Lost in time

We are in 2019. To many of you it might just be another year, little different from 2018 or 2020. To me, however, 2019 is the year in which Blade Runner (1982) is set. I have numerous reasons to love that sci-fi masterpiece. To start with, it was the first film I ever saw in its original version in a cinema. It also has the very first movie lines I ever learnt by heart in English (the poignant Tears In Rain soliloquy). Besides, the themes in the film are truly powerful. What does it mean to be human? Is empathy exclusive to humans? What is the future of our planet? What is the value of memories? If by the end of the movie you have not reflected on your own mortality, you're probably way too young or there is something wrong with you. 

The thing is I came out of the movie theater emotionally drained. Soon I became obsessed with the film. It was like the Borgesian zahir. I simply couldn’t get it out of my mind. Seriously. I read countless books about it, saw as many documentaries as I could get my hands on and, of course, watched all five available versions of the film over and over again. I believe it is fair to say that I have turned into something of a Blade Runner aficionado. So… Why do I bring up this particular fixation of mine? Because the unit we are exploring (in the C1.1 course) deals precisely with memories. And memories happen to be a key element in Blade Runner.

Early in the movie Tyrell, the creator of the replicants, explains how memory implants allow him control his androids better since fake memories offer them "a cushion or pillow for their emotions". We also get to witness Rachael’s deep sadness when she learns that everything she remembers about her childhood is actually not real. And, of course, there’s the unforgettable final monolog. Sensing his imminent death Roy Batty, the last surviving replicant, delivers a moving 41-word speech in which he mentions some of the astonishing experiences he’s had in his short-lived existence. His conclusion is utterly devastating: “all those moments will be lost in time like tears in rain”. Kudos to actor Rutger Hauer, who came up with that line which hits us hard partly because, like Harrison Ford's Deckard, we are forced to see him die and because, as spectators, we are compelled to consider not only our impending mortality but also our own memories.

Just think about it. What would we be without memories? Isn’t that the greatest tragedy of suffering from Alzheimer’s disease? (You forget who you are) Who will remember us when we’re dead? That’s, by the way, a central theme in the Pixar movie Coco (2017). I’m afraid all our memories will certainly be lost in time… There's not much we can do about that. But for the time being, we can enjoy them, treasure them and talk about them. How do we do that?

Well, in class we have learnt quite a few expressions that may help us discuss our past. A smell, for instance, might take you back to your childhood. The taste of a particular dish might bring back fond memories. When you look back on your salad years you might realize how blissfully happy you were back then. So, even if those files will eventually vanish into the unfathomable vastness of the universe, it is undeniably true that, at least for a couple of decades, some of our experiences may be etched or seared into our memory.

Needless to say, I will soon return to Blade Runner. Today, however, let me conclude this rather lengthy post by sharing a video that combines the evocative power of words and the complexity of some people’s feelings about the past.

It was at the end of a class on Tuesday that I happened to mention John Koenig and his Dictionary of Obscures Sorrows, a thought-provoking website (and YouTube channel) that explains neologisms which Koening himself coins in order to capture otherwise unnamable emotions. I specifically referred to one of his most memorable concepts: nostalgia for a time you’ve never known. He calls it anemoia. Here’s his video for that delicate word. Enjoy.

N.B. One last thing. C1.1 students: The 280-word essay I asked you to write should discuss the question Has Google made us all stupid? and don't forget that the video you're supposed to tape (1-2 minutes) should discuss either of thsese topics: Is it alright to keep secrets? or Is the world better now than it was 50 years ago?