A man was once heard to say, "You cannot understand life and live life simutantiously."
As the rebutle goes, "I do not agree entirely, which is to say I do not exactly disagree," which is a good response. Yet, my own opinion agrees with the statement more than it disagrees.
I believe that observing life is quite the addicting hobby. You can watch your entire life yet not gain any sensible knowledge of it. You can become more aware of your environment, friends, and events, but what do you do with this knowledge? Just carry it? Or, maybe write it down so other people can read your thoughts and then know more? Ultimately, what's the point? Does knowing more make you smarter? Or, does knowing more make you just look smarter?
I believe I spend the better part of my life observing others to answer the question of life, but that makes me, as a person, so very boring. People don't care to be around me. Why should they? It's not like I'm going to do anything interesting for them to observe. For interest to become me, the other person is usually the key that unlocks conversation and interest.
As for the other side of the coin, those who are observed in life seem very unaware of observers and others. They live in the moment and do whatever the hell they like and say what they want. Such an act can be described both as selfish and giving. Sure, it's selfish. They are doing it for themselves. They do what they want, and that doesn't include others. But wait there, it does include others.
Well anywho, I just thought I'd say something on behalf of the release of the independent animated film, Waking Life, on Dvd today. I saw this latest gem of Richard Linklater about 5 months ago at the Lagoon Cinema in Minneapolis. I loved it. ^_^
Waking Life is quite an extravagent journey through the continous dream sequences of our main character. Each dream is of a person giving their option, professional or otherwise, on dreams, human behavior, religion, and creationism. As he wakes from dream to dream, all the opinions and definitions form into the answer of why he's continously dreaming.
The animation style is very unique. All shots from the movie were intially used with normal 8mm, but then imported into the computer to be drawn over frame by frame. Each dream sequence was animated by a different animation group, so as the dream changes, the animation style changes with it, giving the dream's reality a visual meaning along with the dialogue spoken.
An overall pleasurable and unique experience that makes independent films such as this one give you a great new perspective on views that invoke thought and conversation.