Interlude
Between what is told, known and studied and what is told, known and studied exists the interlude. Interludes exist for a number of reasons.
Sometimes the interlude is not interesting. Between Indiana Jones’ adventures, it can be assumed that he spent a massive amount of time studying language and culture. Being a professor, he must have graded papers and dealt with the bureaucracy of a university. Even in his adventurous travels, he must have spent countless days bored in transit. We are given a red line for a few seconds to represent what takes him hours or days to pass.
Sometimes the period is irrelevant to the issue at hand. The decline of Peter Venkman and Dana’s relationship between “Ghost Busters” and “Ghostbusters II” would certainly be an interesting to see, but it probably did not have much to do with busting ghosts. It probably also lacked the comic antics consistent with the two movies (I know, I know, you’re all thinking, what comic antics in Ghostbusters II?).
Finally, sometimes we are kept in the dark for a reason. The mystery and inconclusiveness of an unobserved event drives the plot. Additionally, the absence of information aids the author.
There is nothing written about Jesus from age 12 to 29. It is hard to believe that nothing interesting or relevant happened to him during that period. Did he learn from Persians, Indians or Tibetans? Did he stay in Palestine? Did he smoke up and attend orgies? Whatever happened, authors of New Testament felt that it was best that we not know. Maybe they wanted to create a more mystical Jesus. Maybe he did something that someone would not like.
Did Hamlet ever sleep with Ophelia? Was he a Protestant? Those looking for sex will find it and those looking for chastity will find it. Protestants and Catholics can both assume what they want about Hamlet and side with the protagonist.
Interludes are a necessity of life. We cut out and abridge our lives and our thoughts to live together. Sometimes not observing and not knowing makes things function better than when observed. Physicists actually have to not observe parts of certain experiments to make them function right (because of the effects of relativity and quantum mechanics on subatomic particles). Mothers in conservative families can suspend their disbelief and sleep at night when their twenty-something daughters have separate apartments from their boyfriends. Present love can blossom when both partners know not to ask about past love.
Even the boring interlude of one’s own life has a function. We all have situations where what we are doing seems irrelevant or uninteresting. Regardless of this, these pauses are necessary. They create mystery, they give us a rest and they allow reflection. Additionally, sometimes it can be best when we do not have the answers and we do not know where are lives are going. With all avenues open, unforeseen possibilities can enter our lives.
Sometimes the interlude is not interesting. Between Indiana Jones’ adventures, it can be assumed that he spent a massive amount of time studying language and culture. Being a professor, he must have graded papers and dealt with the bureaucracy of a university. Even in his adventurous travels, he must have spent countless days bored in transit. We are given a red line for a few seconds to represent what takes him hours or days to pass.
Sometimes the period is irrelevant to the issue at hand. The decline of Peter Venkman and Dana’s relationship between “Ghost Busters” and “Ghostbusters II” would certainly be an interesting to see, but it probably did not have much to do with busting ghosts. It probably also lacked the comic antics consistent with the two movies (I know, I know, you’re all thinking, what comic antics in Ghostbusters II?).
Finally, sometimes we are kept in the dark for a reason. The mystery and inconclusiveness of an unobserved event drives the plot. Additionally, the absence of information aids the author.
There is nothing written about Jesus from age 12 to 29. It is hard to believe that nothing interesting or relevant happened to him during that period. Did he learn from Persians, Indians or Tibetans? Did he stay in Palestine? Did he smoke up and attend orgies? Whatever happened, authors of New Testament felt that it was best that we not know. Maybe they wanted to create a more mystical Jesus. Maybe he did something that someone would not like.
Did Hamlet ever sleep with Ophelia? Was he a Protestant? Those looking for sex will find it and those looking for chastity will find it. Protestants and Catholics can both assume what they want about Hamlet and side with the protagonist.
Interludes are a necessity of life. We cut out and abridge our lives and our thoughts to live together. Sometimes not observing and not knowing makes things function better than when observed. Physicists actually have to not observe parts of certain experiments to make them function right (because of the effects of relativity and quantum mechanics on subatomic particles). Mothers in conservative families can suspend their disbelief and sleep at night when their twenty-something daughters have separate apartments from their boyfriends. Present love can blossom when both partners know not to ask about past love.
Even the boring interlude of one’s own life has a function. We all have situations where what we are doing seems irrelevant or uninteresting. Regardless of this, these pauses are necessary. They create mystery, they give us a rest and they allow reflection. Additionally, sometimes it can be best when we do not have the answers and we do not know where are lives are going. With all avenues open, unforeseen possibilities can enter our lives.
posted by American Dilettante at
10:33 PM
1 Comments:
The "gaps" in the life of Jesus have always bothered me.
Since he (presumably) wasn't healing, preaching or otherwise attracting the negative attention of the pharisees during these years, there may not have been a heckuva lot to write about.
By
Bulworth, at 12:28 PM
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