shelley.
I have, however, seen the film version of 'Frankenstein' which starred
Boris Karloff as Frankenstein's monster. CC borrows mightily here, but
only in relation to the concept and presentation of Dr. Pollidori. The
scenes where Mulder and Scully interrogate the good doctor at his
'gothic' laboratory punctuated by lightening flashes is one area, as is
the mob with the torches toward the end. Dr. Pollidori's comments about
searching every crevice, every ravine, are almost word for word from
'Frankenstein' (IIRC!), as is the burning of the barn (although in
'Frankenstein' it is hardly accidental).
So... the Frankenstein tribute only works in part to explain this
episode. It doesn't begin to explain the content of the episode - the
Cher obsession and many of the other references or the bizarre ending.
Of course, one source of inspiration is quite clear, IMO, and that is
the name of the monster! Who said 1013 don't at least glance over all the
X-Files newsgroups? If the name MUTATO didn't come from the most popular
threads in aus.tv.x-files I'd be very surprised. And I love it how CC
constantly puts things in that those 'in the know' will "get".
One of these is the Dr. Nutter peanut butter reference - some have
suggested that this refers to David Nutter who was a director in the
first season. (Then again, it could just be a popular brand of peanut
butter) <g>
So... a fairy tale? Total fantasy? Part fantasy? All true? I think you
can argue for any of the above and in some ways that simply highlights
what seems to be Chris Carter's favourite pastime these days and that is
baiting the fans. You can read this episode however you like and the
fact that it is framed by the comic book opening and closing only serves
to complicate matters further. If it weren't for Mulder asking for the
writer we could take this episode literally (even if all the signs seem
to suggest that we shouldn't). If we take the episode lightly - it's
great fun. If we take it seriously it could be, as Maggie Helwig
suggests in her review "a critique of post-modernism".
(If you are interested in interpreting this episode seriously and a
comparison of romanticism and post-modernism you *must* read Maggie
Helwig's review. It's really fascinating).
Miscellaneous bits, pieces and questions...
- They were the best of lines, they were the worst of lines...
- Mulder: "Scully, do you think it's too soon to get my own
1-900 number?"
- When Scully points out the similarities between Shaineh's
story and the Great Mutato and Shaineh says "Yeah, but
that don't mean it didn't happen."
- The Peanut Butter trap...
Izzy: "Don't ask me why, but it works."
- Scully: "Peanut butter sandwiches?"
Mulder: "You think baloney would be more effective?"
- The initial lighting of the gas jet on the stove reminded me of the
episode of 'Millennium' where all the preachers are murdered!
- Mulder explaining about the Wolf Baby sounded just like Scully!
- How come the Great Mutato wasn't effected by the gas?
- Did you notice the headline on the paper Scully was reading at the
Pollidori house read "FBI agents whereabouts unknown" (I thought it
was great).
Overall I think 'Post-Modern Prometheus' is wonderful. I loved
it and I think it has to be one of my favourite X-Files of all time. I
don't really know what happened and I don't really care because in the
end faith is restored. Whether in the real world or only in our hearts
is irrelevant I think. (Especially when one of my favourite songs - Marc
Cohn's 'Walking in Memphis' - is used to do it). It's certainly a
departure from what we're used to and as a result I expect lots of varying
reactions to this episode, but I loved it.
Rachael.
X-Review
http://traveller.simplenet.com/xfiles/episode.htm
Wolfgang Schoepf
On 15 Mar 1998, Rachael Bahl wrote:
> Rachael's Ravings : Post-Modern Prometheus
>
> Chris Carter surprises us once again with this parody/satire/fairy tale
> X-File. 'Post-Modern Prometheus' (PMP) turns the concept of a Monster Of
> The Week on its head and questions the notions of romanticism and
> post-modernism as it relates to the X-Files universe. At the same time it
> presents a narrative framed in such a way as to leave most of us
> scratching our heads at the end and wondering what the hell happened.
