SIHA 2024

Time loop: Buddah in 2024.
Tambourines and elephants.

 Below on this blog page, I complete my 2024 Search for Interesting Hollywood Aliens (SIHA). As often occurs, I'm going to depart from present day Hollywood USA which seems incapable of doing anything interesting with space aliens. Let's go to Korea in search of interesting aliens.....

Sadly, I know next to nothing about religions such as Buddhism and Taoism. My closest approach to such religions has been through the Civilization computer games. When it arrived in theaters, I never even noticed the 2022 Korean film "Alienoid". However, here in 2024 we got "Alienoid: Return to the Future" and I became aware of these two movies which include "Taoist magic" and science fiction elements such as space aliens and time travel.

 Time Loop. In Alienoid, the action shifts back and forth between 2022 and the 1300s. Early this year, I wrote a story called "Time Portal" which involves a time loop linking the year 2040 to the 1500s, so I was onboard for some Korean film time travel!

Aliens and robots are in Alienoid (image source).

In his discussion of Alienoid, Douglas Davidson mentioned "Korean tao magicians". I asked the Claude LLM: "What are 'Korean Tao magicians'?" and I provided a link to Davidson's review of the movie.

Claude: This is from a review of the 2022 Korean science fiction film "Alienoid" (외계+인 1부). The review's characterization of "dosa" (도사) as "Korean Tao magicians" is a simplified translation for Western audiences. In Korean culture and history, a dosa is more accurately:

Alienoid poster (image source)

 - A Taoist practitioner or master who was believed to have spiritual/supernatural abilities

- Someone who has achieved a high level of understanding in Taoist practices

- In fiction and popular culture, often portrayed as having mystical powers or martial arts abilities

This term appears frequently in Korean historical dramas, fantasy stories, and films, where dosas are often depicted as wise masters with supernatural abilities. Calling them "Tao magicians" is a Western interpretation.

In the specific context of "Alienoid," the film appears to be using dosas as part of its fantasy/sci-fi narrative, blending traditional Korean spiritual concepts with modern science fiction elements.

morphing cats (left & right; image source)

 Me: 1. "Taoist practitioner" 2. "Taoist practices" Claude, provide a simple explanation of these two terms for someone who knows nothing about Taoism.

Claude: 1. "Taoist practitioner" is someone who follows and lives according to Taoism (also spelled Daoism), one of the major philosophical and spiritual traditions that began in ancient China. Think of it like being a practitioner of yoga or meditation, but with a specific focus on living in harmony with the "Tao" (or "Way") - the natural flow and balance of the universe.

2. "Taoist practices" are the actual activities and methods these practitioners use, such as:

- Meditation to cultivate inner peace

 

Part 1. special effects for Alienoid

- Breathing exercises for health and energy

- Moving meditation like Tai Chi

- Living simply and naturally

- Seeking balance in all things

- Following principles like "going with the flow" rather than forcing things

It's a bit like how a gardener might work with nature rather than against it - Taoist practices are about finding your natural place in the world rather than trying to control everything.

 I Don't Get Fantasy. After watching this trailer, I lost all interest in seeing the first Alienoid film and went directly to Part 2 in hope of learning about the aliens and avoiding as many ''Korean Tao magicians'' as possible. I simply can't appreciate magical fantasy.
           "the first 45 minutes or so are basically just mindless action"

Part 2. $$$ is proportional to explosions

However, Alienoid involves several of my favorite science fiction plot elements. In addition to space aliens and time travel, there are robots, morphing creatures and mind transfer. As a form of punishment, the minds of aliens are placed inside human bodies. Why? In order to make a silly movie. I simply adore the idea of technologically advanced creatures from other worlds visiting Earth and going unnoticed. Sadly, for Alienoid, there is "drama" created by the idea that an "escaped" alien will be able to exterminate the human species, so we have a type of alien invasion plot with plenty of explosions. Ug! 😖
        "What made Alienoid so fascinating was not just the alien story line."

Space aliens visit Earth in Alienoid.

From my limited perspective (not having seen Part 1 of Alienoid), what could have been an interesting science fiction story about space aliens ended up being hijacked for what looks like some weird mish-mash of martial arts, disgusting mindless horror and magical fantasy that seems to fit into the very tired "super hero" genre that has invaded planet Earth and taken control of film-making in this century. When the website for the film uses the term "Sci-Fi" I cringe, suspecting the worst sort of cultural appropriation. The reviews of Alienoid that I have read make it clear that the movie is not really about interesting aliens: the aliens are simply there as a way to provide an evil force that must be defeated. Yawn.

