Hmmmm… Now I’m wondering whether the name will turn out to be significant; Barney’s always “pushing that boulder”, always trying to reach the top of the hill, yet will never reach it.
In different versions of the myth the mountain is endless, or the boulder rolls down the other side when he reaches the top, or something else which makes his struggle futile. I believe Camus argued that Sisyphus’ real torment came not during the pushing-the-boulder part, but in watching it roll away and have to go trudging back after it. That is to say, while you’re mind and energies are occupied on a task, however difficult, it’s less heartwrenching than those moments of relative calm where you can reflect on the futility. So perhaps if Barney ever DOES rest during his chase for the dollar, that’s when the existential angst will hit him between the eyes…
Many years ago, I saw an Oscar-nominated animation of Sisyphus. Marvelous, spare brushwork. Mostly just a muscular figure straining to push a boulder up a steep mountain. As he finally lodges it into place at the top and wearily trudges downwards, we see that the entire mountain is made up of earlier boulders. So not only will his labor never end, the longer he’s at it the higher the mountain gets.
alviebird over 13 years ago
Blocked it out, have we?
lewisbower over 13 years ago
Hey, Sissyfats had his eye on the future.
fritzoid Premium Member over 13 years ago
Clyde is lying; Sissyfats is a myth. Just ask Camus.
fritzoid Premium Member over 13 years ago
Hmmmm… Now I’m wondering whether the name will turn out to be significant; Barney’s always “pushing that boulder”, always trying to reach the top of the hill, yet will never reach it.
In different versions of the myth the mountain is endless, or the boulder rolls down the other side when he reaches the top, or something else which makes his struggle futile. I believe Camus argued that Sisyphus’ real torment came not during the pushing-the-boulder part, but in watching it roll away and have to go trudging back after it. That is to say, while you’re mind and energies are occupied on a task, however difficult, it’s less heartwrenching than those moments of relative calm where you can reflect on the futility. So perhaps if Barney ever DOES rest during his chase for the dollar, that’s when the existential angst will hit him between the eyes…
fritzoid Premium Member over 13 years ago
Many years ago, I saw an Oscar-nominated animation of Sisyphus. Marvelous, spare brushwork. Mostly just a muscular figure straining to push a boulder up a steep mountain. As he finally lodges it into place at the top and wearily trudges downwards, we see that the entire mountain is made up of earlier boulders. So not only will his labor never end, the longer he’s at it the higher the mountain gets.
(I wonder it that’s on YouTube…)
(Yep: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K5MdFdAe_JY)