A dream, in many ways, is like the city you live in. Within your mind, there are infinite realms of ideas including death, desire, memory, names, signs, and other aspects which also form the base of every society. The book Invisible Cities by Italo Calvino, can, in this sense, be compared to the movie Waking Dream. While one gives the description of several very distinct cities (which in the end are all the same place), the other tells the story of a lucid dreamer exploring the different ideas and boundaries of life. In the end, they both show how our notion of the real and the surreal can be reflected upon society itself.
The screen shot above is clearly focusing on the man getting burned. There are several laws of composition being put into use which draw the viewer’s eyes towards this main object. The fire’s bright and extravagant color differs from the dull, overall shades throughout the rest of the capture. There are a total of five objects being shown, bringing forth the rule of odds. The man is strategically placed in the center of two columns, a hydrant, and a gasoline bottle, giving him more importance over the other objects. He is sitting down, and shaded in black. His physical features cannot be distinguished, but the position he is in seems to be calm, serene, and at peace with what is happening. Ironically, a water hydrant was included in this caption. We all know that these are used to put out fires, usually in buildings or houses. In this case though, an actual human being is getting burned, yet there is no one there to put him out.
Evidently, when you look at this screen shot you see fire and a lack of life. This moment in Waking Life could be easily connected with Cities & The Dead 2 in chapter six of Invisible Cities. Adelma, was a city in Italo Calvino’s novel where the narrator focuses on explaining how and why it is better not to stare at or recognize its lifeless inhabitants. In the movie caption, the man’s face has been shaded black so that no one can make out who this person is. As I mentioned before, all the viewer’s attention is drawn to this specific object. Clearly, both the book and the movie caption chose to emphasize on how dark and unknown the face of death is to the living. There is a line in this chapter that states the following: “... I was assailed by unexpected faces, reappearing from far away, staring at me as if demanding recognition, as if to recognize me, as if they had already recognized me.” (Calvino pg. 95). This passage expresses the frustration of the dead in the city of Adelma. They obviously want to be recognized, but fail to do so. The man in the caption also represents frustration in the sense that although he is surrounded by fire and pain, there is no sign that he regrets being in that situation. Buddhist monks would immolate themselves as a form of protest, also hoping to be recognized. As you can see, Calvino, as well as the director of Waking Life chose to revolve around the ideas of death, mystery, and frustration.
Evidently, when you look at this screen shot you see fire and a lack of life. This moment in Waking Life could be easily connected with Cities & The Dead 2 in chapter six of Invisible Cities. Adelma, was a city in Italo Calvino’s novel where the narrator focuses on explaining how and why it is better not to stare at or recognize its lifeless inhabitants. In the movie caption, the man’s face has been shaded black so that no one can make out who this person is. As I mentioned before, all the viewer’s attention is drawn to this specific object. Clearly, both the book and the movie caption chose to emphasize on how dark and unknown the face of death is to the living. There is a line in this chapter that states the following: “... I was assailed by unexpected faces, reappearing from far away, staring at me as if demanding recognition, as if to recognize me, as if they had already recognized me.” (Calvino pg. 95). This passage expresses the frustration of the dead in the city of Adelma. They obviously want to be recognized, but fail to do so. The man in the caption also represents frustration in the sense that although he is surrounded by fire and pain, there is no sign that he regrets being in that situation. Buddhist monks would immolate themselves as a form of protest, also hoping to be recognized. As you can see, Calvino, as well as the director of Waking Life chose to revolve around the ideas of death, mystery, and frustration.
This screen shot is filled with random colors, shapes, and lines, provoking a sense of confusion and chaos for the viewer. Our main focus is on the man’s face, which seems to be very disordered and undefined. All the movement happening draws allot of attention and brings forth several mixed feelings. There are red lines that point at the man’s expression, which coincides with the caption’s general tone. All of the man’s facial feature’s seem to be in place, except for his skin.
The city of Hypatia, in Cities & Signs 4 of Invisible Cities, is a place which strongly relates to this movie caption. Calvino describes Hypatia as a confusing city which travelers cannot understand. He specifically states that “Of all the changes of language a traveler in distant lands must face, none equals that which awaits him in the city of Hypatia, because the change regards not words, but things.” (Calvino pg. 47). In the Waking Life image, ideas are also expressed indirectly. There are obviously no words being said, and the viewer is at first puzzled with ideas trying to be expressed. Both the city and the caption are a representation of how true understanding is not always achieved in the most literal ways.
The city of Hypatia, in Cities & Signs 4 of Invisible Cities, is a place which strongly relates to this movie caption. Calvino describes Hypatia as a confusing city which travelers cannot understand. He specifically states that “Of all the changes of language a traveler in distant lands must face, none equals that which awaits him in the city of Hypatia, because the change regards not words, but things.” (Calvino pg. 47). In the Waking Life image, ideas are also expressed indirectly. There are obviously no words being said, and the viewer is at first puzzled with ideas trying to be expressed. Both the city and the caption are a representation of how true understanding is not always achieved in the most literal ways.
Both Invisible Cities and Waking Life express very similar themes in a completely unique way. From these pairs of screen shots and cities, allot about them can be inferred. As we can tell from the first comparison, death has always been an unknown concept which in many cases expresses the frustration of the living. The second comparison brings forth the idea that there are many means of comprehension, and that the hardest one will never be as expected. All of this comes to show us that sometimes it takes an unreal idea, like those expressed in the book and movie, to deliver the truth.
