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(Photo Credit: 大衛柯能堡之【巨塔殺机】 / David Cronenberg's "Eastern Promises"; 維果莫天森 Viggo Mortensen; 娜歐蜜華茲 Naomi Watts; 文森卡索 Vincent Cassel)
You recognize the type when you get to know them - angular face (over a round one), tight lips, calculating minds, and a half-smile that seems to telepath "We can be friends, but don't ever screw around with me." Actually those are the softer ones among the hardest - at least they telepath !!
Don't get me wrong. I have known lots of good people in my life and I expect to meet more during my journey. But, the presence of hard men and women does not escape our notice in the movie "Eastern Promises" directed by David Cronenberg. They are like ghosts among the living, always lurking in the background; like razors in the cold wind, sharp and feelingless.
So, how do they become hard men and women? Is there a genetic disposition to becoming one - cold blood that runs through hot veins? Or should they blame it on their upbringing, perhaps by parents who did not cuddle their children or show affection in public? Or by society that weeds out the kind-hearted and rewards the hardened survivors?
I don't have an answer; and I did not get one from David Cronenberg.
You recognize the type when you get to know them - angular face (over a round one), tight lips, calculating minds, and a half-smile that seems to telepath "We can be friends, but don't ever screw around with me." Actually those are the softer ones among the hardest - at least they telepath !!
Don't get me wrong. I have known lots of good people in my life and I expect to meet more during my journey. But, the presence of hard men and women does not escape our notice in the movie "Eastern Promises" directed by David Cronenberg. They are like ghosts among the living, always lurking in the background; like razors in the cold wind, sharp and feelingless.
So, how do they become hard men and women? Is there a genetic disposition to becoming one - cold blood that runs through hot veins? Or should they blame it on their upbringing, perhaps by parents who did not cuddle their children or show affection in public? Or by society that weeds out the kind-hearted and rewards the hardened survivors?
I don't have an answer; and I did not get one from David Cronenberg.
4 comments:
Last week's Time magazine did a story of "What makes us good/evil?" Science tells us it is all in the prefrontal cortex, part innate and part learned. It confirms author Robert Steveson thought long time ago when he wrote Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. Human behave between the spectrum of two extrems. Many of us don't realize how easy for a person slip to Mr. Hyde's side in everyday's life.
Keith: So, from a legal point of view, if the fictional character Mr. Jekyll were to stand trial today, would "he" have been found guilty of first degree murder (i.e. pre-meditated), or not guilty by reason of insanity (Mr. Jekyll did not knowingly kill those people when his prefrontal cortex was acting up)??
No, it is not like that. The mystery of human mind is a lot more fanscinating. Prefrontal cortex is the part of the brain that makes moral decisions. We are born with the hardware. Good or evil is depended on how it is being wired (by our daily lives). Negative thoughts such as hatred and anger take us to the evil side. And there is moral rationale make criminals kind to their own family but extreme cruel to others...Modern science have undercovering the mystery of this wonderful creation in the universe. So did some great authors like Stevenson who had the insight without knowing the scientific discoveries. Dr. Jekyll knows the existence of Mr. Hyde, the duality of human mind enhanced by drug. The story is a lot more interesting than an insanity case--one of my favoriate book.
Keith: You are right - it's complicated. I googled a few sites and now have a better understanding of my Prefrontal Cortex. I want extended warranty on mine !!!
( Reference: Wikipedia on Prefrontal Cortex "... This brain region has been implicated in planning complex cognitive behaviors, personality expression, and moderating correct social behavior. The basic activity of this brain region is considered to be orchestration of thoughts and actions in accordance with internal goals. The most typical neurologic term for functions carried out by the pre-frontal cortex area is Executive Function. Executive Function relates to abilities to differentiate among conflicting thoughts, determine good and bad, better and best, same and different, future consequences of current activities, working toward a defined goal, prediction of outcomes, expectation based on actions, and social "control" (the ability to suppress urges that, if not suppressed, could lead to socially-unacceptable outcomes). Many authors have indicated an integral link between a person's personality and the functions of the prefrontal cortex..." )
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