Word: mysticism
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Dates: during 2000-2009
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Earlier peoples also believed their lives could be changed by distant, unseen beings. They called these entities angels, demons and gods. Today, the complex world that travel, communications and other technologies have created can likewise seem as if moved by mystic forces. If Lost is a jungle of quasi-shamanistic kismet, it resonates because our world appears that way too. In Babel, Heroes and their forebears--from Magnolia to the novels of Thomas Pynchon--even if the connections may be contrived, they feel authentic. That guy in the next car on the freeway could change my life someday...
...reading tastes in elementary school weren’t that sophisticated. I mean, I could’ve knocked off some Hemingway in fourth grade, but I chose not to. But nor did I incline toward the trashy Goosebumps or Mystic Mountain High (that’s made up, but you know the type) families. So for a while, I tracked the adventures of Encyclopedia Brown, the finest sleuth this side of the Atlantic. A stretch with that endless series about the Boxcar Children. Then I turned my attention to the Redwall saga, those enchanting tales of mice slaying snakes...
Intellectuals and females aside, however, the most worthwhile acquaintances we made at Oktoberfest were a number of unkempt bearded oracles. We had seen several of these shamans outside of 7-11 before, jingling their mystic wisdom goblets, but had never mustered the courage to speak with them. And oh, what we were missing. Those priests of illusion have much wisdom butter to spread. One of them is writing a historical novel about a love triangle in the Courts of Vienna...entirely in his head! And another has risen from poverty to be one Boston’s premier adult party...
...power-hungry political machine, Penn astutely changes his character from an endearing underdog—who courts voters in a swamp—into a deceitful tyrant. Penn’s delivery of fiery polemics against corrupt state government greatly improves upon his emotive outburts from “Mystic River.” Yet, at times, whether because of his prominent cowlick or projectile spittle, Penn’s performance errs towards the mentally-retarded character he played in “I am Sam.” Less can be said for his supporting cast. Jude Law wilts...
...Matthew Fox), a heartthrob doctor with unresolved father issues, and Locke (Terry O'Quinn), a paraplegic miraculously healed on the island. There is Hurley (Jorge Garcia), a likable sad sack who won the lottery playing a set of numbers--4, 8, 15, 16, 23, 42--that we learn have mystic significance. There is a fugitive (Evangeline Lilly), a wisecracking con man (Josh Holloway), a heroin-addicted has-been rock star (Dominic Monaghan), a former Iraqi torturer (Naveen Andrews...