In the story The Pedestrian everyone watches t.v.
The main character is picked u by a cop car because he is not in his house watching t.v.

Does anyone think that this could possibly happen in our future? Perhaps not t.v. but maybe computers?

please share your thoughts

Absolutely. We will someday all be arrested for not being on the computer.

Come on. Mr. Mead was not arrested for not watching tv. He was arrested for being the only one walking on the street. He was the only one who didn't have all his lights on in the house.

So, in order not to be arrested, make sure others are walking on the street. And leave all your lights on when you leave your house.

Right?

Oh i see what you mean.
Actually though, I think his house was the only house with all his lights on, and the others were dark?
I'm not sure. I should go read that story again.

The bottom line is that the pedestrian is arrested for aberrant behaviour - behaving differently from society's norms. The not-watching-of-TV is part of his deviancy, but notice how Bradbury, as a creative writer, doesn't just settle for that. He could have written a story about a man who stays indoors defiantly not watching TV, but instead he works on extending the contrast between the watchers and non-watcher. They stay in, he goes out. They mass together, he is a loner (except in Bradbury's stage play and TV version, where he inexplicably is given a walking companion!) They sit in the dark, he has the lights on (or vice versa).

It's a metaphor, and an extended one at that. What Bradbury does best, and what makes him unique.

I definitely hope that this doesn't happen in our future. While I can say that I'm all for technology, like TVs and computers and whatnot, I also like the natural things of the earth, and would hate to live in a time where simply being outside was unheard of.

However, I know that humans - myself definitely included - can be lazy; with that said, who knows? I suppose we all just have to pray that things that are to come work out for the best, and hope that if something like that ever does happen in our future, that there is more than just one lonely soul trying to go against the crowd.

Mr. Bradbury has often been quoted as saying he means to prevent these possible futures not just predict them. And also "The Future" is what we build not just let happen.

Whatnot is a good word.

Phil, DS, jtk: Speaking of "The Pedestrian" any details on this?

http://www.imdb.com/video/wab/vi2870608665/

quote:

Originally posted by fjp451:
Phil, DS, jtk: Speaking of "The Pedestrian" any details on this?

http://www.imdb.com/video/wab/vi2870608665/

This was shown two (three?)summers at in Ventura, CA. Doug was there and pays closer attention to the specifics of such things., he'll know more.

This was Chard Hayward's short film which was premiered at The First Annual Ray Bradbury Film Festival in Ventura back in October of 2007.

Chard is a friend of Malcolm McDowell and Michael Kelly (the producer of the festival). I have spoken with Chard by telephone, but have not met him other than at the festival.

A pretty good film.

I told you guys that Doug pays attention to these things. I set 'em up he knocks them out of the park.

Ooh, a Bradbury-related film that has escaped my study and scrutiny! I must track this one down!

quote:

Originally posted by philnic:
Ooh, a Bradbury-related film that has escaped my study and scrutiny! I must track this one down!

Ironically, if you had not been playing tourist when you attended the conference here in California you might have been able to have attended the event.

I would have to have been a TIME tourist, as I was in California in Summer 2008, but the film was screened in Fall 2007

I've got to get me a Toynbee convector!

quote:

Originally posted by philnic:
I would have to have been a TIME tourist, as I was in California in Summer 2008, but the film was screened in Fall 2007

I've got to get me a Toynbee convector!

To my defense, I did not know if the event in question was two or three Summers ago.

When you count your Bradbury events in the 100s a year they blend together into one big happy party.