Back to the Lego Movie

            Laura brought up the Lego Movie earlier and this is another post/comment to hers. I just saw the film and I agree that it is Awesome (see the movie), and it is a text that seems to have been made for this class. As Laura said, this film both works with and subverts the mono-myth. We’ve got the (bearded) mentor, herald, trickster, shape shifter, and shadow almost as caricatures of those roles, all done in a spirit of parody. Yet, there are a couple of serious moments (see the movie) that work to directly evoke and counteract the role of the hero.

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            What is really weird is that one of the conflicts of the movie is almost copy-pasted from the John Fiske article we read. I think I can safely say without spoiling anything that there is a conflict over the use of the “instructions” that come with Lego sets. There are some characters who want to follow them to the letter without deviation and those who want to ignore them completely. So there is the product as the manufactures have created them to be used and the way the people use them in subversion to the manufactures. But, now the manufactures have made a text permitting such use of their product, which Fiske would say was their effort to contain the subversion, something like the example he provided, the shopping mall promoting “mall walkers” (40-41).

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            And there is more. Many of the Lego characters are a walking cross-textual spaghetti bowl.  As he is in the previews and posters I can mention that Lego Batman features prominently in the movie. There are all kind of jokes and references about him and every other superhero/character Lego person. And so all of these characters bring behind them their associated fandoms and tangled inter-connected fandoms. The film makes use of it all.

            In summary, everyone in class should see the Lego Movie. It is worth it on its own and may be useful in class. Laura is right about the song. Be ready for that.

Note: should anyone from Warner Bros. or Lego read this I would not mind being paid :)

The Lego Movie

Perhaps a little off topic, but today some people expressed disappointment in stories where the hero starts out as an everyman and turns into THE MOST IMPORTANT AND SPECIAL PERSON EVER and thus becomes someone we can't realte to anymore. And since we also discussed the popularity and success of the Lego Movie, I wanted to say that I think they would enjoy The Lego Movie! Without trying to give away too much of the plot, I’ll say that the movie does have a hero who is the chosen one (he's literally called "The Special" who is supposed to restore the world to peace) but I think the movie does an absolutely fantastic job of subverting that trope.

It’s also really funny and cute heartwarming and I had a smile on my face the entire movie and I SWEAR Warner Bros. is not paying me to promo their movie, I just loved it so, so much and I think it’s the kind of movie that would appeal to everyone. Warning though: the main theme song will be in your head for the rest of your life. You will be lying in your coffin and the song will still be playing in your head.