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Description
We Already Live in the Planet of the Apes
You do not need to go see the last film “Dawn of the Planet of the Apes” to realise that we are already living in such world. In this sci-fi, Earth has been ravaged by a rampant deadly virus, much like the Ebola. The few survivors of this post-apocalyptic world live in a new and unease coexistence with humanly intelligent Apes.
As fantastic as the plot can be, it is quite simple. Human and apes alike decide that their survival depends on the destruction of the other. Resources are limited and their ways of life are evidently, and abysmally, different. Sounds familiar? This is the single and most recurrent argument used by extremists in every single ideology, religion, culture, and whatever context to raise in arms. What makes this film so different about our history then?
Well, remember that they are damn dirty apes. The humans could simply break a deal with their hominid counterparts, but quite frankly; “They are animals”. If you think this, then you get the metaphor. Again, this being the second most common term used for factions, or groups of “identities” to de-humanise their counter-parts. This is used so one can buy into the lie that the others do not have husbands, wives, children, feelings, dreams, nothing! At the end of the day, those people are nothing more but, apes.
What makes this logic so flaw? It is quite clear, just because you belong to an identity, it doesn’t mean you are part of a collective. Group identities are social constructs, just as much as nationalities. Nationalism makes you proud about things that happened either in your nappy years or before the conception of your grandparents. It also makes you be quite suspicious of people you have never met. Either way, collective identities are another part of the de-humanising process. It only takes a look at the tragedies of the 20th Century to find evidences of such. You can even find them in our century: Islamophobia, Xenophobia, Homophobia, Anti-Semitism much?
The film portrays such images in great parallelism. Apes end up being more human than us in some areas, and us more “animal” in others. Again, what really draws us near home is the idea of radicalism. You see, individuals of each group decide on attacking -whether verbally or physically- the individuals of the other. The leaders then decide that the wise thing is to forget, and negotiate in the sake of peace. A collective contract. Yet, when the leaders forgive others the individuals of their respective group grow in resentment. No absolution can be given to those who do not belong to our identity. Escalation of the conflict becomes inevitable - as far as throwing coups. What follows then is an all-on war. Sounds familiar? The rise of such radicals can be seen in many historic, and contemporary examples.
- [Edinburgh: February 2015]

Description
We Already Live in the Planet of the Apes
You do not need to go see the last film “Dawn of the Planet of the Apes” to realise that we are already living in such world. In this sci-fi, Earth has been ravaged by a rampant deadly virus, much like the Ebola. The few survivors of this post-apocalyptic world live in a new and unease coexistence with humanly intelligent Apes.
As fantastic as the plot can be, it is quite simple. Human and apes alike decide that their survival depends on the destruction of the other. Resources are limited and their ways of life are evidently, and abysmally, different. Sounds familiar? This is the single and most recurrent argument used by extremists in every single ideology, religion, culture, and whatever context to raise in arms. What makes this film so different about our history then?
Well, remember that they are damn dirty apes. The humans could simply break a deal with their hominid counterparts, but quite frankly; “They are animals”. If you think this, then you get the metaphor. Again, this being the second most common term used for factions, or groups of “identities” to de-humanise their counter-parts. This is used so one can buy into the lie that the others do not have husbands, wives, children, feelings, dreams, nothing! At the end of the day, those people are nothing more but, apes.
What makes this logic so flaw? It is quite clear, just because you belong to an identity, it doesn’t mean you are part of a collective. Group identities are social constructs, just as much as nationalities. Nationalism makes you proud about things that happened either in your nappy years or before the conception of your grandparents. It also makes you be quite suspicious of people you have never met. Either way, collective identities are another part of the de-humanising process. It only takes a look at the tragedies of the 20th Century to find evidences of such. You can even find them in our century: Islamophobia, Xenophobia, Homophobia, Anti-Semitism much?
The film portrays such images in great parallelism. Apes end up being more human than us in some areas, and us more “animal” in others. Again, what really draws us near home is the idea of radicalism. You see, individuals of each group decide on attacking -whether verbally or physically- the individuals of the other. The leaders then decide that the wise thing is to forget, and negotiate in the sake of peace. A collective contract. Yet, when the leaders forgive others the individuals of their respective group grow in resentment. No absolution can be given to those who do not belong to our identity. Escalation of the conflict becomes inevitable - as far as throwing coups. What follows then is an all-on war. Sounds familiar? The rise of such radicals can be seen in many historic, and contemporary examples.
- [Edinburgh: February 2015]