NationStates Jolt Archive

I was having abstract thoughts again which for some reason I like to do on break time and then it hit me. Did anyone notice that in the first Shrek, Lord Farquad wanted his kingdom to be top notch, the finest. He wanted his kingdom's people to be the best, he wanted them to be perfect and not that he had a secret police force [his knights] that got rid of "fairy tale freaks" and offered money to those who reported them. Similar to the gestapo aye? He also had a personality cult, there were guys dressed as him as a mascot, his face and dolls appeared everywhere and last of all he was short. It then struck me that Farquad is supposed to represent Hitler. Then Shrek comes along with his friends and stops him and destroys his regime.

Has anyone else noticed this?

Click here (http://www.blogger.com) for anytime you have more thoughts like this.

I thought Shrek was about how being big is beautiful but it means you have to marry someone who pulls wax out of their ears and puts it on the dinner table.

Click here (http://www.blogger.com) for anytime you have more thoughts like this.

Why? This is a political thread right? I was wondering if anyone else noticed this.

How come when my more fortunate cousin who posted here posted his abstract thoughts it was tolerable yet when I do it it's atravesty?

Why? This is a political thread right? I was wondering if anyone else noticed this.

Eh I've never seen Shrek, but I doubt little kids will grasp that Shrek = Hitler vs. Allied forces.

Can I call Godwin on this one?

Eh I've never seen Shrek, but I doubt little kids will grasp that Shrek = Hitler vs. Allied forces.

Can I call Godwin on this one?

Its a show meant for all ages I beleive. From kindergarten to age middle aged. And it's most popular with the teenage populace who would grasp it.

I can see what your saying but I'd rather compare him to Napoloen. To be fair everyone who wants a perfect society is compared to Hitler.

There is a link there somewhere though I doubt the makers of Shrek meant it as such.

Hitler has become an entrenched visual image of evil, Napoleon fits in there as well. I'm not sure if there's an historical image of the short megalomaniac, one that Hitler and Napoleon conveniently fit into or whether it started with Napoleon and became fixed with Hitler.

So in drawing a vain despot, it may be that the creators of Shrek, dealing in caricature as they do, naturally made theirs short - both as a visual joke in that his opinion of himself is visualized through the fact that he's short as well as giving a nod to our own preconceptions - short people are little Hitlers.

How's that for an answer :)

EDIT: Damn you Gateway Driver! Damn you to hell.

There is a link there somewhere though I doubt the makers of Shrek meant it as such.

Hitler has become an entrenched visual image of evil, Napoleon fits in there as well. I'm not sure if there's an historical image of the short megalomaniac, one that Hitler and Napoleon conveniently fit into or whether it started with Napoleon and became fixed with Hitler.

So in drawing a vain despot, it may be that the creators of Shrek, dealing in caricature as they do, naturally made theirs short - both as a visual joke in that his opinion of himself is visualized through the fact that he's short as well as giving a nod to our own preconceptions - short people are little Hitlers.

How's that for an answer :)

you know that Napoleon was actually like 5ft6in right?

you know that Napoleon was actually like 5ft6in right?

Jeez, even someone who was called 'short' is taller than me. :( I think I'll go have a beer.

Jeez, even someone who was called 'short' is taller than me. :( I think I'll go have a beer.

it's a popular misconception that he was short.

There is a link there somewhere though I doubt the makers of Shrek meant it as such.

Hitler has become an entrenched visual image of evil, Napoleon fits in there as well. I'm not sure if there's an historical image of the short megalomaniac, one that Hitler and Napoleon conveniently fit into or whether it started with Napoleon and became fixed with Hitler.

So in drawing a vain despot, it may be that the creators of Shrek, dealing in caricature as they do, naturally made theirs short - both as a visual joke in that his opinion of himself is visualized through the fact that he's short as well as giving a nod to our own preconceptions - short people are little Hitlers.

How's that for an answer :)

EDIT: Damn you Gateway Driver! Damn you to hell.

lol
Your explaination beats my mere observation

you know that Napoleon was actually like 5ft6in right?

You know what? I did not. Thank you for that nugget, which I must admit, I had to go verify before believing you. For note, there seems to be a little dispute in that he was autopsied on St. Helena, which was under British control and therefore he could have been autopsied using the imperial measurement system, which would place him at 5ft.2in.

However, I think I'll tend to the 5ft.6in.

I suppose that provides a glimpse into the answer - saying someone is short is perhaps similar to the 'Hitler has only got one ball' song. We trivialize and joke about that which threatens us to make it a little less threatening.

There was a great line from Calvin & Hobbes where Calvin is wondering why we have humour and Hobbes says something to the effect that, knowing humans as he does, the world would be too frightening if we didn't.

