Being John Malkovich

Written by Sam Vaknin


Continued from page 1

Some scholars raiserepparttar issues of exclusivity and scarcity asrepparttar 110039 precursors of property rights. My brain can be accessed only by myself and its is one of a kind (sui generis). True but not relevant. One cannot rigorously derive from these properties of our brain a right to deny others access to them (should this become technologically feasible) - or even to set a price on such granted access. In other words, exclusivity and scarcity do not constitute property rights or even lead to their establishment. Other rights may be at play (the right to privacy, for instance) - but notrepparttar 110040 right to own property and to derive economic benefits from such ownership.

Onrepparttar 110041 contrary, it is surprisingly easy to think of numerous exceptions to a purported natural right of single access to one's brain. If one memorizedrepparttar 110042 formula to cure AIDS or cancer and refused to divulge it for a reasonable compensation - surely, we should feel entitled to invade his brain and extract it? Once such technology is available - shouldn't authorized bodies of inspection have access torepparttar 110043 brains of our leaders on a periodic basis? And shouldn't we all gain visitation rights torepparttar 110044 minds of great men and women of science, art and culture - as we do today gain access to their homes and torepparttar 110045 products of their brains?

There is one hidden assumption, though, in bothrepparttar 110046 movie and this article. It is that mind and brain are one. The portal leads to John Malkovich's MIND - yet, he keeps talking about his BRAIN and writhing physically onrepparttar 110047 screen. The portal is useless without JM's mind. Indeed, one can wonder whether JM's mind is not an INTEGRAL part ofrepparttar 110048 portal - structurally and functionally inseparable from it. If so, does notrepparttar 110049 discoverer ofrepparttar 110050 portal hold equal rights to John Malkovich's mind, an integral part thereof?

The portal leads to JM's mind. Can we prove that it leads to his brain? Is this identity automatic? Of course not. It isrepparttar 110051 old psychophysical question, atrepparttar 110052 heart of dualism - still far from resolved. Can a MIND be copyrighted or patented? If no one knows WHAT isrepparttar 110053 mind - how can it berepparttar 110054 subject of laws and rights? If JM is bothered byrepparttar 110055 portal voyagers,repparttar 110056 intruders - he surely has legal recourse, but not throughrepparttar 110057 application ofrepparttar 110058 rights to own property and to benefit from it. These rights provide him with no remedy because their subject (the mind) is a mystery. Can JM sue Craig and his clientele for unauthorized visits to his mind (trespassing) - IF he is unaware of their comings and goings and unperturbed by them? Moreover, can he prove thatrepparttar 110059 portal leads to HIS mind, that it is HIS mind that is being visited? Is there a way to PROVE that one has visited another's mind? (See: "On Empathy").

And if property rights to one's brain and mind were firmly established - how will telepathy (if ever proven) be treated legally? Or mind reading? The recording of dreams? Will a distinction be made between a mere visit - andrepparttar 110060 exercise of influence onrepparttar 110061 host and his / her manipulation (similar questions arise in time travel)?

This, precisely, is whererepparttar 110062 film crossesrepparttar 110063 line betweenrepparttar 110064 intriguing andrepparttar 110065 macabre. The master puppeteer, unable to resist his urges, manipulates John Malkovich and finally possesses him completely. This is so clearly wrong, so manifestly forbidden, so patently immoral, thatrepparttar 110066 film loses its urgent ambivalence, its surrealistic moral landscape and deteriorates into another banal comedy of situations.



Sam Vaknin ( http://samvak.tripod.com ) is the author of Malignant Self Love - Narcissism Revisited and After the Rain - How the West Lost the East. He served as a columnist for Central Europe Review, PopMatters, and eBookWeb , and Bellaonline, and as a United Press International (UPI) Senior Business Correspondent. He is the the editor of mental health and Central East Europe categories in The Open Directory and Suite101.


Review of "Dora the Explorer - Dora's Ultimate Adventure Collection" DVD set

Written by Sherri Allen


Continued from page 1

City of Lost Toys containsrepparttar following stories: The Lost City: Dora and Boots journey allrepparttar 110038 way torepparttar 110039 Lost City to find Dora's missing teddy bear. Lost Squeaky: Boots loses his favorite toy. Dora and Boots rush to recover it before it's too late. Berry Hunt: Dora and Boots find their thrill on Blueberry Hill when they venture torepparttar 110040 home of sneaky Swiperrepparttar 110041 Fox in search of yummy blueberries. Sticky Tape: Bennyrepparttar 110042 Bull's hot air balloon ride becomes a chase as Dora and Boots hurry to save him.

The stories in "Dora's Ultimate Adventure Collection" are both entertaining and educational. Preschoolers loverepparttar 110043 characters andrepparttar 110044 adventures. They love howrepparttar 110045 characters invite them to participate inrepparttar 110046 action. They are proud ofrepparttar 110047 fact they have a hand in Dora and Boots accomplishing their goals, whether it's finding Dora's lost teddy bear, reuniting Mary with her little lamb or just going home. They love learning a few Spanish words, which fosters their curiousity about and acceptance of other cultures. They love learning sequencing and logic skills, even though they don't have any idea that is what they are doing.

In addition torepparttar 110048 stories,repparttar 110049 DVDs in "Dora's Ultimate Adventure Collection" contain special features. A riddle game and a couple flash card games provide interactive fun. There are also two short episodes from Noggin's Oobi for added entertainment.

Perfect for children who can't get enough of Dorarepparttar 110050 Explorer (and, really, that means almost ALL preschoolers), "Dora's Ultimate Adventure Collection" provides an abundance of self-esteem building, educational entertainment.

Sherri Allen is the editor of an award-winning website devoted to topics such as family, food, garden, house&home and money. For free articles, information, tips, recipes, reviews and coloring pages, visit http://www.SherriAllen.com/


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