This topic is currently marked as "dormant"—the last message is more than 90 days old. You can revive it by posting a reply.
1jenknox
Ok, it may be because I have too much time on my hands, and it may be that I just watch too much Doctor Who, but there's a game I like to play called justify your existance. The premise is that the earth is invaded by aliens, and they demand two books, two cds, two works of art (painting, photography, sculpture), two films, and the names of two people from you, that you feel justify our existance as a species, or we all get blown up.
Green Dragon, Justify your existance!
Here's my list (subject to change :-) )
Books: the collected works of Rumi (for the spiritual side), Heavy Weather by Wodehouse (because laughter is just as important!)
Music: Loreena Mckennitt's Mask and the Mirror, Miles Davis's Kind of Blue
Works of art: Botticelli's Venus and Mars, Klimt's The Kiss
Films: Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter...and Spring, Amelie
People: Nelson Mandela, Lao Tze
Green Dragon, Justify your existance!
Here's my list (subject to change :-) )
Books: the collected works of Rumi (for the spiritual side), Heavy Weather by Wodehouse (because laughter is just as important!)
Music: Loreena Mckennitt's Mask and the Mirror, Miles Davis's Kind of Blue
Works of art: Botticelli's Venus and Mars, Klimt's The Kiss
Films: Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter...and Spring, Amelie
People: Nelson Mandela, Lao Tze
2Arctic-Stranger
What fun! I like almost all your choices, but for variety will offer some different ones.
Books; Brothers Karamozov and Les Miserables (Give them long books, so they have to read them, which may give you more time if they do decide to destroy your planet.)
Music; A Love Supreme by John Coltrane and Die Zauberflote by Mozart.
Art: Leonardo's Annuciation and Autumn Rhythms by Jackson Pollock
Films: O Brother Where Art Thou, and ...well I have to go with Amelie as well.
People: Gandhi and Malcolm X (The latter just to show them we are not taking no crap just because we are human!)
Books; Brothers Karamozov and Les Miserables (Give them long books, so they have to read them, which may give you more time if they do decide to destroy your planet.)
Music; A Love Supreme by John Coltrane and Die Zauberflote by Mozart.
Art: Leonardo's Annuciation and Autumn Rhythms by Jackson Pollock
Films: O Brother Where Art Thou, and ...well I have to go with Amelie as well.
People: Gandhi and Malcolm X (The latter just to show them we are not taking no crap just because we are human!)
3misskate
Ok, I'll try:
Books by Cahill, the Hinges of History series. that's to give them the background.
Music: Brittan's A ceremony of carols, to cheer them up after all that history
Art: Pollack and Mondrian to show what we are really thinking about after all the history is said and done.
People: Lincoln to show that there are some honest people in our past to balance off some of those folk in Cahill's book.. I think I could go on and on. This is addictive
Books by Cahill, the Hinges of History series. that's to give them the background.
Music: Brittan's A ceremony of carols, to cheer them up after all that history
Art: Pollack and Mondrian to show what we are really thinking about after all the history is said and done.
People: Lincoln to show that there are some honest people in our past to balance off some of those folk in Cahill's book.. I think I could go on and on. This is addictive
4karenmarie
Wow. What fun! If I keep thinking about it, I'll go crazy. Here are my first thoughts:
Books The Source by James Michener historical perspective
Sonnets by William Shakespeare the beauty of the human mind
Music The Messiah by George Frideric Handel
An American in Paris by George Gershwin
Works of Art The Girl with the Pearl Earring by Vermeer use of light
La Pieta by Michaelangelo beauty of composition
Films Blade Runner
Forrest Gump
People Johannes Gutenberg movable type - democratization of reading
Nicholaus Copernicus Scientific Revolution
Books The Source by James Michener historical perspective
Sonnets by William Shakespeare the beauty of the human mind
Music The Messiah by George Frideric Handel
An American in Paris by George Gershwin
Works of Art The Girl with the Pearl Earring by Vermeer use of light
La Pieta by Michaelangelo beauty of composition
Films Blade Runner
Forrest Gump
People Johannes Gutenberg movable type - democratization of reading
Nicholaus Copernicus Scientific Revolution
5Glassglue
Books: The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, The Epic of Gilgamesh
Music: Vivaldi's The Four Seasons, The Beatles' Revolver
Works of art: The Sphinx at Giza, Botticelli's Birth of Venus
Films: 2001: A Space Odyssey, Band of Brothers
People: Leonidas I, Simón Bolívar
Music: Vivaldi's The Four Seasons, The Beatles' Revolver
Works of art: The Sphinx at Giza, Botticelli's Birth of Venus
Films: 2001: A Space Odyssey, Band of Brothers
People: Leonidas I, Simón Bolívar
6WholeHouseLibrary
Books:
The Middle Way by Lou Marinoff (to show balance)
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Universe by Douglas Adams (they'll be so busy trying to make sense of it, we'll have no resistance defending ourselves)
CDs:
Temporary Road by John Gorka
A Treasury of Baroque
Art:
The Kiss - sculpture by Rodin
The Heart of the Andes by Frederick Church
Films:
Casablanca - to show them that even tough guys have their soft side.