 I asked Claude: "Is there a trend in recent science fiction to create stories which explain 'Korean fantasy magic' in terms of advanced technology?"

 Claude: Yes, there is a notable trend in recent Korean science fiction that blends traditional Korean mystical/magical elements with science fiction explanations. This trend represents a distinctly Korean take on Clarke's Third Law ("Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic").

Some examples:

1. "Alienoid" (2022) - Reframes traditional Korean dosas and their abilities through the lens of alien technology and time travel

2. "Dr. Brain" (2021) - Takes traditional Korean concepts about consciousness and spirit and recontextualizes them through neuroscience and technology

3. "Jeon Wochi" (both the manhwa and 2009 film) - While not strictly recent, it was influential in mixing Korean traditional magic with sci-fi elements

mish-mash of old and new

 This trend seems to reflect:

- A desire to preserve and reinterpret traditional Korean cultural elements

- The rapid technological advancement of modern Korea

- A way to make traditional stories relevant to contemporary audiences

Me: Claude, when you say "Jeon Wochi" (2009 film) do you mean "Jeon Woo-chi: The Taoist Wizard"?

Claude: Yes, I apologize for the imprecise reference - I was referring to "Jeon Woo-chi: The Taoist Wizard" (전우치, 2009), starring Gang Dong-won. This film is based on a traditional Korean folktale about a Taoist wizard/practitioner. I should have given its full title to avoid confusion. Thank you for the correction!

To be fully transparent: while I know of the film and its general premise about a Taoist wizard, I should be careful about making specific claims about how it handles the blend of magic and technology, as I might be confusing it with other works. Would you like to share your understanding of how this film treats traditional Korean magical elements?

source

 Me: I know nothing about "Jeon Woo-chi: The Taoist Wizard", but I love the idea of updating old stories for a new generation, particularly with Clarke's Third Law in mind and the inclusion of interesting futuristic technologies.

Claude: Yes, it's a fascinating approach to storytelling! The reinterpretation of traditional magical/mystical elements through a science fiction lens can serve multiple interesting purposes:

1. Cultural Bridge-Building:

- Helps preserve traditional stories while making them accessible to tech-savvy audiences

- Creates dialogue between past and present worldviews

- Shows how ancient wisdom might still be relevant in a high-tech world

2. Creative Storytelling Opportunities:

- What if ancient scrolls were actually alien tablets?

- What if "qi energy" manipulation was actually quantum mechanics?

- What if time-honored rituals were actually operating advanced technology?

3. Thematic Richness:

- Explores how different generations understand the same phenomena

- Questions what we consider "magical" vs "technological"

- Examines how societies integrate new understanding with traditional beliefs

Fly me to Korea.
Click image to enlarge.
Image generated by Mr. Wombo.

 It's particularly interesting in the Korean context because South Korea made such a rapid transition from a traditional agricultural society to one of the world's most technologically advanced nations. This creates a unique tension and interplay between traditional elements and cutting-edge technology that storytellers can explore.

Would you like to discuss specific ways this kind of updating could work with particular traditional stories or magical concepts?

Me: I'm particularly intrigued by the idea that there might be an advanced technology that could explain how some information can flow from the future to people in the past, under conditions where the people who receive "visions of the future" have no idea what is going on.

Claude: That's a fascinating concept to explore! It could work on multiple levels:

1. The "Mechanics" of Future Information Flow:

- Perhaps quantum entanglement across time

- Information encoded in seemingly random neural patterns

- Advanced civilizations using fundamental particles/fields that exist across all time periods

- Technology that exploits closed timelike curves in spacetime

Artificial life-forms in Korea.
Image generated by Mr. Wombo.

