Nietzsche's Thus Spoke Zarathustra and it's relation to Prometheus/whatis10/11/1

I think they are trying to create feel of "disconnected creators" with their "creaetion". IMO, only nietzcsche's work can justify that type of thought.

@Sky...Like I said, I haven't read any of his work so your post is kinda greek to me. Here's a quote from the wiki page that I found interesting in regards to Prometheus... [quote]Some speculate that Nietzsche intended to write about final acts of creation and destruction brought about by Zarathustra. However, the book lacks a finale to match that description; its actual ending focuses more on Zarathustra recognizing that his legacy is beginning to perpetuate, and consequently choosing to leave the higher men to their own devices in carrying his legacy forth[/quote] Could Shaw be Zarathustra and will her acts possibly bring on the final acts of creation and destruction? If so will the sequels be about her trying to prevent said acts. I think it would be amazing to see the end of mankind in a film tbh. Never been done to my knowledge. I know it would definitely be a disaster commercially but I don't give a sh*t. Could she maybe change the Engineer's minds about mankind and see her "legacy beginning to perpetuate, and consequently choose to leave the higher men to their own devices in carrying her legacy forth"? Interesting stuff.

Cant edit my post so I wanted to point out that the wiki quote ends with "carrying his legacy forth". I know it's obvious but I wanted to clear it up so there would be no confusion.

Man without God, is Man without Morality - and no hope of Redemption. Nietzsche died quite mad, perfectly crippled - and terribly alone.

I read all his works [I had to], and I can tell you the guy didn't say anything new at all. Not only he fancied him self as a poet [thus spoke Z. is a long poem] but most of his things were not his in the first place. To better understand Nietszche I recommend reading Schelling, Fichte, Hegel, Schleiermacher and Schopenhauer [specially the last one]. All his ideas comes from them. P.S.: Boring as hell btw.

Very interesting post. This is just a string of Nietzsche ideas and possible plot lines that might underscore the movie or might more likely be way off, hope they are, but looking at Mr Fred Nietzsche might be a very fruitful idea. Nietzsche was popular with two well known historical characters: Monty Python and Hitler. Monty Python featured him in their Philosopher’s Drinking Song and Hitler adopted his “Ubermensche” theory (OK bit of an over-simplification there). Nietzsche despised Christianity because he thought it disembowelled the benefits of Greek and particularly Roman cultures: methodical research, administration and organization, ruthless eradication of any people standing in their way. If this Roman Way was the Engineers’ programme for mankind then Jesus Christ’s impact on the Romans and eventually all civilisations would have been seen by them as just as big a pain in the … neck as Prometheus’ giving mankind fire. Remember that the Roman Empire’s patron was the Archangel Samael. Ok, who was that again? Well, one of his other names was Satan (Lucifer was a different kettle of fish). Bear with me, because hopefully it won’t get too bizarre, just a bit of background. Samael’s entire dominion was based on killing. Lillith, Adam’s first wife, met and married him, had more than one hundred children a day and went in for quite a bit of strangling of human children. Samael was described as being so big that it would have taken 500 years to travel his length and from top to toe he was studded with glaring eyes. Nowadays, we’d call him a spaceship. Now, here’s the smacker: it was Samael’s power to kill and make alive, or, put another way, “to create you must first destroy” on behalf of god. Yes, Samael, ruthless massacre artiste, was acting on god’s orders. So, let’s assume that the Engineers got as outraged about both Prometheus and Jesus as Nietzsche did about Christianity. Here the Engineers were, pushing mankind down one road when along comes, and Sir Ridley has said as much, Jesus, an Engineer who preaches peace and love and compassion, the very antithesis of the Romans’ use of the sword to enforce their will, turning the “triumph of the will” into vague promises of a happy afterlife if you’re good guys in this one. Another apparent contradiction in logic, just like “to create you must first destroy”, “big things have small beginnings” and “the search for our beginning could lead to our end”. Now take a look at Dr Shaw. She’s up there on the screen in plain sight but she’s a mass of contradictions. Using a male MedPod, just conducting a quick “caesarean” of a very unusual baby which doesn’t bother her enough to tell anyone, heals very quickly and she feels only slight discomfort when she’s leaping, fighting, running, hauling David’s broken body about etc etc. And the Engineer doesn’t seem to want to take her out with one mighty blow, does he? Nope. He wants her alive because she’s the incarnation of the Xeno the Engineers have been trying to produce for a very long time. Why so? She’s loaded with Xeno DNA isn’t she? That would explain, in the way of science fiction, how she was able to do all those things so many members have puzzled about. All those incredible acts. Perhaps she’s slated to work alongside Samael whether she likes it or not. So just as “there’s nothing Nietzsche couldn’t teach ya ‘bout the raising of the wrist” maybe he might also have a lot to say about this movie. And it would be pure Zarathustra.

i just thought of something now are they going by month/day/year or day/month/year ?

I've read Zarahustra, beyond good and evil and the gay science. The quote from Weyland where he is trying to justify something to himself because 'he is a law only to his kind' -- He is talking about his kind being a new race of robots or genetic superhumans that will make regular humans inferior, and therefore justifying whatever he is planning. This reminds me too much of the the Nazis and how they justified the holocaust on the grounds of certain elements of humanity in fact being sub-human. I believe the Nazis used Neitzsches philosphy to justify their own ends. Through out history people with bad intentions have misappropriated philosophies, religions, science, you name it, for their own corrupt, selfish intentions. As a side note I believe David is bringing the black goo to Earth, perhaps following Weylands instructions, who in turn may already be a robot. This would be because the goo is a powerful weapon that doesnt work on them. Neitzsches philosphy was, in very basic terms, about self- determination and improvement based on an avowal of our human values as animals to become a 'super' human. This was his problem with Christianity because he believe it didnt accept our animal origins, lusts, willpower etc. For me, the black goo temple is a monument to immortality just like the Easter Island heads on Earth or Weylands striving to continue his life. The xenomorphs creation parralels the creation of David - very dangerous unnatural perpetuations of 'super' life, and with a distorted Will.

This is a fantastic thread. Thank You all

Have a look at this. I think this guy is right on the mark http://jacksonburgess.wordpress.com/2012/06/18/prometheus-as-a-closet-existentialist/#comments

The obvious connection is that 2001: A Space Odyssey was explicitly Nietzschian in its structure and themes (ape-human-superhuman), and Scott was attempting to emulate Kubrick in making a serious SF movie with philosophical themes. 2001 was sublime, its story was based on a deep respect for real science and the questions it posed were meaningful and capable of answers. Prometheus was banal: its story was weak, its science was preposterous, and the questions it asked were essentially primed by franchise mythology and brain-dead von Daniken posturing. The twentieth century began in the mind of Nietzsche. His thought is both powerful and subtle, but is often misrepresented, distorted or simply misunderstood - there are a few examples already in this thread. Sad really.

2001 was a bit confusing. I remember seeing it opening week. When the movie was over everyone just looked at each other in the theater and said "what the hell was that". 2010 really helped regular people sort out 2001. I don't think Prometheus bad at all. I think parts of the story were withheld on purpose. To nysalor. I worked on movies all my life. Some are better than others, but I love them all just the same. Judging from your posts, I don't think you liked Prometheus.

@ Plantman Yes, Nietzsche did say that a man who allows himself to be a slave, deserves to be a slave. He believed self-determination to be the will of the human's evolution.