Independence Day - to show them that if they don't behave, we'll kick their asses.
People:
My father and my Father-in-Law; both were damn fine people.
The Middle Way by Lou Marinoff (to show balance)
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Universe by Douglas Adams (they'll be so busy trying to make sense of it, we'll have no resistance defending ourselves)
CDs:
Temporary Road by John Gorka
A Treasury of Baroque
Art:
The Kiss - sculpture by Rodin
The Heart of the Andes by Frederick Church
Films:
Casablanca - to show them that even tough guys have their soft side.
Independence Day - to show them that if they don't behave, we'll kick their asses.
People:
My father and my Father-in-Law; both were damn fine people.
7Choreocrat
I'm going to be the pedantic person who says "It depends". It does depend, for me, on who the aliens are. However, I will assume, for simplicity's sake, that we are to justify our existence based on our ability to produce worthwhile things and that the aliens have a similar aesthetic sense to us.
Books: Les Miserables (although giving them a book that not only catalogues humanity's best but also its worst might be our downfall) and a book showing us trying to preserve nature.
Music: Allegri's Miserere and Karl Jenkins' Armed Man: Mass for Peace (with the lyrics translated for the benefit of the aliens)
Art: Leonardo's Annunciation (thanks A-S for reminding me what it's called) and The Kiss by Rodin (shamelessly stolen from WHL)
Films: Amelie and Modern Times.
People: William Shakespeare (he appears to have understood human nature)and...
and...
Crap. We fail... I can't think of anyone... Victor Hugo? I'll be able to think for someone soon, I'm sure.
Books: Les Miserables (although giving them a book that not only catalogues humanity's best but also its worst might be our downfall) and a book showing us trying to preserve nature.
Music: Allegri's Miserere and Karl Jenkins' Armed Man: Mass for Peace (with the lyrics translated for the benefit of the aliens)
Art: Leonardo's Annunciation (thanks A-S for reminding me what it's called) and The Kiss by Rodin (shamelessly stolen from WHL)
Films: Amelie and Modern Times.
People: William Shakespeare (he appears to have understood human nature)and...
and...
Crap. We fail... I can't think of anyone... Victor Hugo? I'll be able to think for someone soon, I'm sure.
8dreamlikecheese
Well, based on WillSteed's assumptions of alien aesthetic sense, I would have to give the following...
Books: Pride and Prejudice to show our innate wit, humour and sentimentality. Encyclopaedia Britannica because it will take them forever to read and not quite give them enough info on anything so they'll keep us alive just to flesh out the details.
Music: Moonlight Sonata by Beethoven, and Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen.
Art: Hokusai's "The Great Wave At Kanagawa" and Ron Mueck's Pregnant Woman sculpture
Films: Mulholland Drive because they'll have to watch it about 10 times before they finally work out what it means, and even then they won't be sure. And Casablanca because it's great.
People: Nelson Mandela to show how much pain and hardship we can take and still overcome it. William Wilberforce (anti-slavery campaigner) to show the personal struggles we will endure to do what's right.
Books: Pride and Prejudice to show our innate wit, humour and sentimentality. Encyclopaedia Britannica because it will take them forever to read and not quite give them enough info on anything so they'll keep us alive just to flesh out the details.
Music: Moonlight Sonata by Beethoven, and Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen.
Art: Hokusai's "The Great Wave At Kanagawa" and Ron Mueck's Pregnant Woman sculpture
Films: Mulholland Drive because they'll have to watch it about 10 times before they finally work out what it means, and even then they won't be sure. And Casablanca because it's great.
People: Nelson Mandela to show how much pain and hardship we can take and still overcome it. William Wilberforce (anti-slavery campaigner) to show the personal struggles we will endure to do what's right.
9dreamlikecheese
Oops. Double posted....
