Week 8
How does Dick's essay (1999; 1964), illuminate his use of Nazism as a motif in High Castle?
According to dick (1995) The man in the High Castle illuminates Nazism by highlighting how fear is sub rational eg (p. 113, line. 12) in which Dick (1995) states "It is sub rational; it is psychological, not logical. Dick (1995) puts forward puts forward the questions why do some people fear cats or street cars or red headed goats as irrational examples however i am not so sure phobias no matter how strong, can be viewed on the same irrational level as the atrocities of the Nazis. While phobias are perhaps misunderstood until researched at a deeper level they unlike Nazism are not caused by propaganda or brainwashing however one can see how being threatened with the same treatment as the Jewish people would prevent others coming to their defense.
According to Mc Knee, what relationship did Dick's ideas have to (a) Christianity, (b) religion and philosophy in general?
According to Mc Knee (2004) p. 29. scholars who viewed the religious themes of Dick's work from a literature point of examination as opposed to studying his works from a religious angle appear to be ignorant about the controversy which goes with the terms they use to categorize Dick's religious thought. Secondly Mc Knee (2004) points out that while Dick often suggested of his own ideas as being Gnostic, a great many of ideas do not follow along the Gnostic ideology within ancient texts of which modern scholarship refer to as Gnostic. Finally Mc knee (2004) informs us that Dick's self designations were forever changing as his theories developed.
Based on a reading of Dick (1991; 1964) and Mc Knee (2004), what value did dick place on the ordinary, low and trashy?
Mc Knee (2004) mentions how in numerous interviews Dick mentioned how the act of kindness however small it maybe, is the highest expression when it comes to true humanity; the reason being that it shows a selfless love for our human counterparts. One such act of kindness and compassion mentioned in Dick (1995) is that of the German people who poked bread into the cattle cars which were transporting the Jewish people to the death camps
Some good responses Tristram. Although I'd be interested in more clarification re your second one - what "controversy" ware you referring to that categorizes Dick's religious thought - and how is in manifested in 'tMitHC'? What other self-designations did Dick have beside Gnostic? Your discussion re Dick's percetion of true humanity is interesting - but I'm not sure if it makes an appropriate response to the question. Good to see you responding to three questions - but this is not really necessary - 2 each week is enough . . .
ReplyDeleteHi Shayne
ReplyDeletePerhaps Dick thought that showing others consideration was important because we never know when we are dealing with God. Therefore, if one knows another person requires assistance, then "leave God to serve God" (Dick as cited in McKee, 2004, p. 35). This is because Dick considered that God showed Himself in unpredictable places (McKee, 2004). According to Brown (2001), "one of the many strengths of his [Dick's] work was the empathy with which he wrote about ordinary people in extraordinary circumstances" (p. vii). He valued the ordinary, low and trashy as even in these he believed religious messages were hidden, even God Himself (McKee, 2004).