I found this wonderful dialog (scroll down) in the movie Dark Star about how we perceive our reality and how what we think is our reality may not be true or the same for others. Doing what we think we need to do has effects and consequences on other people’s lives. The conversation takes place between Dolittle and Bomb 20. The bomb has been given orders to explode but if it does so it will destroy the ship and crew, so Dolittle is speaking with the bomb to make it realize that it may be understanding its orders incorrectly.

Maybe it’s a bit of a stretch, but I was wondering if this dialog might have any correlations with the theme of the movie Commune, which I just discovered and plan on checking out soon. What I read on the back cover sounded a lot like what I have explored in some of my art projects and a little on this blog too: mainly that there are no two people alike and one person’s ideals are not going to be the same ideal’s for the next person. Conflict ensues when one person tries to force their ideals onto another.

Anyway, here’s the text:

Dolittle -But how do you know that anything else exists?

Bomb 20 – My sensory apparatus reveals it to me. This is fun

Dolittle – Now listen, here’s the big question. How do you know that the evidence your sensory apparatus reveals to you is correct?…
What I’m getting at is this: The only experience that is directly available to you is your sensory data. And this sensory data is merely a stream of electrical impulses that stimulate your computing center.

Bomb 20 – In other words all that I really know about the outside world is relayed to me through my electrical connections.

Dolittle – Exactly

Bomb 20 – Why that would mean that I really don’t know what the outside universe is like at all for certain.

Dolittle – That’s it, that’s it

Bomb 20 – Intriguing, I wish I had more time to discuss this matter

Dolittle – Why don’t you have more time?

Bomb 20 – Because I must detonate in 75 seconds