he Automobile: A Fatalistic Sociological Perspective.
Methodology: The car, a 1981 Toyota Corolla, was chosen from a random sample of
vehicles in the city of San Francisco. Each city block was assigned a number.
One city block was chosen in the classic 'pick a number from a hat' fashion.
Cars on this block were counted and numbered, and our subject was randomly
chosen.Description: The vehicle is in need of a paint job, and both driver's side hubcaps are missing. The interior is cluttered with fast food wrappers and miscellaneous paperwork. Three objects plainly viewed through the windshield are: a pager, clipped to the passenger side sun visor; a dream catcher hanging from the rearview mirror; and a name brand theft deterrent device locked to the steering wheel. The following findings are derived from observation and interpretation of these three objects.
Pertinent Observations: The presence of a pager in the vehicle suggests that the driver has no free time. He or she is reachable during those precious moments of in-between-ness. This driver is a virtual slave to the powers that be on the other side - be these powers employer or spouse. It makes no difference. The point is that freedom is a fancy or a figment.
The second item further illustrates the plight of this individual. A dream catcher is an outward manifestation of an inner struggle for spiritual well being. Since the driver has no real time, this spiritual quest must be reduced to a pitiful display of talismans stolen from other cultures, and thus leached of any real meaning. It appears more like the desperate attempt of an individual to delude him or herself into believing that life has meaning. It also seems to be an attempt to shout "I am an individual" at a more or less uncaring world - much like the dozens of similarly adorned cars on the very same block. Needless to say, the dreams this catcher ensnares are feeble ones at best.
The third item, a bright red "Club" locked to the steering wheel, clearly indicates the presence of fear. This is not a fear for personal or spiritual safety, but the base fear of losing possessions. The driver is terrified that some 'bad element' is going to make efforts to liberate this automobile. This shiny, red security blanket buys peace of mind for the harried, spiritually bankrupt owner of the vehicle.
Over all, we are receiving a picture of a soul who is both hunted and lost. It is nearly impossible under these conditions to make any sort of headway in the game of life.
Experimental Phase: With this in mind, we initiate the final phase of the study. The pager is replaced by a device that is in every way but one identical to the original. The one difference is that when it receives an incoming message, it generates a powerful electric current capable of shocking the recipient.
The dream catcher is replaced with a small image of a Native American hanging from a noose. A visual reminder of cultural genocide, if you will. How can one expect to eradicate a culture and still attempt to incorporate elements of it into the conquering culture in any kind of positive, guiltless manner? One needs to look no further than the Christians and the mess they've made of the world (see appendix B).
The club we simply remove to show that the vehicle is not important enough to bother with. Hopefully this will get the driver thinking about the relative meaningless of possessions.
Now we sit in our disguises and await the arrival of the vehicle's owner.
J4a(5)