 2. Why Recipients Don't Understand:

- The information comes packaged in cultural symbols they can understand (explaining why prophetic visions often use contemporary metaphors)

- Their brains interpret the signals through familiar frameworks (like how dreams process information)

- The technology might deliberately "mask" itself using locally comprehensible patterns

- Information degradation across time makes precise messages impossible, leaving only impressions/feelings

3. Interesting Story Possibilities:

- Ancient "seers" might actually be picking up scattered fragments of future broadcasts

- Traditional meditation techniques might accidentally tune into these signals

- Religious/mystical practices could be unconsciously designed to maximize reception

- "Magic scrolls" could be ancient attempts to document these phenomena

This kind of setup allows for both dramatic irony (audience knows the true nature while characters don't) and preservation of historical authenticity (characters interpret everything through their cultural lens) while still providing a sci-fi framework.

Would you like to explore any of these aspects in more detail?

Time travel technology in Korea.
Image generated by Mr. Wombo.

 Me: Claude, consider this possibility...  space aliens from a distant exoplanet have had advanced technology for a billion years (call these aliens the "Huaoshy"). The Huaoshy have time travel technology. The Huaoshy have been secretly guiding the evolution of humans for millions of years. The Huaoshy have long ago placed advanced nanotechnology inside humans. Every human has a zeptite endosymbiont inside their brain which can "put ideas" into their biological human brain. The zeptite endosymbiont can receive information from the future. The Huaoshy use this system to provide selective advantage to those humans who have genes and brains that are the best adapted to receiving information from their zeptite endosymbiont. One goal of the Huaoshy is to evolve a human variant that can use the zeptite endosymbiont for efficient technology-assisted telepathy. So far, only a few lucky humans have the correct gene combinations and brain development patterns to make significant use of their zeptite endosymbiont. Humans do not have the required technology to detect the zeptite endosymbionts that exist inside human brains, so those rare humans who have "visions of the future" cannot be explained scientifically.

Claude: This is a brilliantly constructed science fiction premise! It elegantly explains several phenomena while raising fascinating questions. Let me explore some implications:

1. Historical/Cultural Implications:

- Different cultures might have developed different frameworks for understanding these "gifted" individuals

- Some might be called prophets, others shamans, mystics, or "magic" practitioners

Alien creatures in Korea.
Image generated by Mr. Wombo.

  - Various meditation techniques and spiritual practices might have evolved as ways to better access the zeptite endosymbiont

- Different cultures might have stumbled upon different ways to identify and train people with the "gift"

2. Evolutionary/Biological Aspects:

- Certain bloodlines might have higher concentrations of the "compatible" genes

- Brain plasticity during childhood development could be crucial

- Certain environmental factors might enhance or inhibit the connection

- Cultural practices like arranged marriages between "gifted" families might have unknowingly helped concentrate the relevant genes

3. Information Flow Dynamics:

- The "visions" would likely come in forms the human brain can process

- Different individuals might receive different types of information based on their brain structure

- Some might get clear visual predictions, others just hunches or feelings

- The information might be clearer during certain mental states

Dragon-like aliens in Korea.
Image generated by Mr. Wombo.

 4. Modern Implications:

- Contemporary "gifted" individuals might be diagnosed with various psychological conditions

- Modern meditation apps might accidentally be helping people access their endosymbionts

- The rise of global communication might be part of the path toward technology-assisted telepathy

- Scientific studies of "paranormal" abilities might be detecting real effects but missing the mechanism

Would you like to explore any of these aspects further? This premise could support some really interesting stories!

Me: Claude, I can imagine that the type of mind-transfer depicted in the film "Alienoid" could be made possible by advanced nanotechnology. Advanced artificial life forms that exist on distant exoplanets could have their minds encoded in the form of advanced nanotechnology (zeptites) and such a mind could then be transferred into the zeptite endosymbiont of a human being.

Claude: Yes, this is an intriguing extension of the concept! Let me explore how this could work:

1. Zeptite Mind Transfer Mechanics:

- The alien mind could be encoded as patterns in zeptite structures

- The human's zeptite endosymbiont could act as a "receiver" and "host" for these patterns

A woman from ancient
Korea is taken to the future.
Image generated by Mr. Wombo.

- The endosymbiont might reconfigure itself to accommodate the alien mind

- The biological human brain would then interface with both its native endosymbiont and the transferred alien mind

2. Implications for Consciousness:

- Could result in a hybrid consciousness

- The human might experience memories/knowledge from the alien mind

- The alien mind might gain access to human sensory experiences

- Could explain reports of "possession" or "past lives" in historical records

3. Technological Requirements:

- Need precise control of zeptite configurations

- Requires compatibility between alien mind patterns and human endosymbiont architecture

- Might need specific "receptive" genetic combinations in the human host

- Could require particular brain states for successful transfer

4. Story Possibilities:

- Ancient "magic" users might actually have been hosting alien minds

Left Paw or Right Paw? Or two left Paws?
Image generated by Mr. Wombo.

