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View Full Version : Alphaville (Jean-Luc Godard, 1965) Why vs Because/Emotion?


whughes
10-25-2009, 03:43 PM
The inhabitants of Alphaville all have to follow the same train of thought, where love is unknown and any sort of emotion results in death. Professor Von Braun the creator of Alpha 60 wants to declare war on the world (outside of Alphaville). His tactics come to an end though when Private Investigator Lemmy Caution scrambles up the system of Alpha 60.

A common thought that was passing through the minds of the Alphaville residents was “people should not ask why, but only because.” When “because” is the only answer it means whatever someone demands you must do. As you can see, with the women in this film they get taken advantage of. Most are used as prostitutes or as they like to call “seductresses.” If were never given the option to question ourselves than how would we learn from our mistakes. You would be stuck playing by the rules of someone else’s game which Professor Von Braun is trying to achieve.

Also, another common thought was to not convey any sort of emotion which reminds me of the film “The Invasion” (Oliver Hirschbiegel, 2007). In these two films you will find a common theme. If you show emotion then you will be taken hostage or killed. If we were to live our lives emotion free, would it be a good thing or a bad thing? From my point of view, never having to worry for an exam or homework would make my life less overwhelming. Never feeling anger or sadness would mean less controversy. All of this would result in a stress free environment. However, never getting the chance to feel real emotions like love or happiness, well than what would we have to live for? The characters in this film are almost like walking zombies that don’t actually eat people. They have been completely brainwashed. There is not interaction with one another, everything is just business.

kflagg
10-28-2009, 01:39 PM
I found the last bit of your response interesting when you said that the citizens of Alphaville are brainwashed. I think one can make the case that we are living in our own Alphaville today. Yes we are free to experience love and emotions, but aren’t our concepts of love and friendship conceived from people before us. People watch films like Casablanca and their perception of what love should be is altered. I agree with you that this film is attempting to highlight the danger in allowing our thoughts and feelings to be dictated by others. I agree with this, yet I know that for the past nineteen years of my life, the media and the people around me have imposed their opinions and views on me so much that they’ve become my own. That sounds like being brainwashed to me. I see the message that Jean Luc-Godard is trying to deliver in this movie, but what can we do with it? The way I speak, the way I feel about topics have all been altered and changed by other people, just as the residents of Alphaville were influenced by Alpha 60.

sgimenez
10-28-2009, 05:15 PM
I definitely agree with both statements about the 'because' reasoning. The movie's ideals enforce how the inhabitants of Alphaville are to behave, and to NOT question such judgment from Alpha 60. We are somewhat altered about what certain emotions are supposed to feel like, yes, but we are still allowed to change the status quo, something the people in the movie weren't allowed to do.

Love is love, happiness is happiness, etc... Professor Von Braun doesn't see things like that, and is thus in part reason why he created that machine. The controversial thought that all people should think the same thing, not question higher authority, and to abide by all rules can be easily categorized as a tyrannical or dictator-like utopia (kinda ironic?).

All in all, emotion is imperative is running a society effectively, seeing as how not even Alpha 60 can handle the information Lemmy gave it. It's all meant draw comparison to our world today, and it's up to the viewer to determine which society is more successful.

jkatz
10-29-2009, 07:22 PM
You make a very valid point about something I noticed throughout the film, the treatment of women. Women in this seem to be even more effected by Alpha 60 than the men because of their role as the ‘seductress.” The men of Alphaville constantly take advantage of the women as sex slaves and for other jobs. This was a reoccurring theme through the duration, I don’t know if it is worthy enough to include a paragraph on but it is something to consider nonetheless.