Lately I’ve been in a mystery reading phase. Before that it was spiritual reading. Before that it was science fiction. And for a while it was one sci-fi author … Philip K. Dick. The PKD phase blended into my return to Catholicism. Not a coincidence I don’t think. Sci-fi causes one to think, to wonder, and to question. And when you think, wonder and question about the world and the hows and whys of it, I think one natural path would be towards the spiritual as you search out your part in it all. At least that’s how it worked out for me."For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known" - I Corinthians 13:12
That’s where the title of one of my favorite PKD books comes from, A Scanner Darkly. I’ve been hearing rumors of a film version for years. Turns out, it’s true. Richard Linklater has used live action photography overlaid with an advanced animation process (something called "interpolated rotoscoping") to bring the book to film. PKD books and stories have been made into movies before (Blade Runner/Minority Report for example). Usually the results are disappointing. For one thing, they always try to tack on a happy ending.
What does a scanner see? Does a scanner see into me? Into us? ... Clearly or darkly?" - Bob Arctor in A Scanner Darkly
What does this blogger see? Well, on Sunday I will be seeing "A Scanner Darkly" with my friend K.
1 comment:
PKD was a seeker--and it runs through all his books. In fact, he is one of the largest reasons I made my way back to the church.
Much of his writing tries to make sense of a theophany he experienced in 1974, which he credited in helping him discover his son's congenital birth defect in time to save his life. VALIS, Divine Invasion, the Transmigration of Timothy Archer, and Radio Free Albemuth are examples.
Transmigration explores the death of his good friend, the radical California Episcopal Bishop James Pike, in the Judean Desert in 1969. The truth is just as weird as PKD's account--google him, you'll see.
PKD was also a scholar of Gnosticism, and gnostic themes run throughout his writings. A popular English translation of the Nag Hammadi texts credits him with introducing gnosticism to the American public. After seeing so many movies based on PKD books (or ripping them off), we are no longer surprised when we find out the world we thought was real isn't real at all!
And as you said, even though the movie adaptations usually screw up the story with happy endings (even the french screwed up Confessions of a Crapartist!), I've been waiting for this movie to come out for years, and I've heard Richard Linklater has tried to stay true. Can't wait.
Post a Comment