First off it is so great there is a place to discuss and debate even the smallest facets of ĈON FLUX!

I noticed in the series a preoccupation perhaps on Chung's part(?) with severed limbs. In "Thanataphobia" Sybil loses her legs and a small boy loses his arms. In "The Purge" we see a small boy missing an arm and then Bambara cuts off his own arm ( or rather a nurse does it?) for the boy. In "Isthmus Crypticus" we see Ilbrim who has artificial legs. Also Trevor is looking through his binoculars at the "happy" Breens including a woman with one leg. Also in "Crypticus" Una dreams in Ĉon's car of a creature which combines Ĉon, Narek, and the male Seraphtrev. This combined dream "monster" has a peg leg! In "A Last Time for Everything" there is a mention of Scavandra losing her feet. In "Reraizure" we meet Rorty who lost a leg during an unknown occurance while under the influence of the bliss pellet. In "Utopia/Deutoronitopia" Trevor has sommehow turned Clavius' body into a honeymoon suite! (Granted no severed limbs but certainly some mutilation here). There are probobly more examples but this suffices.

So my question: Was Chung preoccupied with severed limbs? If not is there some symbolism about this? Just curious and would appreciate discussion on this topic! Thanks!

PS...forgive any mis-spelled charector names or other words I spelled wrong!

-- Euphoric Industry (brian@bbmail.co.uk), December 09, 2001

Answers

Psy chopathiasexualis

Trapsing around the net and found this little spot...Beware X rated...my but some of these deviations are familiar aren't they?...Hmmm...Wonder if anyone's ever placed a narghile up someones...

-- Barb e. (Suesuesbeo9@cs.com), January 09, 2003.

I never really thought about it before, but I think for a lot of these people, their amputeism is probably symbolic of a greater loss in their lives. A lot of the characters are motivated by a sense of uncontollable yearning for which they are willing to risk quite a bit to satisfy. The absence of a limb may be symbolic of this spiritual incompleteness.

Another interpretation is that this physical incomleteness serves as a constant reminder to some past event, like an ugly facial scare that you have to acknowledge everytime you look in the mirror. And maybe that scar is the impetus for their behavior or a symbol of their fall from grace. In End Sinister, the future humans are missing most of their bodies and they all die out in the end. Or at least they cease to be recognizably human. I guess it's impossible to completely seperate the physical you from what makes you you. Or something like that. Whatever.

-- Logo (Vosepherus@aol.com), December 11, 2001.

And don't forget broken hearts, (ie severed relationships).

-- Barb e. (Suesuebeo9@cs.com), December 13, 2001.

No man yer THINKIN a' Agnes Varda ("A Severed Head")! Chung obsessed with Severed limbs? YUCK; Euphoria!! EEEEEwww.

Next you'll be telling me there's LEGS on the beans of yer CHILI.

-- dangerboy (artian@earthlink.net), December 18, 2001.

This reminds me of a pretty strange movie I saw recently, it was about people who liked to crash cars, then have sex while they were all banged up from the crash. Forgot the title.

-- Sam (janecherrington@paradise.net.nz), January 09, 2003.

Sam, you should be a comedy writer.

-- Logo (vosepherus@aol.com), January 10, 2003.

You mean this movie?

I love the Psychopathia Sexualis. I first read that book at age 14; it screwed me up, but in a good way.

-- Inu (paul@nadisrec.com), January 10, 2003.

"Crash", ha ha, whoops.

-- Sam (janecherrington@paradise.net.nz), January 10, 2003.