10sandalphon
BOOKS: Les miserables, collected works of Tennyson
MOVIES: 2001, a space odyssey, Spirited away.
ART:David, Michelangelo. The Mona Lisa.
PEOPLE:Shakespeare, and..... Leonidas I
CDs:Beethoven's Ninth, Revolver.
MOVIES: 2001, a space odyssey, Spirited away.
ART:David, Michelangelo. The Mona Lisa.
PEOPLE:Shakespeare, and..... Leonidas I
CDs:Beethoven's Ninth, Revolver.
11MsDonna
books: The Shipping News, Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream (plays are books too)
movies: Lawrence of Arabia, Zoolander, and Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone.
art: I don't think it would be possible to pick only two in this category but I would have to go for the Sistine chapel ceiling and Picasso's 'The Dream'. I also have to add Petra (Jordan) and the carvings at Angkor Wat.
people:Shakespeare, Leonardo da Vinci
CDs: The Four Seasons (Vivaldi) and Kick (INXS)
movies: Lawrence of Arabia, Zoolander, and Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone.
art: I don't think it would be possible to pick only two in this category but I would have to go for the Sistine chapel ceiling and Picasso's 'The Dream'. I also have to add Petra (Jordan) and the carvings at Angkor Wat.
people:Shakespeare, Leonardo da Vinci
CDs: The Four Seasons (Vivaldi) and Kick (INXS)
12Choreocrat
Picking just two in any category is difficult. For books I considered submitting a written statement arguing that judging a species by dual selection of artistic works is unjustified and hope that they understand that we're not that simplistic. But that might only happen in a movie. And I'd sound even more like a smart-ass.
13twomoredays
Books: Ulysses by James Joyce and the Mahabharata. After they've worked out all of Joyce's allusions they'll have 12,000 pages of epic poetry to get through. Alternate Selection: A Brief History of Time by Stephen Hawking.
Movies: The Best of Youth and then Toy Story in the hopes that it would make them a little softer.
Music: Music for 18 Musicians by Steve Reich after which I would inform them that to truly appreciate it they must perform it themselves. And them some Bach. Not sure which piece, though.
Alternate selection: John Cage's 4'33".
Art: Hmm. I'm thinking Escher's Waterfall and something from Body Worlds. Alternate: Renoir's Luncheon of the Boating Party.
People: Jesus and Plato.
Movies: The Best of Youth and then Toy Story in the hopes that it would make them a little softer.
Music: Music for 18 Musicians by Steve Reich after which I would inform them that to truly appreciate it they must perform it themselves. And them some Bach. Not sure which piece, though.
Alternate selection: John Cage's 4'33".
Art: Hmm. I'm thinking Escher's Waterfall and something from Body Worlds. Alternate: Renoir's Luncheon of the Boating Party.
People: Jesus and Plato.
14cayman
Books: The Bible..they may then realize it's no use messing with us 'cause there is someone bigger on our side.
Any really funny book . Humour is a surefire way to diffuse any sticky situation.
Music: Vaughan Williams 'Fantasy on a theme by Thomas Tallis'
Dead Can Dance with Lisa Gerard 'Toward the Within'
Art: The Pieta by Michelangelo... so serene!
and some moving modern art...the Circ du Soleil ..will have those aliens entranced.
Movies: anything with Gerard Butler or Russell Crowe or Johnny Depp... there are sure to be female aliens too! ;0)
People: the Dalai Lama a man of peace and wisdom
Nelson Mandela, ditto
Any really funny book . Humour is a surefire way to diffuse any sticky situation.
Music: Vaughan Williams 'Fantasy on a theme by Thomas Tallis'
Dead Can Dance with Lisa Gerard 'Toward the Within'
Art: The Pieta by Michelangelo... so serene!
and some moving modern art...the Circ du Soleil ..will have those aliens entranced.
Movies: anything with Gerard Butler or Russell Crowe or Johnny Depp... there are sure to be female aliens too! ;0)
People: the Dalai Lama a man of peace and wisdom
Nelson Mandela, ditto
15gmork
How does the existence at one time of Beethoven, the Beatles, Marcus Aurelius or anyone else justify my existence, your exiistence or anyone else's?
Seems to me that citing extreme examples of human achievement would lead these aliens, presuming I suppose that they recognize human aesthetic values as worthwhile, to conclude that a massive culling of the herd was in order as much as anything else. (And what is to say they wouldn't find the 'comedies' of Carrot Top as the sole the worthwhile human achievement?)
