(Yesterday’s post was part 1 of my attempt to make sense of what has been happening with Jim Carrey. Today I will conclude the story.)
Jim
Carrey goes even further when he espouses the idea that others do not exist. “I don’t believe that you exist,” he told an E! News correspondent
at New York Fashion Week. “There is no me. … There are clusters of
tetrahedrons moving around together. … We don’t matter.”[1]
Carrey goes even further when he espouses the idea that others do not exist. “I don’t believe that you exist,” he told an E! News correspondent
at New York Fashion Week. “There is no me. … There are clusters of
tetrahedrons moving around together. … We don’t matter.”[1]
One might think that Carrey’s reference to tetrahedrons
is a reference to Plato or Pythagoras, but if it is, it is likely an unconscious
reference; and, even if it is a conscious harkening to philosophers of another
era, Plato’s Theory of Everything has been found wanting by a great many better
philosophical minds. Plato’s theory has little to offer our contemporary
understanding of the universe. It is a bit like what Douglas Adams says
in The Hitchiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, “The answer to the ultimate question of life, the universe
and everything is 42.”
is a reference to Plato or Pythagoras, but if it is, it is likely an unconscious
reference; and, even if it is a conscious harkening to philosophers of another
era, Plato’s Theory of Everything has been found wanting by a great many better
philosophical minds. Plato’s theory has little to offer our contemporary
understanding of the universe. It is a bit like what Douglas Adams says
in The Hitchiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, “The answer to the ultimate question of life, the universe
and everything is 42.”
I would suggest that Jim Carrey has largely
given in to the influences of other thoughts, other people, and perhaps even
other spirits. Take, for example, a particular monologue from the documentary
made about Carrey’s personal crisis. It is entitled, Jim and Andy: The Great Beyond. The documentary is a marvelous
medium for Jim Carrey’s bizarre pseudo-philosophy. In the documentary, speaking
of the movie, Man on the Moon, in
which Carrey portrayed the performance artist and sometimes funny comic, Andy
Kaufman, Carrey says, “Andy Kaufman showed up, tapped me on the shoulder
and said, ‘Sit down, I’ll be doing my movie,’ What happened afterwards was out
of my control.”[2]
given in to the influences of other thoughts, other people, and perhaps even
other spirits. Take, for example, a particular monologue from the documentary
made about Carrey’s personal crisis. It is entitled, Jim and Andy: The Great Beyond. The documentary is a marvelous
medium for Jim Carrey’s bizarre pseudo-philosophy. In the documentary, speaking
of the movie, Man on the Moon, in
which Carrey portrayed the performance artist and sometimes funny comic, Andy
Kaufman, Carrey says, “Andy Kaufman showed up, tapped me on the shoulder
and said, ‘Sit down, I’ll be doing my movie,’ What happened afterwards was out
of my control.”[2]
Therein lies part of the problem. Many actors,
when preparing for a new role, would take the lessons they learned in acting
school and begin to craft the mannerisms, vocal inflections, and impulses of
the person they will play. Carrey seems to have a different method: he becomes
the person and allows the spirit of that person to take over his own
personality such that a portion of Jim Carrey is lost with each role. On top of
this, it seems there is no going back for Carrey. Forever after, a portion of Andy Kaufman’s or Truman’s or Ace Ventura’s persona is grafted into the Jim
Carrey persona.
when preparing for a new role, would take the lessons they learned in acting
school and begin to craft the mannerisms, vocal inflections, and impulses of
the person they will play. Carrey seems to have a different method: he becomes
the person and allows the spirit of that person to take over his own
personality such that a portion of Jim Carrey is lost with each role. On top of
this, it seems there is no going back for Carrey. Forever after, a portion of Andy Kaufman’s or Truman’s or Ace Ventura’s persona is grafted into the Jim
Carrey persona.
