equilibrium: a 'thought' state

earlier this afternoon, out of complete boredom, i've decided to pay the nearby video shop a visit. since its been a while since the last time i have borrowed something out from them. most of the list that they have were movies i have already watched. while some are not really of my interest. but since i was already there, i was forced to pick any movies that i am not really familiar with. one of which was equilibrium which starred christian bale.

the what i thought to be a typical movie, happens to have a very interesting story plot. it was a sci-fi action movie that tackled a futuristic state were emotions are prohibited. the tyrrant who runs the state believes that the root of all problems in the world is due to man's emotions: happiness, sorrow, fear and even love. thus, they have to come up with a formula that supresses human emotions and eradicate everything that triggers it. such as music, art pieces, literature, colors, and all objects that represents memories and sentimental value such as pictures, etc. they even plastered their windows to cover up the sun from rising and setting---impressing!

if you'll come to think of it, the film is not that far from reality. probably, if this will happen soon, the first person the state will hunt for will be dabo---just kidding. peace. nyahaha!

i believe that there is no such thing as an utopia nor there will be a form of society that will be suitable for all mankind. even the game of sims could not be deemed as an utopian community. for it only allows the player to play and act as god. but not to control the emotions of each of the characters. it will take one patience, strategies, maneuvers, and various set ups just to convince a character to do "woohoo" with another character.

aside from rationality, emotions are the things that separate man from other beings. human have emotions. while animals have insticts. one should recognize the difference of one from the other. emotions, as ironic as it may sound, rely to rationality. while instinct depends on drives (food, sex etc.).

emotions play a vital part of our everyday life. everything that we do and think is anchored to it. for man's primary leaning, as to coin one philosoper, is to look for pleasure and avoid pain. although both maybe relative.

to cut the story short, after i have watched the movie, i've asked myself, is it really possible to have an emotionless state? from which, everything is being driven with rationality? and rationality alone?

if you're someone who just came from a break up, probably you would wish for this state to happen too. but for me, i could just imagine a state where there are no one sided bangs, no eye liner, no dark lipsticks, no suicides, and no lasseration. at first, the picture made me laugh (no offense, guys). but when the thought experiment begun to sink in, i then saw a society with no arts, no music, no hugging, no kissing, no keeping of used movie tickets and past cafe/restaurant receipts and no sentimental items. everything is basically, dull and mechanical close to being robotic.

even if sometimes our emotions are making us look outrageously ridiculous, overratedly mushy and and pathetically desperate, one way or another, only in that state, we feel human. and being human goes about any definition of pleasure nor pain. it is a distinct sensation, both a gift and a curse and above all, this makes who we are.