I see this episode as what it allegedly was, a comic. Therefore, I don't
implement it into the X-Files universe as it is. It's more a homage to the
success of the X-Files, in that people now even write comics about it (see
also Mulder's remark at the beginning, if it's too soon to get his own
1900 number). In a sense, similar to Jose Chung.
> THE MAD SCIENTIST
>
> Mulder: "Why would you do that?"
> Dr. Pollidori: "Because I can" <lightning> <there seemed to be a need
Someone repeated that at the end. Who was it, and in which context?
> Mulder: "Given the power, who could resist the temptation to create life
> in his own image?"
> Scully: "We already have that power Mulder, it's called procreation."
Yeah, I liked that. Sometimes, we just don't see the obvious!
> Yet, Dr. Pollidori doesn't believe in procreation - it creates "mewling
> little monsters".
A good one, too.
> Shaineh Berkowitz says of the WolfBoy "I can't believe this", yet she
Don't call me that!
Oh, you're still talking about the episode ...
> Of course, one source of inspiration is quite clear, IMO, and that is
> the name of the monster! Who said 1013 don't at least glance over all the
> X-Files newsgroups? If the name MUTATO didn't come from the most popular
> threads in aus.tv.x-files I'd be very surprised. And I love it how CC
> constantly puts things in that those 'in the know' will "get".
I'm sorry, but as much as some may wish it to be true, I think this
connection is purely incidental.
> - Mulder explaining about the Wolf Baby sounded just like Scully!
It's enough now, Rachael!
> - How come the Great Mutato wasn't effected by the gas?
Because he's a mutation.
> Cohn's 'Walking in Memphis' - is used to do it). It's certainly a
> departure from what we're used to and as a result I expect lots of varying
> reactions to this episode, but I loved it.
Interestingly, most people seemed to really like it. I would have expected
more adverse reactions as well.
Wolfgang
Rachael Bahl
Wolfgang Schoepf <cs...@jcu.edu.au> writes:
>On 15 Mar 1998, Rachael Bahl wrote:
>> Chris Carter surprises us once again with this parody/satire/fairy tale
>> X-File. 'Post-Modern Prometheus' (PMP) turns the concept of a Monster Of
>> The Week on its head and questions the notions of romanticism and
>> post-modernism as it relates to the X-Files universe. At the same time it
>> presents a narrative framed in such a way as to leave most of us
>> scratching our heads at the end and wondering what the hell happened.
>I see this episode as what it allegedly was, a comic. Therefore, I don't
>implement it into the X-Files universe as it is. It's more a homage to the
>success of the X-Files, in that people now even write comics about it (see
>also Mulder's remark at the beginning, if it's too soon to get his own
>1900 number).
OH, I see - it hadn't been expressed to me quite that way before. That
works well actually.
> In a sense, similar to Jose Chung.
But so very *different* to Jose Chung! :)
>> THE MAD SCIENTIST
>>
>> Mulder: "Why would you do that?"
>> Dr. Pollidori: "Because I can" <lightning> <there seemed to be a need
>Someone repeated that at the end. Who was it, and in which context?
It was Dr. Pollidori's father when Dr. Pollidori asked him Why he kept
Mutato alive.
>> Shaineh Berkowitz says of the WolfBoy "I can't believe this", yet she
>Don't call me that!
<laugh>
>Oh, you're still talking about the episode ...
Of course! :)
>> Of course, one source of inspiration is quite clear, IMO, and that is
>> the name of the monster! Who said 1013 don't at least glance over all the
>> X-Files newsgroups? If the name MUTATO didn't come from the most popular
>> threads in aus.tv.x-files I'd be very surprised. And I love it how CC
>> constantly puts things in that those 'in the know' will "get".
>I'm sorry, but as much as some may wish it to be true, I think this
>connection is purely incidental.
After all the evidence I refuse to believe otherwise... :)
>> - How come the Great Mutato wasn't effected by the gas?
>Because he's a mutation.
