The Big O

[aeternus_flammus]

I will explain (my own opinion) the symbolism in the name Paradigm City. Please discuss or give other theories.

"Paradigm City, a city with no memories..." To first understand this symbolism one must know the vocabulary. Paradigm means an example or model, so Paradigm City is the model city. What does Paradigm model? Cities, countries, the world, humanity as a whole. Humanity has proven once and again that it always makes the same mistakes in an endless circle (aeternus circus). Examples being war, poverty, segregation, prejudice, corruption, avarice, all the problems of the world (these problems in themselves are an aeternus circus). So Paradigm’s aeternus circus, being destroyed and rebuilt with all the characters doing the exact same thing over and over again into eternity, is the paradigm of the aeternus circus of humanity. As to quote at the beginning "A city with no memories" is doomed to make the same mistakes infinitely into an aeternus circus.

[Dregsupreme]

Latin always make anything sound classy.

[aeternus_flammus]

I think it is always the best way to describe something, it also gives a term with no "attachments" to it.

[aeternus_flammus]

Where are all the Big O fans? I thought this would be an interesting discussion...

[super_spinella09]

Wow.  I am very impressed.  Who knew that there was that much depth to the meaning of Paradigm City?  ...But that's literature for you.  Always more than meets the eye.  Truly remarkable, aeternus_flammus.

[aeternus_flammus]

Big O is filled with symbolism. This is only the tip of the ice berg.

[super_spinella09]

I'm a "Big O" fan myself, but I never got to see how it all ended with school and all...but yeah this probably will turn out to be an interesting conversation among us "Big O" fans.  Granted a lot of people hate the show, but aside from those people it might be interesting to see what others think.

[aeternus_flammus]

I still havn't seen most of the first season, but I was enthralled with the second.

Message Edited by aeternus_flammus on 06-24-2004 04:16 PM

[Mesoian]

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aeternus_flammus wrote:

I still havn't seen most of the first season, but I was enthralled with the second.

Message Edited by aeternus_flammus on 06-24-2004 04:16 PM

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Actually, considering there isn't enough information to derrive about what paradign city actually is, it's kind of useless.

It starts off as a city, then an oasis, then a megalopolis, then stage, then some sort of virtual reality.

[aeternus_flammus]

The point is that it started all over.

[super_spinella09]

Well, this is starting to get interesting already...and that's with just 3 to 4 people.

[aeternus_flammus]

We just need more people to join even if they are not fans.

[CablesInside]

i think that each time it restarts, a different person is at the helm, and the person that takes over is chosen to try to correct those mistakes
this from the dialogue in the last episode
i could be way off though

[aeternus_flammus]

I will have to look into that. I thought of it more as a repitition (think Matrix) except it doesn't end.

[aeternus_flammus]

I wish that people would actually think when writing messages. I am getting tired of "Which show is stupid or why is Inu so great." InuYasha is a great show but some people are a little too obsessive. I will try to make another symbolism thread tomarrow.

Love and Peace!!!!!

[super_spinella09]

Yeah, I agree.  These stimulating, intellectual discussions are much better.  It's a shame that more people don't appreciate these types of threads.  I guess intelligent people like you and me are a dying breed  (as far as the types of people who enjoy [adult swim] goes, anyway    ).  It's a real shame.

Message Edited by super_spinella09 on 06-25-2004 01:29 AM

Message Edited by super_spinella09 on 06-25-2004 01:30 AM

[aeternus_flammus]

Maybe some in this timeslot has an opinion?

[GeckoZero]

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aeternus_flammus wrote:

We just need more people to join even if they are not fans.

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Well, I'm here, even if I'm currently without anything useful to add (it's that time of the afternoon that I start thinking of all the work I should try to get done before 5PM...).

This has the makings of an excellent thread. Far too few indepth writings about these days, so it's good to see someone starting a new one. Let's keep it up.

[CablesInside]

more wouls probably have more in-depth stuff to say if we didnt feel like it's all been said
galactic_lady used to always say good stuff
i wonder where she is

[meb955]

everyone has probably left this thread long ago (to jump on another inuyasha or conan one), but i will chime in.

my take is different from yours. i thought the second season destroyed the first. it got so deep into the symbolism that it painted itself into a corner and had to use a deus ex machina at the end to escape -- and thereby destroyed any meaning a third season would have. the manga was much better (tho dorothy was better live).

as for paradigm city, the city itself always seemed to be new york, and the name a generic one invented when everyone forgot the name. but of course the end implies it's not a real city (patterend after NY?) at all, or real people. so who knows?

ever see the movie "dark city"? i picture that as paradigm now.

[R.I.P.NVWC2006]

Us Big O fans are around. It just that most of spend our time at this forum where so many theories are presented that it's just gotten use to. The definition behind Paradigm is used off, as are references to the Paradigm Shift, and the name of the first dvd for the new season, Paradigm Lost (think, Paradise Lost).

Message Edited by NVWC2006 on 06-25-2004 04:12 PM

[angelynx-prime]

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CablesInside wrote:
i think that each time it restarts, a different person is at the helm, and the person that takes over is chosen to try to correct those mistakes
this from the dialogue in the last episode
i could be way off though

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Yeah, that was my hunch as well--that each new person is supposed to learn from the mistakes of the previous one and run Paradigm better, with the (possible?) goal of eventually reaching a point where the city need not be restarted again--where it becomes a perfect model. Kind of like the wheel of karma and reincarnation, in which you're supposed to learn from the errors of each life until you're allowed to move off the wheel and live in timeless nirvana.

It's certainly possible, of course, that there IS no goal in mind for Paradigm, just endless rise and fall; but I haven't been able to think of a good reason why that would be so...

[aeternus_flammus]

I am glad to see some other thoeries.

[angelynx-prime]

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NVWC2006 wrote:

Us Big O fans are around. It just that most of spend our time at this forum where so many theories are presented that it's just gotten use to.

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Aww, but we need more intelligent people over here, too! *glub*glub* (sinking in a swamp of Inu-giggling..agh!...)

[aeternus_flammus]

The Inu fans can be annoying at times, but it's the comedy fans that can't spell who really annoy me. Why do they even come to the action section?