Wednesday, June 14, 2006

Linear time is for wimps

So make an effort to change your way of thinking, because going nonlinear will greatly improve your life.

Don't attempt to understand it. It's like trying to understand anything by James Joyce or Louis Sachar on a first read. It can't be done, because you're used to thinking in terms of linear time. Shame on you. Everyone knows that linear time is an illusion, and that there is no true differential between past, present and future. Silly. Once you understand that, it's a bit easier to understand those writers, as well as Haruhi.

Haruhi seems to be another high school relationship series, of which there are plenty. But then you start to realize that the episodes are intentionally written in nonsequential order, which shouldn't make sense, but does. It also makes it more acceptable that everyone is either a time traveler, an alien, an android or an esper. Again -- don't think in terms of linear time.

The latest anime series that has gripped my brain and prevented me from making any effective contributions to society is called The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya, and I feel that I must issue some pre-viewing information for anyone who intends to watch it, lest their brains might explode. ;)