Parasite Dreams, Zeitgeist and Kymatica: Differing Presentations of Reality.

Here we have three films that strive to bring viewers to experience the nature of awareness, how knowledge can be a burden, or an immaterial yet highly valuable empowering force. Responses to Kymatica for example, are likely to involve feelings of enlightenment and realisation of a place (however small it may be) in a vast, chaotic universe. Parasite Dreams on the other hand presents an uncompromisingly nihilistic take on reality, one that encourages viewers to feel like indisputably worthless products of their culture, enslaved without exception. Zeitgeist falls somewhere in the middle, lacking the spiritual aspirations of Kymatica, and the haunting paranoia that bought about Parasite Dreams, it employs a more factual, informative approach as its foundation. Each of these three presentations of reality possess a distinct approach, a clear basis that serves both as the strength that garners unquestioning adoration, or the weakness that critics target exclusively.

Parasite Dreams immediately feels like the direct product of the paranoid misanthropy of creator Britney Morgentaler and the people of Goat Worship. Little is known of the individuals behind Parasite Dreams, and I merely assume Morgentaler is the primary creative mind behind the series. The eight episodes or 'dreams' that make up the series also carry a health warning. My first impression was that this was a gimmick, or a creative device applied to intensify any unease felt upon watching a dream. The warning reads ominously;

“ If you have, or suspect you have DID (Dissociative Identity Disorder) or (MPD) Multiple Personality Disorder, the moderator urges you to LEAVE THIS PAGE NOW… IT IS FULL OF TRIGGERS.

“

Whilst often passed off as a trick played on vulnerable viewers, members of online communities have stated they feel certain individuals would do well to take heed of this warning even if they haven't been diagnosed with those two particular conditions, DID and MPD. Indeed, Parasite Dreams is the work of an apparently paranoid and nihilistic mind, and the response felt by viewers could come to have them consider their own perception and thought processes. A rational, sane person would, I imagine, dismiss Morgentaler's hateful portrayal of mainstream Western culture, decadent, lazy and subservient to a cruel, almost non-human upper class ruling elite. In Parasite Dreams celebrities gather in sinister, cult like congregations. In one instance rapper 50 cent describes his struggle to push inner city youths towards violence and gun crime though music.

According to Morgentaler the world around us is the work of a select few, our food is poisoned and every soundwave and television image manufactured to maintain a state of mass slavery. Means of correcting this abuse of communication and technology are not suggested. Maybe most viewers would dismiss the reality presented by Morgentaler, based on its sheer outrageousness, whilst others would be won over, for better or worse. In the same way a therapist must be mentally fit to handle his or her sessions with patients, a viewers response to Parasite Dreams may be entirely dependent on their own state of mind.

I believe all three of these presentations of reality, are watched with a desire to feel enlightened, with the urge to find a realistic new direction, entirely unrelated to the monetary system and societal convention. In a world that many have come to believe is suffering a complete spiritual collapse, a world suffering from the collective apathy of the masses comes Parasite Dreams. If the health warning is indeed more than a gimmick, we can assume certain viewers may feel they immediately connect to the world of Parasite Dreams. Abstract fears are made tangible by the grotesque animated visuals, there may be viewers who will not return to the world they once knew after watching a dream, to such viewers Parasite Dreams may be perceived as a direct, uncensored reflection of every day life.

Parasite Dreams preys on the need for answers possessed by viewers, this desire for a solution is easily transformed to a sense of hopelessness and a complete lack of belief in our ability to influence our every day lives. Each dream launches a full scale attack on the psychological fragility of those who feel lost. Popular, recognisable figures, celebrities and politicians are shown to be sexually abusing children, individuals such as Barack Obama who we already assume to be powerful or belonging to stations above our own are presented as monsters by Morgentaler, entirely free to abuse their positions. In Parasite Dreams there is a ruling class, one that is entirely unrestricted by the laws that govern our own lives, it frighteningly easy to assume we only known a very small portion of what occurs in upper echelons of society, to some viewers it may not seem so outrageous that the evil illustrated in Parasite Dreams is not totally removed from reality.

