The Old Man in the Cave - Movie Review Example

Based on an Ethical/Societal Computing Issue Project Team: Submitted Supervisors: Issued Summary of Topic Computing issues intertwine social behavior and computational instruments. Effectively using social computing technologies demands a detailed insight on the fundamental issues. Today, these instruments range from internet services like Web 2.0 services and social media today [5]. In the past two decades, computing issues entailed social approaches that called for means of cultivating societies, inspiring contributions, and bringing together activities to accomplish set objectives. Professionals of computing highlight learning how to design and apply social and ethical aspects. This way, computing communities can be efficiently refined and reviewed for the strict purpose of recognizing weak points and coming up with solutions. In the process, these professionals acquire experience in morally using computing skills to create a positive impact in the community [5]. Summary of The Old Man in the Cave, Episode 7 of Season 5 of The Twilight Zone The storyline of The Old Man in the Cave transpires a thinly populated town a decade after a war involving nuclear weaponry. Here, residents of the town realize a source of canned food, but choose to wait for Mr. Goldsmith to come back from the cave. The residents believe the “old man” will convey a message to Mr. Goldsmith, which he shall in turn use to inform them whether nuclear material polluted the food [1]. A number of residents want to take the risk and consume the canned food to ease their hunger. However, they fight and overcome this urge after witnessing the disastrous harvest produced because of their selection of land instead of adhering to the “old man’s” counsel regarding which areas nuclear material polluted. Mr. Goldsmith, serving as the town’s leader, comes back and tells the residents that the “old man” claimed that nuclear radiation certainly contaminated the canned. As a result, the people should dispose the food. Shortly afterwards, a band of soldiers arrive at the town and attempt to dismiss the residents peculiar beliefs of the “old man” [1]. The residents gradually realize that they have been following the advice of a computer the entire time. Out of spite, the residents destroy the computer feeling they were misled the whole time. In the process, the residents quickly eat the canned food. Mr. Goldsmith does not join them arguing in favor of the computer that the canned foods were contaminated nonetheless. The lack of a person of authority to inform the residents of the nature of foods available eventually causes whole town, along with the freshly arrived soldiers, to die of food poisoning. Only Mr. Goldsmith survives [1]. Analysis of the Information Uncovered The Old Man in the Cave introduces a Dystopic world where humankind is facing extinction after a nuclear devastation. This devastation occurred because of vices like greed, inhuman decisions, and faithlessness. This dystopia is the episode’s caution that people should not overlook faith, a virtue that frequently acts as a vital ethical aspect of society. Incidents in The Old Man in the Cave imply that lore and beliefs frequently revolve around truths and essentiality [2]. For instance, the “old man” did truly exist even though he was not human. The “old man,” a computer, ensured the survival of the town’s residents before being destroyed by the same people. Incidents in this episode additionally convert the ordinary idea of overdependence on technology into a truth. The episode proposes that relying on machinery proved crucial for survival of the residents despite being an instrument created by man. Sci Fi Channel partook in the Cable in the Classroom project where the creators and producers proposed an education plan that followed the airing of the episode The Old Man in the Cave [4]. This plan offered a platform for examining notions of nuclear power, faith, and inquiring about the power-play between man and computers. When humans face death, it is very hard to reason. The human species is advanced to the level of not being accustomed fully to survival instincts. As a result, when humans switch to survival mode, the outcome is unpleasant. Rod Serling, the composer of the episode The Old Man in the Cave was aware of this fact and it was key for The Twilight Zone [1]. The Old Man in the Cave is a direct example of The Twilight Zone’s way of thinking that faith and confidence ought to persist amongst humans irrespective of the promise of intense fear and hostility. The Old Man in the Cave concentrates on Mr. Goldsmith as he hardly clings on his leadership status and skills that he uses to unify the residents of the town [1]. The onset of The Old Man in the Cave there the argument about the nature of the newly discovered canned food showed how human bond can be weak when living conditions are under threat or completely annihilated. The residents of the town chose to wait for Goldsmith’s return from the cave with a message from the “old man.” The message was a revelation regarding the nature of the canned food since they were uncertain about eating it [3]. Goldsmith’s message from the “old man” did not relieve the tension amongst residents of the town. The arrival of militia leader Major French did not help ease the people’s urge for food. This is because the leader added to the notion that the “old man’s” message was based on myth and uncertainty. Each aspect of the allegory in The Old Man in the Cave could have had a different outcome. In the plot of the known episode, Major French places himself as a person of influence through force and persuades the disunited town to consume the canned food after revealing that “The Old Man in the Cave” was not even human. Apparently, the canned food was contaminated by nuclear material [3]. The computer was correct and the residents passed away because of this lack of faith and unity. The town learned this lesson at an extremely great cost and only Goldsmith was around to witness and spread it. In the plot of a different outcome, Major French could have used necessary force to free the residents of the town from the heretical faith they unknowingly placed on a computer. Major French could have argued that this blind faith was misleading the town [4]. To prove it, the residents could have consumed the food and turned out that it was actually radiation-free. As a result, the town could have murdered Goldsmith instantly for overly depending on technology rather than heeding wisdom from a human. The entire episode pivoted on Serling deciding between safe or contaminated food [1]. The original result demonstrates that faith and the computers, as representations of technology, are superior. The alternative scenario would have taught that that humankind is paramount when dealing with harsh and desperate situations firsthand. Both scenarios serve as lessons that former passes have made. As a result, it is only realistic to think that The Old Man in the Cave could have transpired in a precisely different manner. Conclusion More than simply high concept adaptability, The Old Man in the Cave is one of the more appealing tales written because of strong performances by Anderson and Coburn. Both actors were representational without forgetting their central DNA as weak residents attempting to remain alive in dystopia [2]. The all-pervasive tension aids in bringing a sense of practicality to an unbelievable outcome that viewers of the episode and show envisioned constantly. The episode can also be viewed as a political one. Politics arises from the exploration of the baser aspects of humankind and instinct. Major French’s rebel army signified the survival mode, the residents signified mob mentality, and the “old man” signified a controlling and self-righteous prophet. References [1] Serling, R, “The Old Man In The Cave,” Twilight Zone, Cayuga Productions, 8 Nov. 1963. Available: http://www.tv.com/shows/the-twilight-zone/watch/the-old-man-in-the-cave-12712/ [2] Beggs, S, “Exploring The Twilight Zone #127: The Old Man In The Cave,” Film School Rejects, 27/12, 2011. Available: http://filmschoolrejects.com/features/exploring-the-twilight-zone-127-the-old-man-in-the-cave.php [3] VanDerWerff, T, “The Twilight Zone: “The Old Man In The Cave”/“Uncle Simon”,” A.V.CLUB, 28/6, 2014. Available: http://www.avclub.com/tvclub/twilight-zone-old-man-caveuncle-simon-206299 [4] Twilight Zone Museum, “The Old Man in the Cave,” Twilight Zone Museum, n.d. Available: http://www.twilightzonemuseum.com/show/05.php [5] J. Smajda. The Moral Field Of Computing. ProQuest Dissertations and Theses pp. 163. 2011. Available:http://conservancy.umn.edu/bitstream/11299/120034/1/Smajda_umn_0130E_12427.pdf Read More