The Pixar Theory

[Charles Castle]

http://www.buzzfeed.com/spenceralthouse/this-theory-on-pixar-movies-will-blow-your-mind

Enjoyable for those of us with too much time.

[Johnny Unusual]

Nice.  This sort of gets touched on here:

[goflyblind]

here's the original (very wordy) version, wherein he says he was inspired by that cracked video in the first third sentence: http://jonnegroni.com/2013/07/11/the-pixar-theory/

[Charles Castle]

I like the part about Cars. I skipped that one as well.

[Johnny Unusual]

Cars is to Pixar what the Incredible Hulk is to Marvel

[Darth Geek]

Hey I liked The Incredible Hulk, don't sully it by comparing it to Cars.

Cars itself may have been mediocre in comparison to the other Pixar movies, but it is very clear that NO thought whatsoever about the world as a whole went into it, AT ALL. The story is entirely irrelevant to the fact that they happen to be machines instead of humans. So the idea that "it's really after the apocalypse" is just fanfic wankery. And while I don't mind such theorizing about the other ones because they all had effort put into them. Cars didn't, and doesn't deserve such consideration.

[Johnny Unusual]

I don't think anyone really believes it was all some big intended masterplan.  It's just fun to weave all of the easter eggs and connections into a huge, coherent meta-narrative.  It's in the nature of the human mind to make these connections and the fact that it largely works is pretty cool.  And it doesn't bother me that a lesser film gets brought into the tapestry if it still fits in (the Allinoil and Buy and Large connection is pretty cool).

It's sort of like how every TV show that ever was takes place here.

[Darth Geek]

It's sort of like how every TV show that ever was takes place here.

I don't recognize the picture.

[MrTorso]

It's sort of like how every TV show that ever was takes place here.

I don't recognize the picture.

It is the ending to St. Elsewhere

The whole show took place in the autistic kid's snow globe

[Johnny Unusual]

St. Elsewhere.  The final episode.  See, Saint Elsewhere had more than one guest appearance by characters from other TV series.  Though it is a hospital drama, it would often be irreverent and goofy and though it would often be poignant, it wasn't trying to be a realistic hospital drama, just an engaging and well-written one. But the final episode made it even stranger... then gave us a strange, beautiful reveal.

Yep, the show was in the imagination of an autistic child who recast some loved ones in key roles.

Some fans were upset by the ending, but a lot missed the message: it was saying that "this was a fantasy."  Or to steal one of my favourite Alan Moore quotes "This is an imaginary story.  Aren't they all?"  But in this reveal, it also means that the other TV series where characters guested on are in his head... and characters who were on their shows.  You'd be surprised how many TV shows this extends too, from cop dramas to sitcoms and other shows that make references to other shows existing (Detective Munch plays a BIG part in this theory).

Yep, all TV shows are imaginary.  And they are all (or at least a fantastic number) are happening in one imaginary boy's imagination.

[Darth Geek]

Let me guess, and that snow globe got broken in Citizen Kane, right? Sheesh, stupid soap operas.

[Johnny Unusual]

Yeah, you know, except it's not a soap opera.

[Darth Geek]

Yeah, you know, except it's not a soap opera.

D'oh, you're right, it wasn't a daytime show.

[Johnny Unusual]

Well, that and a night time soap genre would fit in with more serialized drama, usually focused on "family life, personal relationships, sexual dramas, emotional and moral conflicts."  Now of course, this could be used to describe a lot of TV that isn't really considered soapy, but generally, there's a big emphasis on the last 2.  Generally, the lighter and more comedic (some fans think to it's detriment as it went on) elements are in the foreground and for the most part things were wrapped up at the end of the episode.  It really has more in common with Northern Exposure than Melrose Place.

Of course, foreign soap operas can go by different rules.  There was a really interesting podcast from the BBC about how soap operas of different countries can have a positive influence on society, such as African ones that deal with AIDS and give a lot more sympathy to the victims (parents disowning their infected children are not unheard of) or even the idea of birthday parties for girls in lower classes in India.  Really interesting stuff.  I wonder how North American soaps would like to make the world a better place.

That's... deeply depressing.  Unintentionally hilarious, but depressing.

[Charles Castle]

I am of the mind that once any piece of art is made, the real intentions of the artist/s aren't really of any greater importance than whatever interpretation I come up with. I suspect some of the greatest works of art are great works of art because they are so open to a multitude of different readings.

The alternative, something having a straight line of interpretation, without a real interaction with the viewer/listener/reader doesn't sound very fun at all.