In defence of Parasite Dreams, I've heard members of web forums and others I know personally say the series is an essential and important response to mainstream media and the dangerously self serving politicians and celebrities that seem to define who we all are today. Some may feel reassured they are not alone in their criticisms of mainstream culture and consider Parasite Dreams to be something that puts words and images to thoughts they could never fully understand or present to others. Be it a hatred of social networking sites or an uncompromising stance against the current occupations of Iraq and Afghanistan, Parasite Dreams may bring about a better awareness of our subconscious hopes and fears. The hope for change in a world more endangered than we every previously realised.

Depending on how you look at it, Parasite Dreams is entertaining, bizarre scenarios such as Barack Obama playing National Socialist punk rock music at a disco can possibly be interpreted as surreal, black comedy when removed from the inherent message within each dream. In one scene, during the sixth dream, Santa Claus describes infant sacrifice to Baal, or Beelzebub, one of the seven princes of Hell and a deity worshipped in the city of Ekron, according to the Old Testament. Two children stand silent, listening to an unsettling description of babies cooked alive. Again, responses to these outrageous sequences depend entirely on the viewers state of mind, some may dismiss these scenes as pretentious, with no relation to every day reality, whilst others may be bought to question the actual worth of their own religious and cultural traditions.

Parasite Dreams places blame on humans, we shoulder the blame for our situation collectively, each and every one of us connected to human cruelty and the actions of our fellow man and woman. We are left frustrated, aware of our lack of ability to change anything other than our own perception. Our ideas lack potency, we can voice them but without consequence. Characters that express frustration or voice their opposition to what is deemed acceptable in the world of Parasite Dreams are ignored, mocked or dismissed. There is no real confrontation as a result of opposing views, this is an interesting way of suggesting however well crafted your argument or elaborate your belief the system will remain entirely unthreatened.

Parasite Dreams does not set out out to influence or persuade viewers to any specific way of thinking or to any particular morals or ideas, it has no agenda other than to present its creators idea of reality. We are all responsible for our own reaction to Parasite Dreams, the confusion, indifference or paranoia that may follow viewing.

Kymatica presents reality in a more spiritual light, it suggests that there is a reality we are presently unconscious to, one that could be our saviour, a state that has been lost with the ways of ancient Shamanic tribes, the onset of technological progressions and uncorrected faults in our culture. The creator of Kymatica, Ben Stewart, is keen to point out we are not to blame, as our 'false ego', is the driving force of all that is bad, it is apparent in each human being, and it is currently winning over our true self, the state we must attain to experience reality. The film suggests we can each attain reality and liberation by simply becoming aware of our true selves, we need not look further beyond our value as human beings, and in spite of what our lives suggest, we are extremely valuable and spiritual beings. The extent to which the viewer believes in the idea of false ego and true self may be what decides their view on Kymatica overall. Kymatica views all human behaviour as related to true self or false ego. This dualism is apparent in all acts of good and bad.

Kymatica is the most poetic of the three presentations of reality, outer space footage, an ambient soundtrack, biblical imagery and a narration that makes spiritual concepts tangible and compatible with our every day life. There is also an optimism the other films lack that is present from the start of Kymatica, Stewart explains how destructive human behaviour is bound to lead to an evolution, one that will inevitably take place when the time is right and bring about a positive change in direction. Stewart also supports the idea we are all one and connected to everything beyond our species, we are one self. In the world of Kymatica there is no need for fear, we have a place, untouchable liberties and limitless potential. It is only an illusion, a product of our own and others false ego that we are lost, restricted or bound to destruction.

Similar to Zeitgeist Kymatica details the connection between Bible stories and historical astronomical events. Unlike Zeitgeist, however, this is not done in a manner that discredits the bible. Battles amongst deities in the Bible are interpreted as allegorical stories that were inspired by the movement and collision of planets. Stewart explores the idea Angels, Devil's, Cherubim and God himself are all within us, they are all metaphors for aspects of our psyche. The Devil is the false ego, God is the true self.

".....as we barrel through history with oceans of information yet barely a drop of wisdom, we have to understand how we lost our self."

By giving into the false ego we become serial sinners, Stewart considers this to be due to a breakdown in communication, one that leads to humans behaving in a manner that reflects cancer. We expand, oblivious to signals sent by the greater body we are within, suffering based on our inability to know ourselves. Looking at mainstream human values and our behaviour as a species all over the planet it is hard to dispute we are presently making the wrong decision and ignoring the vast potential of communication. Stewart explains that language has deteriorated, and through losing the original meaning of words in ancient languages and the frequencies produced when speaking those words we find it harder to communicate the idea of our true self.

