I keep thinking that the old movie ZARDOZ would be a neat
metaphor for certain aspects of the present political and cultural
situation.
I've come to the conclusion that apart from his species the character of Invader Zim is essentially the idealized form of the complete modern utopian agitator.
Like the modern utopian agitator Zim embodies supreme arrogance
combined with supreme ignorance and a total dependence on the technology
created by others with a level of personal ability barely suitable for
working in the fast food industry. As one the leaders of the Irkan
Empire, Almighty Tallest Purple once asked Zim, "shouldn't you be frying
something?"
And what can I say about the Irkans?
They not only militarized their society in the manner dreamed about by various utopians
but they have also gone beyond those arch-militarists, the ancient
Spartans, in completely removing the family from the social structure
altogether. Zim's first words upon being decanted from the womb-machine
thingy were, "I love you cold robotic arm."
Of course having achieved the utopian dream of totally regimenting
their own society the Irkans then proceed to indulge in that other
annoying habit of practicing utopians the conquest and ruthless
exploitation of their neighbors.
Invader Zim, having been sent to Earth so he wouldn't foul-up Operation Impending Doom II the way he wrecked Operation Impending Doom I,
regards himself to be grossly superior to the inhabitants (that's us)
even though every one of his schemes to effect a take down of human
society is thwarted by his next door neighbor, Dib, a boy who has seen
far too many episodes of The X-Files.
If it weren't for the well documented effects of various utopian schemes the various efforts of our own home-grown utopians to impose their will upon us would be almost as funny.
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