I'll try find it now.

you know that Napoleon was actually like 5ft6in right?

the fact that he was left handed was apparently his problem.

you know that Napoleon was actually like 5ft6in right?

Dude, I'm supposed be that tall when I stop growing. Right about now I'm 5 ft - 5 ft 2ish (as in my mom still says i'm 5 ft)

it's a popular misconception that he was short.

I'm still having the beer. :D

Dude, I'm supposed be that tall when I stop growing. Right about now I'm 5 ft - 5 ft 2ish (as in my mom still says i'm 5 ft)

I am going backwards. I was 4'11" in my freshman year, I had jumped up to 5'2" by senior year and now at 25 I am back down to 5'

it sucks.

I'm 6ft.2in - you're all short megalomaniacs to me.

It's prolly a coincidence. I cannot believe shrek was made for this kind of purpose. The kids would never understand.

I'm 6ft.2in - you're all short megalomaniacs to me.

my husband is 6'2" we look hilarious together. :p

I'm 6ft.2in - you're all short megalomaniacs to me.

finally someone who I agree with

and happen to be the same height as :)

Alright. How did this turn into a discussion about peoples height in an obsolete system of units?

I don't remember the Allies being overweight and green, or Hitler ordering a mail-order bride. And who the heck is Donkey? Canada? What represents Japan, and the battle of the Pacific? The problem with this situation is it's meant to represent a rather age-old battle of a disgruntled subjects rising up against a cruel or incompetent ruler. Hitler would be an example of this age-old struggle, but he's not like the ONLY guy who's ever done that. Your making the broad theme way too specific.

Alright. How did this turn into a discussion about peoples height in an obsolete system of units?

:( oops.

I accidentally hijacked a religion thread the other day talking about Fass' royal penis.

I don't remember the Allies being overweight and green, or Hitler ordering a mail-order bride. And who the heck is Donkey? Canada? What represents Japan, and the battle of the Pacific? The problem with this situation is it's meant to represent a rather age-old battle of a disgruntled subjects rising up against a cruel or incompetent ruler. Hitler would be an example of this age-old struggle, but he's not like the ONLY guy who's ever done that. Your making the broad theme way too specific.

Which is the point. He's an archtype. An archtype made intentionally to seem EXACTLY like an archtype for the comedic value. He doesn't represent any one person, he's an archytpe, nothing more.

my husband is 6'2" we look hilarious together. :p

Better to have loved a short person than to never have loved a tall

Ho ho

G.K.Chesterton's quote abridged

It's prolly a coincidence. I cannot believe shrek was made for this kind of purpose. The kids would never understand.

But it was meant for teenagers more than it was for other age groups as stated earlier.

:( oops.

I accidentally hijacked a religion thread the other day talking about Fass' royal penis.

well, it was bound to fall off topic anyway, simply because it is an NSG thread. However, I am surprised to see it happen so soon.

But it was meant for teenagers more than it was for other age groups as stated earlier.

and what makes you think you know who the target audience was?

Adult humor.

But it was meant for teenagers more than it was for other age groups as stated earlier.

....wtf?

and what makes you think you know who the target audience was?

Adult humor.

I don't remember the Allies being overweight and green, or Hitler ordering a mail-order bride. And who the heck is Donkey? Canada? What represents Japan, and the battle of the Pacific?
I'm can't answer all these questions, but I'm pretty sure that Shrek going out to slay the dragon and get Fiona is a symbol for the Treaty of Munich.

I'm can't answer all these questions, but I'm pretty sure that Shrek going out to slay the dragon and get Fiona is a symbol for the Treaty of Munich.

No, no. That would actually be the Battle of the Bulge. I mean, if you can't see it, you're not going to get it if I try to explain it to you.

And why is your post-count n/a? Seriously, did you break the post limit?

I'm can't answer all these questions, but I'm pretty sure that Shrek going out to slay the dragon and get Fiona is a symbol for the Treaty of Munich.

That would be understandable, Shrek and Donkey wanted to appease the nazistic leader so he wouldn't kill them.

No, no. That would actually be the Battle of the Bulge. I mean, if you can't see it, you're not going to get it if I try to explain it to you.
Pshaw, goodsir, surely you are aware that you make but a mockery of interpretation? Any community college graduate could see that the Battle of the Bulge is more directly represented by the musical montage featuring "Hallelujah" by John Cale.
And why is your post-count n/a? Seriously, did you break the post limit?
The obvious answer is that I am God. Worship me or not at your peril, I only ask that you remember Pascal's wager whilest making your decision.