Well, D'OH! Why didn't I think of that! :)
>> Cohn's 'Walking in Memphis' - is used to do it). It's certainly a
>> departure from what we're used to and as a result I expect lots of varying
>> reactions to this episode, but I loved it.
>Interestingly, most people seemed to really like it. I would have expected
>more adverse reactions as well.
Maybe those who hated it are too overwhelmed by the postive response? But
then I've never known Carl or $teve to be shinking violets before. :)
Rachael.
Wolfgang Schoepf
On 16 Mar 1998, Rachael Bahl wrote:
> Wolfgang Schoepf <cs...@jcu.edu.au> writes:
>
> >On 15 Mar 1998, Rachael Bahl wrote:
> >> THE MAD SCIENTIST
> >>
> >> Mulder: "Why would you do that?"
> >> Dr. Pollidori: "Because I can" <lightning> <there seemed to be a need
>
> >Someone repeated that at the end. Who was it, and in which context?
>
> It was Dr. Pollidori's father when Dr. Pollidori asked him Why he kept
> Mutato alive.
Thanks!
Wolfgang
Christopher Stuart
On 15 Mar 1998 07:57:59 GMT, ba...@bf.rmit.edu.au (Rachael Bahl) wrote:
Lot's of <snipperty - snip>
>
>But this only works in part. I haven't read Mary Shelley's
>'Frankenstein' - I have tried - but it's language really is that of 150
>years ago and I find it makes it somewhat unapproachable. I therefore
>can't comment on what, if anything, other than the title connections,
>Carter has borrowed from Shelley.
Try it again Racheal.
Dr Pollidori IRL was a member of the group including the Shelly's and
Lord Byron at Inglestadt (sp?) when the idea for a ghost story was
discussed and prompted the writiing of Frankestein.
BTW in PMP Dr Pollidori's wife was Elizabeth - which is also the name
of Victor Frankenstien's fiance in the novel.
>
>I have, however, seen the film version of 'Frankenstein' which starred
>Boris Karloff as Frankenstein's monster. CC borrows mightily here
Yeppers to that >:)
>So... the Frankenstein tribute only works in part to explain this
>episode. It doesn't begin to explain the content of the episode - the
>Cher obsession and many of the other references or the bizarre ending.
True - Cher's film 'Mask' kinda ties in - her music provided a 'hook'
but ..........
>If the name MUTATO didn't come from the most popular
>threads in aus.tv.x-files I'd be very surprised.
*but* _no_ GREAT MUTATO THREAD Fe)
>One of these is the Dr. Nutter peanut butter reference - some have
>suggested that this refers to David Nutter who was a director in the
>first season. (Then again, it could just be a popular brand of peanut
>butter) <g>
I did wonder about that ....... hhmmmmmmm............
>So... a fairy tale? Total fantasy? Part fantasy? All true?
<engage cynical mode>
Nah! Just padding season 5 while CC concentrates on the movie.
</end mode>
Christopher (who is posting again) lerved it!!!!!!!
Christopher
Drag me, drop me, treat me like an object.
ker...@acslink.aone.net.au
IRC: chevron
Vanessa Meachen
In article <35104385...@news.mel.aone.net.au>, keravon@NO_SPAM.acslink.aone.net.au (Christopher Stuart) wrote:
>On 15 Mar 1998 07:57:59 GMT, ba...@bf.rmit.edu.au (Rachael Bahl) wrote:
>
>Lot's of <snipperty - snip>
>
>>
>>'Frankenstein' - I have tried - but it's language really is that of 150
>>years ago and I find it makes it somewhat unapproachable. I therefore
>>can't comment on what, if anything, other than the title connections,
>>Carter has borrowed from Shelley.
>
>
>Dr Pollidori IRL was a member of the group including the Shelly's and
>Lord Byron at Inglestadt (sp?) when the idea for a ghost story was
>discussed and prompted the writiing of Frankestein.
All true, except the RL doctor spelled it Polidori, and it was at Geneva -
Inglestadt is the university where Dr Frankenstein studies in the novel.
