Faft Kingdom

The Mr. Magoo universe is a horrific nightmare world of tension and confusion – I have literally had this nightmare innumerable times in my life. He is not a whimsical bumbling man so much as he is the embodiment of helpless confusion – complete lose of control and ability to reason clearly. The Magoo universe spins around him in chaotic shapes, blurs of neutral colors, and inane random sounds. Anxiety sings off the tightly wound string of tension which runs through every second of a Magoo cartoon. If one probes deeply enough, it becomes apparent that no joy, even intellectual, can be derived from a Magoo experience. Only pain and transformative regression of mind, soul, and character. It is equivalent to illegal military torture techniques in the guise of whimsical, inane entertainment.

On the other hand, the much maligned Gilligan’s Island is a pure fantasy representing the shimmering confounding world where randomness merges with comic genius. The old argument is that is becomes frustrating for the viewer to watch as they repeated fail to leave the island, but I now present to you the thinly veiled secret of Gilligan’s Island that makes me love it so much. They don’t want to leave the island. Duh! Let’s take a look into this speculation.

Gilligan and the Skipper have essentially nothing going on for them in civilization. They share a passion for maritime of ‘yore, but are a resigned to take pathetic tourists out for quick tours, make some cash, and then spend another night throwing darts and drinking beer at Anna’s (my favorite Honolulu bar.) The Island represents both adventure and escape from the mundane. The Professor is an average a academic with higher asperations. Reduced to teaching 5 courses a semester for uninterested students, his life lacks meaning. On the Island, however, he is the greatest thinker and the most knowledgable. He is free to research and develop whatever technology pleases him and constantly challanged by the limited resources. How could he go back?  Marie Ann lived in a small community of likely ordinary boring people with little to do but work.  The Island is almost indistinguishable from her home life except that the population is undoubtedly more interesting.  In fact, back in her country home, she no doubt pined away for an exciting life.  Ginger is a aging beauty queen who no longer has to age before society, star in b-movies as she fades without dignity into nothingness.  On the Island, she remains the most beautiful, glamorous star, around people who do not care about her celebrity but accept her unconditionally.  Mr. and Mrs. Howell too have lived under intense pressure and scrutiny.  They’re rich but everyone around they is vying for their money.  On the Island, they remain the richest, most affluent and cultured people, but escape the trappings of money.  Thurston’s teddy bear symbolizes his desire to return to simpler times but greed and propriety had kept him from being at peace, until they are stranded on the Island.  They can flaunt their money for fun but it isn’t a big deal.

In short, in their small world, each one of them is the best at what they do, rather merely than a stereotype, fulfilling a need for the group and satisfying their own self esteem.  They are loved unconditionally and live in luxury.  If any one of them were stranded alone, they would desperately seek return to civilization, but the juxtaposition of their talents and circumstances has created a utopia unadulterated and fantastical – a dream come true.