It has been reported that Carrey is preparing,
or has prepared, for a role as a hermitting, organic drug experimenter named
Terence McKenna. One wonders what this kind of role may do to Jim Carrey. Will
this be the point of no return for the actor we have loved? Speaking of this
role, he has reportedly said,
or has prepared, for a role as a hermitting, organic drug experimenter named
Terence McKenna. One wonders what this kind of role may do to Jim Carrey. Will
this be the point of no return for the actor we have loved? Speaking of this
role, he has reportedly said,
“The deeper you go into the
psychedelic dimension the bigger it gets. I’ve seen things which no human being
has ever seen before, and no other human being will ever see again. I retreated to nature and I took five grams of dried mushrooms
in order to prepare for this role. The real message of psychedelics, I think,
is to reclaim experience and to trust yourself. Your perceptions are primary.
psychedelic dimension the bigger it gets. I’ve seen things which no human being
has ever seen before, and no other human being will ever see again. I retreated to nature and I took five grams of dried mushrooms
in order to prepare for this role. The real message of psychedelics, I think,
is to reclaim experience and to trust yourself. Your perceptions are primary.
Your feelings are correct.
Everything must constellate out and make sense and parse with what you know. If
you don’t start from that assumption then you are off center to begin with. And
the psychedelics will dissolve the cultural programming that has potentially
made you a mark and restore your authenticity.” [3]
Everything must constellate out and make sense and parse with what you know. If
you don’t start from that assumption then you are off center to begin with. And
the psychedelics will dissolve the cultural programming that has potentially
made you a mark and restore your authenticity.” [3]
Some of Jim Carrey’s journey is not unique to
him, yet, it is worth noting a few pertinent details. Jim Carrey is not an
educated man. He never took acting lessons and he began his career before he
had an opportunity to complete high school. He has learned what he has learned
through his experiences in life. He became desperate to survive, thrive, and
succeed while he was still a teenager. He has had experiences that no one else
has ever experienced and likely, no one else will. I do not say this to mock
the man but rather to remind us all that he is not the sort of person we would
typically turn to for philosophical advice. His journey has not been that of a
guru or an academic. Thus, we heed his words at our own peril and trust his
advice at our own risk.
him, yet, it is worth noting a few pertinent details. Jim Carrey is not an
educated man. He never took acting lessons and he began his career before he
had an opportunity to complete high school. He has learned what he has learned
through his experiences in life. He became desperate to survive, thrive, and
succeed while he was still a teenager. He has had experiences that no one else
has ever experienced and likely, no one else will. I do not say this to mock
the man but rather to remind us all that he is not the sort of person we would
typically turn to for philosophical advice. His journey has not been that of a
guru or an academic. Thus, we heed his words at our own peril and trust his
advice at our own risk.
I do hope and pray that Jim Carrey might find
a supportive group of people who would direct him toward a more balanced and
sustainable life. I pray that he might find joy in living his life for a cause
greater than himself and that he might have true friends who show him the way.
a supportive group of people who would direct him toward a more balanced and
sustainable life. I pray that he might find joy in living his life for a cause
greater than himself and that he might have true friends who show him the way.
[1] http://www.afr.com/lifestyle/jim-carreys-message-in-netflix-jim-and-andy-we-are-all-truman-now-20171129-gzvk4v#ixzz50Ck74QXx “Jim Carrey’s message
in Netflix ‘Jim and Andy’: we are all Truman now,” by Dan Zak, Financial Review, December 1, 2017.
in Netflix ‘Jim and Andy’: we are all Truman now,” by Dan Zak, Financial Review, December 1, 2017.
[2] Ibid.
[3] I hesitate to legitimize the website
upon which this quote is found but recognize that these may in fact be the
words of Jim Carrey: http://livetheorganicdream.com/jim-carrey-preparing-psychedelic-role-staying-nature-taking-mushrooms/
upon which this quote is found but recognize that these may in fact be the
words of Jim Carrey: http://livetheorganicdream.com/jim-carrey-preparing-psychedelic-role-staying-nature-taking-mushrooms/