Polidori was Byron's doctor but also an author. It was proposed one evening
that each of those present (Lord Byron, Percy and Mary Shelley, Mary's
half-sister Claire Clairemont and Dr Polidori) should write a ghost story.
Mary was the only one who couldn't think of one at the time, and claimed that
the idea came to her in a dream, although she was probably influenced by
discussions of the Prometheus myth which were going on between Byron and
Shelley - Byron was writing 'Prometheus' and Shelley later came out with
'Prometheus Unbound'.
BTW the entire pregnancy and monstrous birth motif resonates with Mary
Shelley's real life. Her mother, the feminist author Mary Wollstonecraft, died
giving birth to her (which was seen as punishment for her wicked adulterous
ways). By the time she wrote Frankenstein (at the age of 19) she'd seen two of
her children die, experienced at least one miscarriage and been traumatised by
the suicide of Shelley's heavily pregnant wife. Melrose Place, eat your heart
out :)
Vanessa.
To email me snip .no_smeg from address.
http://web.access.net.au/gestalt/index.html
'Green? No, I've never seen green before'.
Livia (Sian Phillips), 'I, Claudius'.
Annette Fraser
In article <6eisan$9gh$1...@aggedor.rmit.edu.au>,[snip]
>
>>Interestingly, most people seemed to really like it. I would have expected
>>more adverse reactions as well.
>
>Maybe those who hated it are too overwhelmed by the postive response? But
>then I've never known Carl or $teve to be shinking violets before. :)
>
silly for my liking, too tongue in cheek. I also disliked 'Unusual Suspects'
because I thought it was a waste of an episode, and, for my money, 'Detour' is
the best episode of the season so far. Monsters, Mulder and Scully banter, no
bloody arc confusion, just plain, basic X-Files and it's these sorts of
episodes that got me into the show.
It seems to me that this season is really polarising the X-Files watchers.
Those who tended to like 'PMP', thought 'Detour' was less than fascination and
vice versa. Interesting really.
Annette
===+===+===+===+===+===+ am.f...@qut.edu.au +===+===+===+===+===+===
==+ The Merchandise Queen | Kheldarian | Stark raving mad Pterryist+==
===+===+===+===+===+= Annette's Word of the Week =+===+===+===+===+===
mumpsimus - middle English noun denoting an incorrigible,
dogmatic old pedant. From "Forgotten English" by Jeffrey Kacirk
===+===+===+===+===+===+===+===+==+===+===+===+===+===+===+===+===+===
"I will Taunt the happy penguin" - MegaHal
Vanessa Meachen
In article <6emtev$pn6$1...@dove.qut.edu.au>, am.f...@qut.edu.au (Annette Fraser) wrote:
>In article <6eisan$9gh$1...@aggedor.rmit.edu.au>,
> ba...@bf.rmit.edu.au (Rachael Bahl) wrote:
>>Wolfgang Schoepf <cs...@jcu.edu.au> writes:
>>
>[snip]
>>
>>>Interestingly, most people seemed to really like it. I would have expected
>>>more adverse reactions as well.
>>
>>Maybe those who hated it are too overwhelmed by the postive response? But
>>then I've never known Carl or $teve to be shinking violets before. :)
>Well, I hated it too but I can't really put a finger on why. It was just too
>silly for my liking, too tongue in cheek.
I didn't hate it as much as some of the others this season, but I didn't like
it. I'll probably never watch it again. It tried to be too many things at once
- it mixed the silly Cher references and the comedy aspect with the tribute to
the Boris Karloff 'Frankenstein' (shown by the B&W and the camera angles
straight out of horror films) and with normal XF-type shots and conversations.
Too messy.
> I also disliked 'Unusual Suspects'
>because I thought it was a waste of an episode,
I thought it was too much like fan-fiction... which has been my complaint
about a *lot* of episodes in fourth and fifth season. I didn't mind it, but I
didn't like it too much and again, I probably will never watch it again.