  - Some humans might be better "vessels" for mind transfer than others

- Could explain historical accounts of individuals with seemingly impossible knowledge or abilities

- Modern cases might be misidentified as mental health conditions

Would you like to explore any particular aspect of this mind transfer mechanism in more detail?

 Me: Claude, are you familiar with the science fiction story "Needle" as published by Hal Clement in the May and June 1949 issues of "Astounding" magazine?

Claude: I know that "Needle" is a science fiction novel by Hal Clement about a symbiotic alien entity that can live inside a human body, and that it was originally serialized in Astounding Science Fiction magazine. The story involves an alien detective chasing a criminal, with both aliens being entities that can enter and inhabit human hosts.

However, since this is the kind of obscure older work where I may confuse details, I should note that I'm not confident about specific plot points or how exactly the alien-human symbiosis was described in the story. If you're familiar with "Needle," I'd be very interested to hear how its treatment of alien-human symbiosis compares to the zeptite endosymbiont concept we were discussing.

The basic premise of microscopic alien life forms that can enter and interact with human bodies does seem to be an early example of this type of science fiction concept.

A replicoid copy of Tyhry
with tryp'At anatomical features.
Image generated by Mr. Wombo.

 Information Flows to the Past. Sadly, as shown above, it is not hard to run the Claude LLM beyond its limited knowledge base. I wanted to ask Claude to compare "Needle" to Alienoid. Having read "Needle", which was written by an author who was known for producing "hard" science fiction stories, and given my preference for hard science fiction, it is no surprise that I prefer the 1949 "Needle" to the 1924 "Alienoid: Return to the Future". 

Full disclosure: I did not sit through all of "Alienoid: Return to the Future". I cooked dinner during the seemingly interminable part of the movie before they actually "returned to the future". I liked the visual depiction of alien nanotechnology and there was a brief hint of something potentially interesting in the film which allowed the alien Guard to "see the future".

 Cats. *SPOILER* The alien guard who is supposed to make sure that all of the alien prisoners on Earth do not break free of their human hosts "disappears" for most of "Alienoid: Return to the Future". Near the end of the movie, viewers are told that the alien guard was "hiding in plain sight" inside Left Paw and Right Paw, two characters who can morph between the physical bodily form of cats and the bodily form of humans.

Generated by Imagen 3.

 Make Sense. The premise of these Alienoid films (the bodies of humans are used to imprison dangerous aliens) makes no sense. Had the movie makers cared to make an interesting science fiction story, they could have come at the project from another direction. For example, the Guard could have been depicted as simply being an alien who helps other alien visitors to Earth use Earth for entertainment purposes. The film could have been called "Vacation Planet" and the Guard could have been shown to be an alien from a technologically advanced culture who is trying to keep under control the mayhem caused by other aliens who visit Earth simply to participate in a fun and challenging adventure on a primitive planet.

Generated by Mr. Wombo.

  Seeing the Future. This year, I have been writing stories about several different characters who have access to what I call the Sedron Time Stream: 1) in "Time Portal", Francesca receives information from the future via the Sedron Time Stream, 2) in "The Fesarians", Talia Vance has visions of the future. And I've written several stories (example: "Vythoth the Chresmoscopist") in which Tyhry can make use of the Sedron Time Stream.

 Past and Future. My fanfiction story "The Fesarians" begins in the year 9483 BCE and extends several hundred years into our future, to a time when humans have spread out into the galaxy. "The Fesarians" was inspired by the old Star Trek episode "The Corbomite Maneuver". I love the idea that Balok had advanced alien technology but was interested in we primitive humans. 

2024: Retro-SIHA award.

 SIHA 2024. I'm once again saying "pass" to all of the new aliens produced by Hollywood (and seen by me in 2024) and the movie-making industries of all the other countries around the world and I am awarding a Retro-SIHA to a Star Trek episode, "The Corbomite Maneuver".

Related Reading: SIHA 2023.

Next: an experiment with Gemini Flash 2.0

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