Entry 4: 70's TV and Disco Garbage (Thanks Commander Lewis)

 Another entry coming at you! Here we go. I want to talk about the stuff the astronauts brought on the trip. More specifically, how Andy Weir uses these and references them to create a human commentary. I’ve thrown in a couple references already, with the Cubs (See entry 1) and Aquaman (See entry 2). The other reference he also can bring up is seventies TV. He doesn’t seem to not like it, but then he ends up referencing it and putting it into his log. “But this time I had to hang around for a photo op. I gave the camera a thumbs-up to go along with my note, which said, ayyyyyy! Blame the seventies TV.” (Weir 126) I love the fact that Weir uses these things to create comedy. This book should be more serious and grave. It should convey the sense that Mark is stranded and there is a statistical probability that he will die far away from Earth and the comfort of home. No! Instead he uses this comedy to create a fun atmosphere that just conveys easier feelings than there should be. Mark almost sounds comfortable and content (Most of the time). Another that he keeps bringing up is Commander Lewis’ obsession with disco. His attitude seems to be that beggars can’t be choosers, but boy, he sure seems to think that beggars can still complain. He’s like a child that’s been allowed to stay up for 30 minutes, but then spends the entire time complaining about his older brother staying up later than him. It’s actually quite hilarious. He even tells this as one of the first things in his communications with the primitive communications from the Pathfinder before he starts using the Sojourner for extensive communications. This is his final message of the first day. “Earth is about to set. Resume 08:00 my time tomorrow morning. Tell family I’m fine. Give crew my best. Tell Commander Lewis disco sucks.” (Weir 120) Funny, right? But another thing. Commander Lewis still doesn’t know that Mark is alive!! Man that is messed up, but also a genius move by Weir. It, for starters, pulls at the heartstrings because YOU know that WATNEY doesn’t know that the CREW doesn’t know that Watney is alive. The sentence is so innocent and sincere that it reminded me of the issue and kind of re-kindled the anger at the executives for not updating the ARES II crew. Seriously, so  messed up. Anywho, I’ve talked enough for now. Until next time.

Credit for this Image: https://www.quora.com/In-the-film-The-Martian-why-did-Watney-need-to-go-3200-to-the-Ares-IV-crews-site-and-MAV



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