>and, for my money, 'Detour' is
>the best episode of the season so far. Monsters, Mulder and Scully banter, no
>bloody arc confusion, just plain, basic X-Files and it's these sorts of
>episodes that got me into the show.
I completely agree with that - 'Detour' is top of my season 5 list too. It
didn't spook me as much as some of the early episodes did, but it was a return
to the good old days before the soap opera element and the angst crept in, and
before one felt that the arc/mythology stuff was being dragged on painfully.
It would have slotted nicely into the first three seasons.
>It seems to me that this season is really polarising the X-Files watchers.
>Those who tended to like 'PMP', thought 'Detour' was less than fascination and
>vice versa. Interesting really.
I'll be interested to see how each of these two groups reacts to the
two-parter coming up. In fact, I'm looking forward to it - the reactions on
the group, that is.
Daniel Frankham
On Tue, 17 Mar 1998 13:43:55 GMT, Vanessa Meachen wrote:
>All true, except the RL doctor spelled it Polidori, and it was at Geneva -
The Villa Diodata, on the shore of Lake Geneva, to be precise :)
==========================================================================
_Woman's Weekly_ is monthly, _Woman's Day_ is weekly,
_New Idea_ has never had one, and _Family Circle_ is a rectangle.
Wolfgang Schoepf
On 17 Mar 1998, Annette Fraser wrote:
> In article <6eisan$9gh$1...@aggedor.rmit.edu.au>,
> ba...@bf.rmit.edu.au (Rachael Bahl) wrote:
> >Wolfgang Schoepf <cs...@jcu.edu.au> writes:
> >
> [snip]
> >
> >>Interestingly, most people seemed to really like it. I would have expected
> >>more adverse reactions as well.
> >
> >Maybe those who hated it are too overwhelmed by the postive response? But
> >then I've never known Carl or $teve to be shinking violets before. :)
> >
> Well, I hated it too but I can't really put a finger on why. It was just too
> silly for my liking, too tongue in cheek. I also disliked 'Unusual Suspects'
So, the haters finally came out! And I really thought for a while that
everyone liked it.
Oh well,
Wolfgang
Carlton Marks
ba...@bf.rmit.edu.au (Rachael Bahl) writes:
>>Interestingly, most people seemed to really like it. I would have expected
>>more adverse reactions as well.
>Maybe those who hated it are too overwhelmed by the postive response? But
>then I've never known Carl or $teve to be shinking violets before. :)
F'r the record, Carl definitely liked... shame it was followed up with
that shitty Xmas Carol ep. What a festering pustule of predictable
monotony that was.
Since I feel that simple reciprocity is a fairly failsafe philosophy,
one day I'm gonna have to stick Chris Carters head in a drum of ultra
toxic toxins & try to estimate how long to leave it in there so as to
extract the exact amount of time from his life that he has robbed from
mine with shit episodes of XF... not to mention that whole Millenium
debacle.
I'll leave it in there for a little extra time in sympathy for all of you
who re-watch some of the ep's to the point of potential recital.
... then I'll take my drum 'o toxic toxins (tm) 'round to visit every
bastard who's ever programmed Rage & suckered me into a drunked stupor of
thinking "one more song & I'll go to bed" upon coming home in the wee
hours.
FUCKERRRRRRRRRS!!!!!!!!!
Carl (in a particularly celtic frame of mind after drinking many a pint
of guiness tonight... & hense ready to give a Glasgow Kiss to any
bastard who tries to turn the phrase 'wee hours' into a joke about
urination).
G'night Australia... I'm off to see if there's any weird synchronicity
between a live Pogues bootleg & Braveheart.
BTW. You'll find that the X-rated Pam Anderson video works a treat if you
turn the sound down & listen to the soundtrack from the musical 'Tommy'.
>-
Welcome to the car crash,
A-Welcome to the car smash,
You can't tell the girls from the boys anymore oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh
oh oh oh oh oh oh ohhhhhhh DEEEEEEEAD JOE!
<The Birhday Party>
This is irrelevant quote is #12 in a set of 32. Collect them all.