I am here to engage your mind and introduce you to various ideas related to the writing and making of ABC’s Alias. Today class, we will be focusing on one literary term that may shed some light on the unbelievable world of international espionage.How is it that a television show like Alias, clad with jet-legged cross country flights, suited with government corruption, 15th century prophets and giant floating red balls, hasn’t been laughed off the TV screen? It’s called suspension of disbelief. Suspension of what, you say? Suspension of disbelief. According to my literary dictionary, suspension of disbelief is a willingness of a reader or viewer to suspend his or her critical faculties to the extent of ignoring minor inconsistencies so as to enjoy a work of fiction.
Suspension of disbelief is generally used to pass off low-budget "cheesy" props and occasional plotholes, in order to fully engage with an enjoyable story – which may be the more so for those additions to its inherent outrageousness. Alias counts on our suspension of disbelief. It is important that we believe that as black-op CIA agents, Sydney and the gang can do whatever, whenever, however they want. They have unlimited resources, knowledge and means; they can land an injured plane unscathed, they can destroy a big red ball, anyone and everyone can escape CIA custody with Jack's help, and they can fake death, cheat death and cause death with one or more of Marshall’s little next-gen inventions. Part of the wonder of Alias is being able to let go of all logical and rational thought and emerge ourselves in the bizarre and ultra-secret functions of a world that is unknown to us.
As viewers, we have to operate under the assumption that Sydney can and will find a cure for Vaughn’s bloody fingernails, or that Marshall will come through and find the grave before Sydney takes her last breath. We have come to beleive that SpyDaddy will stop at nothing to save his daughter’s life (even if it means killing her mother or faking her fiancés death.) The writers are depending on our ability to ignore reason and grasp the idea of Sydney maneuvering her way through the dark criminal underworld while carrying a child, and that whoever has been frozen (I am leaning toward Renee's father now) will thaw out and give APO a run for their money.
So, let us continue to suspend our disbelief; I have a feeling it will need to be stretched and skewed this season. Let us rely on what we do know about Alias; nothing is as it seems, there are dangers we can’t even begin to fathom and good always wins over evil, ultimately.
7 comments:
It would make sense that Daddy Vaughn would know about ht crynogentics, as he did help crack the code. And it is possible his death was faked. And I think it is very possible the Vaughn and Renee are related. Go to www.alias-media.com they have pics for this week's episode. There is a pic of Syd, Tom and Renee reviving an old gray haired man, I presume the man in the box. Hmm, it made me think.
It really is quite something how Alias convinces us to believe the unbelievable...that people can be "doubled", brought back from the dead, etc. Something about Alias lets you accept that these crazy things could happen. I think it's a combination of excellent acting, great direction, music, and movie-like action sequences that lets you slip into the Alias world without feeling silly or that the story is cheesy. They make you believe that anything could happen and you happily accept that.
I think the idea that the man is Renee's dad is plausible, and also the idea that it's both of their dads, meaning that Renee and Vaughn are bro and sis.
Thanks for visiting JVPastor and tell your wife about suspension of disbelief. Tell her to hang in there. Be sure to stop by again!!
Suspension of disbelief! Genius. And yeah, jenn256, I too was saying "Come on!" when the stealth docked with the other plane, yet I'm still a huge fan and willing to say, "Well, ok, maybe that could happen." for the sake of the show. Sometimes I need a break from reality (and reality shows!) to watch a great fictional show with suspense, drama and Syd kicking some butt! Entertainment at it's finest. And sure, you may have to stretch a bit, but that's why it's entertainment.
A thought came to me while reading what Jenn said about Renee and Michael being siblings. Any chance that Irina could be Renee's mother? Just a lingering thought...
lol slingshot, great quotes, that was such a great episode!
"bring four bottles and I'll tip you like you brought five, you know what I mean? You do don't you, you cheeky lil' bastard"
:D
If and I mean BIG if Vaugh and Renee are siblings and IF Irina is Renee's mother that would make Vaugh and Sydney half siblings and that would be really gross. Do I have that right?
my favorite suspension of disbelief category is that of the fact that they can fly around the world in hours...i love that they have never tried to make that believeable but it is just one of the things that the fans accept (:
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