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They're made out of meat (1991)

terrybisson.com

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Re: They're made out of meat (1991)

#41

Post by the_af »

stdbrouw wrote: post #32
the_af wrote: post #27

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Plus for the story to make sense, they have to be seeing Earth from scans/sensors, and one of them must in fact not be familiar with Earth at all, having disbelief in what the other is saying. But if they are both there, in a diner, they cannot be as skeptical. I get the constraints of short indie films, I love them regardless, but in this particular case it completely misses the mark .

You just have to go along with the idea that skin provides no indication of meatiness and that the two aliens are Ford Prefect types, then the short film lands just fine.

I guess. It's still hard to mesh with the idea they don't believe these humans flap their meat at each other, or that they do not communicate exclusively via radio signals.

It doesn't match my idea that these are two energy/mechanical beings discussing a faraway planet from their spaceship or whatever, talking theory without actually seeing the beings they are discussing.

Re: They're made out of meat (1991)

#42

Post by bigbuppo »

eloisant wrote: post #24
fridder wrote: post #6

The short film someone made is pretty great: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T6JFTmQCFHg

The short film makes no sense, as the 2 people talking are meat themselves.

They only look like meat to blend in. It's the only way to figure out if they're made out of meat.

Re: They're made out of meat (1991)

#43

Post by TazeTSchnitzel »

eloisant wrote: post #24
fridder wrote: post #6

The short film someone made is pretty great: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T6JFTmQCFHg

The short film makes no sense, as the 2 people talking are meat themselves.

You're interpreting it overly literally. Cinema can be as abstract as theatre or the written word.

Re: They're made out of meat (1991)

#44

Post by the_af »

bigbuppo wrote: post #42
eloisant wrote: post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The short film makes no sense, as the 2 people talking are meat themselves.

They only look like meat to blend in. It's the only way to figure out if they're made out of meat.

In the story, the very idea of permanently meat-based beings appals them, and in fact one of them doesn't entirely believe it. So why would they look like meat to "blend in", a priori, if one of them doesn't even fathom the idea? "Blend in" with what? One of them doesn't believe what it's dealing with!

Like a sibling comment mentions, they talk about "meat sounds"... using meat sounds! Why would they find it surprising if that's how they are communicating in the short film? They are not depicted as communicating via telepathy or whatever.

(Yes, I understand the limitations of low budget shorts. But it doesn't mean it has to work...)

Re: They're made out of meat (1991)

#46

Post by zulux »

haritha-j wrote: post #36
grumpopotamus wrote: post #25

Also by Terry Bisson and one of my favorite stories is Bears Discover Fire 1990 https://www.lightspeedmagazine.com/fiction/bears-discover-fi...

I didn't really get it to be honest. I feel like something went over my head.

Fair enough.. It's not really sci-fi. Just a quiet slice of life with a twist.

If I may be so bold, this story would have sucked when I was younger, but now that I've been acquainted with the ages of all the characters, it makes sense.

Re: They're made out of meat (1991)

#48

Post by [deleted] »

tantalor wrote: post #18
mortenjorck wrote: post #12

As I’ve gotten older, it’s become increasingly hard for me to understand how anyone can read such comical reductionism as enlightenment. We are infinitely complex arrangements of systems built upon systems, from the quantum properties of carbon atoms up through the proteins that make the “meat” we are so glibly reduced to, through the complexities and adaptations of mammalian bodies, up to the fearsome order of the h…

I don't know where you get the claims from "anyone" about "enlightenment". This story is obviously satire. Meaning, it is a lie that tells the truth.

[deleted]

Re: They're made out of meat (1991)

#49

Post by post-it »

mihaic wrote: post #31

I like this story, but I never liked the wording "made out of meat", as if the word exists in a world without animals. I could have accepted "proteins", but that's not a catchy title.

They are clearly familiar with meat-based animals:

> “That’s ridiculous. How can meat make a machine? You’re asking me to believe in sentient meat.”

> “I’m not asking you, I’m telling you. These creatures are the only sentient race in that sector and they’re made out of meat.”

And indeed sentient species that are partly made of meat:

> “Maybe they’re like the orfolei. You know, a carbon-based intelligence that goes through a meat stage.”

> “Spare me. Okay, maybe they’re only part meat. You know, like the weddilei. A meat head with an electron plasma brain inside.”

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