Seems to me that citing extreme examples of human achievement would lead these aliens, presuming I suppose that they recognize human aesthetic values as worthwhile, to conclude that a massive culling of the herd was in order as much as anything else. (And what is to say they wouldn't find the 'comedies' of Carrot Top as the sole the worthwhile human achievement?)
16Jakeofalltrades
Books: Watchmen, because it shows alien invasion is bad, especially when it's a fake one staged by a madman...
R.O.D. Vol. 1-4: because hot librarian chic has universal appeal.
Films: Midnight Cowboy because it's the most human film there is. No lie, I CRIED.
Plan 9 From Outer Space: Shameless pandering to the alien invaders will show we appreciate irony.
Music: The Ecstasy of Gold by Ennio Morricone: one of the most haunting Western movie tunes ever, from one of the most famous Westerns ever, The Good, The Bad and the Ugly. Not as famous as the main theme though.
To Zanarkand from Final Fantasy, forget the composer though *headdesk*
Art: William Blake's Songs of Innocence and Experience (technically not a book, but a work of art if you get the illuminated and illustrated version)
Harold Cazneaux's "The Spirit of Endurance", a photograph that inspired the Aussies in World War II, but not containing any war related imagery at all. Just a tree standing alone in the dirt. Simple but powerful.
People: Osamu Tezuka and Neil Gaiman. (I've met Neil Gaiman and I know who I like when I meet them. Five minutes with Neil Gaiman and the aliens will drop their ray guns and start talking to him about anything in particular)
ADDITIONAL CATEGORY:
Video Games:
The World Ends With You and Harvest Moon: Friends of Mineral Town.
Because with video games... who needs real conflict?
R.O.D. Vol. 1-4: because hot librarian chic has universal appeal.
Films: Midnight Cowboy because it's the most human film there is. No lie, I CRIED.
Plan 9 From Outer Space: Shameless pandering to the alien invaders will show we appreciate irony.
Music: The Ecstasy of Gold by Ennio Morricone: one of the most haunting Western movie tunes ever, from one of the most famous Westerns ever, The Good, The Bad and the Ugly. Not as famous as the main theme though.
To Zanarkand from Final Fantasy, forget the composer though *headdesk*
Art: William Blake's Songs of Innocence and Experience (technically not a book, but a work of art if you get the illuminated and illustrated version)
Harold Cazneaux's "The Spirit of Endurance", a photograph that inspired the Aussies in World War II, but not containing any war related imagery at all. Just a tree standing alone in the dirt. Simple but powerful.
People: Osamu Tezuka and Neil Gaiman. (I've met Neil Gaiman and I know who I like when I meet them. Five minutes with Neil Gaiman and the aliens will drop their ray guns and start talking to him about anything in particular)
ADDITIONAL CATEGORY:
Video Games:
The World Ends With You and Harvest Moon: Friends of Mineral Town.
Because with video games... who needs real conflict?
17readafew
Books: The Name of the Rose, Ender's Game
Music: Anything by Mozart; Bohemian Rhapsody, Wild Thing
Films: Princess Bride, Hero
Works of Art: The Library of Congress, The Louvre
People: Jesus, Buddha
trying to decide if I should explain any of my choices...
Music: Anything by Mozart; Bohemian Rhapsody, Wild Thing
Films: Princess Bride, Hero
Works of Art: The Library of Congress, The Louvre
People: Jesus, Buddha
trying to decide if I should explain any of my choices...
18Lyz
I'm with you readafew, except if we are going to cite people I reckon those people should be able to explain their philosophies here and now, so for people I vote for:
Jeanette Fitzsimons - NZ green politician & lovely lady
Polly Gillespie - currently Agony Aunt for a trashy magazine but genuine wit that takes no s**t.
Jeanette Fitzsimons - NZ green politician & lovely lady
Polly Gillespie - currently Agony Aunt for a trashy magazine but genuine wit that takes no s**t.
20Vanye
I have been thinking that i would name Jimmy Carter as one of my people because he is trying to do good things in the present world to make it better. That is not to say that all those other people did not do good things-but as someone pointed out they lived in different times & places. Have not made any decisions about the other stuff yet-will be back later w/those choices. 8^)
21SpicyCat
Books: Shakespeare
Music: A CD of children's lullabies from around the world that I have, Thomas Tallis' Spem in alium
Works of art: La Pieta, The Ghent Altarpiece: The Adoration of the Mystic Lamb
Films: I don't know here
People (living): Dali Lama, Nelson Mandela
Music: A CD of children's lullabies from around the world that I have, Thomas Tallis' Spem in alium
Works of art: La Pieta, The Ghent Altarpiece: The Adoration of the Mystic Lamb
Films: I don't know here
People (living): Dali Lama, Nelson Mandela
22QueenOfDenmark
This is quite a difficult thing to choose really but I will give it a go.
