Forgive me for being a butthead, but the number and variety of responses
to this topic suggest its, well, silliness.  That's okay, I'm all for
silliness and lord knows I'm in favor of having a dozen pieces of e-mail
everyday.  But should we maybe think about what this forum is for?  I'm
not suggesting that it's necessarily being used improperly now; I'm simply
curious what purpose it serves and who is using it.  To be frank, these
lists of films with scientists are absurd.  And the previous discussion
about whether silent or sound films are better basically served to
demonstrate a collective lack of thought.  Which is fine if we all wish to
admit to ignorance, but, well, sometimes I get embarrassed.
 
Well, Douger, whaddya want, you might ask, correctly demanding
constructive criticism.  Well, I guess I would opt for a combination of
the terribly concrete (calls for papers, job listings (especially for
cranky boys)) and the passably erudite (as evinced by a couple responses
to the silent/sound thing (one of the most incisive of which pointed out
that that picayune subject wasn't what the whole thing was about to begin
with)).  I don't want to turn this into the Al Franken Decade or anything
(how's that for an obscure allusion?), but I also see it becoming this
odd parlor game.
By the way, in "Colossus: The Forbin Project" there's this fabulous scene in
which the head scientist tries to explain to the computer how much sex he
"needs".
See what I mean?
 
Incidentally, I would like to begin a movement of people who think the
death of Christian Metz will revitalize theory against the mind-numbing
effects of the cultural studies hegemony.
 
I've been rereading this note for several minutes. I have decided to send
it.  Is that a bad idea?