Distinguishing Kymatica from Parasite Dreams and Zeitgeist is the idea of the natural self, the concept our birth names allow others to assume ownership over us. We are something beneath our title, our title is the name of a corporation that can be influenced and controlled for profit by a powerful few. We are advised to pursue our natural self, our consciousness and essence beneath the name, job and cultural background. This is another aspect of Kymatica that I felt set it apart as the most uplifting of the three films.

Kymatica humanises the cosmos, portraying planets as conscious, living beings, responding to stimuli, vibrating and moving through space, much in the same way as our species. This idea is later linked to the philosophy of astrology, that our emotions and behaviour can be influenced by planetary movement, the idea that signals, magnetic fields and solar energy play an important, influential role in our place on earth. Realising our connection with the cosmos as a whole, that all is one great vibration, elaborately connected and God is merely another word for consciousness form the first steps of understanding the true self.

The title refers to Cymatics, the study of sound and vibration made visible to the human eye. The idea that sound waves play an important role in influencing and even shaping the physical world. An example of this is given in a quote by Swami Murugesu, a Sri Lankan spiritual teacher who placed a great deal of importance on the power of sound;

“By filming a burning candle while repeating certain sounds, the flame of the candle will be seen to burn differently as each different sound is uttered.”

This leads one to consider the true cost of the deterioration of language, how it has been reworked to suit the select few who wish to continue ownership of the planet and its inhabitants. Examples of this include mistranslations in the Bible and the idea that duality can be reduced to merely Good and Evil. A greater understanding of language, spiritual tradition and the role sound plays in human emotion and well being is another aspect of understanding the true self. Reality in Kymatica is something that can be attained, without exception, from within. We are capable of waking ourselves up and at least having a more more lucid, clarified understanding of our present situation.

The Zeitgeist series also urges to viewer to wake up, not by a change in perspective but in situation, this includes complete rejection of the monetary system and government bodies. I will focus on Zeitgeist: The Movie, the first of three films and the one that seems to define most peoples impression of director Peter Joseph's objectives.

In many respects Zeitgeist is the most difficult of the three films to defend. Early in the film Peter Joseph suggests the Jesus story existed in numerous historical cultures, including ancient Egypt and that the entire Jesus story is an allegorical reference to the movement of the Sun in relation to Earth over the Winter Solstice. On an immediate level this is convincing, so certain of itself that is is difficult to dispute, independent research after watching, however, will lead many viewers to reconsider the credibility of this opening gambit. There is little to no evidence the Jesus story is distinctly apparent in the lives of deities such as Horus as is suggested in the film, and all such claims are lacking any real sources. Individuals on the Internet have dedicated themselves to debunking Zeitgeist, something that has created a degree of militancy in its followers, to the point of forming a 'Zeitgeist Movement'. Whilst personally open to the idea astrology played a role in the conception of Biblical myths and folk stories, I don't consider this to be an important aspect of Zeitgeist's core objectives. Some viewers have even suggested the present movement should separate itself from the films and work independently of Joseph.

Religious themes aside, Zeitgeist explores the events that led to and surround 9/11 with admirable attention to detail. It is also another interpretation of a sensitive subject that many have dedicated themselves to debunking. More so than Kymatica and Parasite Dreams, there is a desire to believe apparent in viewers of Zeitgeist, they are tired of profiteering, war mongering politicians and the scare tactics played by religious leaders and Zeitgeist is something that gives voice to the disillusionment of its viewers.

“Nothing is more profitable for international bankers than war.”

Joseph is confident 9/11 was an inside job, given the go ahead by government officials and used to gain greater control over American citizens and as an excuse to make billions of dollars by the invasion of Iraq and Afghanistan. I stand by the opinion I had before watching Zeitgeist, whilst convincing in its arguments, I don't feel it important whether or not the American government orchestrated 9/11. What's really important is the indisputable reality, America's open and documented response to the attack. We are seeing a repeat of previous senseless wars and invasions, the loss of civilian life and no sign of progress or overcoming the apparent enemy, whoever the enemy actually is. I imagine a great majority of Zeitgeist viewers have come to disagree entirely with the idea war can settle human differences and make way for a better tomorrow, and they are confident we are being systematically lied to in order to have us support the profitable occupation of Iraq and Afghanistan.