Books: Daddy Long Legs by Jean Webster, Forgotten Voices of the Holocaust by Lyn Smith
Music: Faure's Requiem, Simon & Garfunkel live in Central Park
Art Work: Above the Town by Marc Chagall, The Master Houses in the Ebertallee, Dessau, designed by Walter Gropius
Films: The Perfect Storm, Gone with the Wind
People: Miep Gies - the woman who hid Anne Frank, Stephen King
Books: Daddy Long Legs by Jean Webster, Forgotten Voices of the Holocaust by Lyn Smith
Music: Faure's Requiem, Simon & Garfunkel live in Central Park
Art Work: Above the Town by Marc Chagall, The Master Houses in the Ebertallee, Dessau, designed by Walter Gropius
Films: The Perfect Storm, Gone with the Wind
People: Miep Gies - the woman who hid Anne Frank, Stephen King
23mrgrooism
Here's my list! (I'm looking to entertain, not enlighten):
Books:
1) The Red Book of Westmarch (is that cheating putting The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings into one volume?)
2) The Hitchiker's Omnibus (again, cheating. However, I'd use the hardbound version that does NOT Include Mostly Useless, I mean Mostly Harmless).
Music:
1) The Beatles: The Beatles (aka The White Album)
2) Pink Floyd: Dark Side of the Moon
Works of art:
1) The Brooklyn Bridge (they can look but they can't keep it).
2) Sergio Aragone's The Groo Adventurer
Films:
1) King Kong (1933)
2) Monty Python & The Holy Grail
Two People:
1) My Little Sister
2) Yogi Berra
Now before I post, a peek at what you all picked...
#5, That's another HHGTTG!
#6 Two HHGTTG!!!
WOOO-HOOOO, great stuff! Hey, just the fact the Aliens have an interest in our Culture shows we've got a chance. That is, until someone introduces them to Carrot Top! ZZZzzzhammm!!!
Books:
1) The Red Book of Westmarch (is that cheating putting The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings into one volume?)
2) The Hitchiker's Omnibus (again, cheating. However, I'd use the hardbound version that does NOT Include Mostly Useless, I mean Mostly Harmless).
Music:
1) The Beatles: The Beatles (aka The White Album)
2) Pink Floyd: Dark Side of the Moon
Works of art:
1) The Brooklyn Bridge (they can look but they can't keep it).
2) Sergio Aragone's The Groo Adventurer
Films:
1) King Kong (1933)
2) Monty Python & The Holy Grail
Two People:
1) My Little Sister
2) Yogi Berra
Now before I post, a peek at what you all picked...
#5, That's another HHGTTG!
#6 Two HHGTTG!!!
WOOO-HOOOO, great stuff! Hey, just the fact the Aliens have an interest in our Culture shows we've got a chance. That is, until someone introduces them to Carrot Top! ZZZzzzhammm!!!
24hfglen
Inneresting ... nobody's mentioned Einstein under people. And can we have some Bach under music, with Gregorian chant as my other choice?
25jenknox
keep them coming...I'm going to give it a while longer, then make a master list with the most recommended 2 books, etc...sort of a Green Dragon Saves the World list, if you will :-)
27Vanye
ART: VanGogh- Starry Night
Monet-Water Lillies
MUSIC: Ravel's Bolero
Stars & Stripes Forever
1812 Overture
FILM: The Shawshank Redemption
To Kill A Mockingbird
BOOKS: The Hobbit
LotR
8^)
Monet-Water Lillies
MUSIC: Ravel's Bolero
Stars & Stripes Forever
1812 Overture
FILM: The Shawshank Redemption
To Kill A Mockingbird
BOOKS: The Hobbit
LotR
8^)
28MrsLee
O.K., I've been refraining from answering, because most likely I would give a smart-alack reply that would get us all blown to smithereens, like, "Justify your own existence, the fact that we exist is justification in itself so go back where you came from and who asked you to butt in anyway?" Let's just hope they don't talk to me first.
However, for the purpose of the question here, I don't think I could do better than Vanye, so I'm going to say those.
However, for the purpose of the question here, I don't think I could do better than Vanye, so I'm going to say those.