Conspiracy theories aside, Zeitgeist simply reminds us that somebody has to be paid to rebuild bombed villages, to extract oil and to produce weapons.

It is hard to deny George W Bush used 9/11 to incite nationalistic fervour and win over American citizens. The west had a new enemy, the modern replacement of Communism in the form of Islam. Terrorist, terrorism, weapons of mass destruction, jihad, these words are to this day repeated almost hypnotically, convincing us of an inhuman, evil threat that we must bomb until it goes away. On the ground level the invasions of Iraq and Afghanistan are based on the belief an ideological system, steeped in history can be killed. Members of government, however, have ordered the invasions knowing full well the potential for profit and future influence in Middle Eastern affairs. Zeitgeist suggests Cheney watched over the attack on the Twin Towers, it was simply meant to happen, everything went to plan on September 11^th .

In desperate, poverty stricken times, seemingly void of direction and consciousness Zeitgeist represents hope, for its committed supporters at least. If Parasite Dreams presents a reality beyond salvation, Kymatica the suggestion we have been removed from reality, Zeitgeist is an attempt to incite people to challenge the present political and monetary framework, it is very real and very dangerous. I felt Zeitgeist's main strength to be its complex exploration of money production and the impact it has on human lives, we are effectively slaves who have dedicated our lives to a concept, the idea paper carries value and is what comes before all else. Science, philosophy, art and human compassion are meaningless in the face of the monetary system, everything has come to depend on money and value is viewed solely in financial terms. The individuals with the most influence and say in world events are not spiritual figures, nor are they pacifists or teachers, they are bankers, some fourth generation Rockefeller and inheritors of artificial wealth.

Joseph describes events in American banking history that are harrowingly easy to connect to the class divisions and degrees of poverty that exist to this day. Decisions to seize the public's gold in order to bail out the Federal Reserve Bank, Joseph explains how significant banking figures used the depression of 1933 to their advantage, stating the potential for banks to collapse if not bailed out by the public. Members of the public, fearful of losing all the money they had given over to banks handed over their gold, something that possessed real value as opposed to the assumed and entirely flexible value of currency. To this day the public is responsible for correcting the errors of bankers, prices soar and the loss of balance between price and income becomes greater and greater. One man, in this case Joseph, cannot bring about a complete rejection of the monetary system, but viewers are encouraged to at least be aware of the debt, poverty and starvation we are doomed to repeat if we continue to play what is essentially a game with no ending, the pursuit of money by any means.

Individuals opposed to Zeitgeist have stated rejection of the monetary system is inherently lazy, that humans need financial and material incentive to accomplish anything. I consider great scientists and artists who lived in relative poverty, misunderstood by peers and rejected in their age, I consider individuals such as Nikola Tesla who worked to benefit mankind with their inventions, this potentially being the primary objective, not money. The rejection of the monetary system, as encouraged by Zeitgeist is also criticized by many as a form of idealism, a Utopian idea with little weight in the reality, I find it hard to see fault in possessing hope and optimism in times of great distress and suffering.

Zeitgeist ends with Bill Hicks famous 'It's Just a Ride' speech, which is interesting as the entire film up to this conclusion suggests the dangers we are confronted by on a daily basis are very real. Maybe the ride is extremely real, but only if we allow it to be, in the same way currency is only valuable if we choose to accumulate it, or religious traditions are only significant if we are born to a certain time or place. Considering Hicks speech after watching Zeitgeist led me to think of the ride as a construct, built on the foundations of collective conciousness. Some individuals have learnt to change the direction and form of our collective consciousness, not contributing but restricting and destroying in an unimaginably self serving manner. It is indeed just a ride, but there is evidence to suggest there are also operators and they must be done away with for the sake of our planet, species and self.

References;

http://www.gayathripeedam.com/2007/07/science-of-mantra.html

www.imdb.com/title/tt1166827/

http://dotsub.com/view/8ca87c4f-79d7-4eae-92da-37123be1872c/viewTranscript/eng

http://sentimentalcorp.org/