Shrek is supposed to be a colorful distraction for kids, for which even with the simple stories givin to them by disney, only care about goofy antics and impromptu musicals. The makers of shrek may have realized this and given a more complex and homurous for the adults that usually have to sit through movies about stereotypical crabs that sing about, of all things, water.


The obvious answer is that I am God. Worship me or not at your peril, I only ask that you remember Pascal's wager whilest making your decision.

I challenge your throne sir, tis better to rule in spam than it is to serve in general.:D

I'm can't answer all these questions, but I'm pretty sure that Shrek going out to slay the dragon and get Fiona is a symbol for the Treaty of Munich.but.. but... I always tough that the Dragon represented the US air force.. because it can fly *cries*
just by reading this thread I killed 50% of my brain neurones

but.. but... I always tough that the Dragon represented the US air force.. because it can fly *cries*
just by reading this thread I killed 50% of my brain neurones

LOL in Shrek 2 the US Air force was pregnant. LOL :D

but.. but... I always tough that the Dragon represented the US air force.. because it can fly *cries*
The dragon (which is red) quite obviously represents the USSR, which at first menaces the allies and then joins them.
LOL in Shrek 2 the US Air force was pregnant. LOL :D
The pregnancy is really the, um, Cold War, which is created when the USSR (dragon) gains Nuclear Weapons (the donkey).

The dragon (which is red) quite obviously represents the USSR, which at first menaces the allies and then joins them.

The pregnancy is really the, um, Cold War, which is created when the USSR (dragon) gains Nuclear Weapons (the donkey).

Showing a little too much knowledge of Shrek here - the John Cale musical montage reference is hovering on obsession.

Showing a little too much knowledge of Shrek here - the John Cale musical montage reference is hovering on obsession.
I have an incredibly good memory for useless things, like movie plotlines and song lyrics.

I have an incredibly good memory for useless things, like movie plotlines and song lyrics.

....he says while sitting in his Shrek costume, watching Shrek, eating Shrek cornflakes and sipping Shrek cola from his Shrek mug with his arm around an inflatable Fiona

....he says while sitting in his Shrek costume, watching Shrek, eating Shrek cornflakes and sipping Shrek cola from his Shrek mug with his arm around an inflatable Fiona
Is there such a thing as shrek cola?
And how do you just happen to know about the existence of all these merchandising tie-ins?

Pshaw, goodsir, surely you are aware that you make but a mockery of interpretation? Any community college graduate could see that the Battle of the Bulge is more directly represented by the musical montage featuring "Hallelujah" by John Cale.


Oh, of course, how could I miss that. It all makes perfect sense.

Also, the part about the prince looking for a mail-order bride? Obviously a spin on Hitler's spending on new and better weapons. Obviously. The Battle of Moscow is easily represented by... uh... erm... hmm... Fiona turning into an ogre at the end. Yep.


The obvious answer is that I am God. Worship me or not at your peril, I only ask that you remember Pascal's wager whilest making your decision.

What's the not so obvious answer? I have found that often times the obvious answer is infact the right answer. And as the case is that I prefer to live a life of ease, discovering the "right" answer is often difficult, to remain lazy, I must discover the oblivious answer instead. :D

Is there such a thing as shrek cola?
And how do you just happen to know about the existence of all these merchandising tie-ins?

Don't play the innocent with me Mr. Horatio Norbert Fiddlebottoms VIII

Is there such a thing as shrek cola?
And how do you just happen to know about the existence of all these merchandising tie-ins? *hint* US megaplex theaters.

we (US) dont know what overkill means. /*hint*

How come when my more fortunate cousin who posted here posted his abstract thoughts it was tolerable yet when I do it it's atravesty?

As Billy Joel might say, it's all about soul.

First Jive Dude: Shit man, that honky mus' be messin' my old lady... got to be runnin' cold upside down his head. You know?
Second Jive Dude: Hey home, I can dig it. You know he ain't gonna lay no mo' big rap up on you man.
First Jive Dude: I say hey sky, s'other s'ay I wan say?
Second Jive Dude: UH...
First Jive Dude: Pray to J I get the same ol' same ol'.
Second Jive Dude: Eh. Yo knock yourself a pro slick, gray matter live performas down now take TCB'in man.
First Jive Dude: Hey, you know what they say... See a broad, to get that booty yak 'em.
First Jive Dude, Second Jive Dude: Leg 'er down 'n smack 'em yak 'em
First Jive Dude: Cold got to be. You know? Shiiiiit.

snip It then struck me that Farquad is supposed to represent Hitler. Then Shrek comes along with his friends and stops him and destroys his regime.

Has anyone else noticed this?
Can't say I have. But then, I haven't been smoking what you've been smoking. Don't be shy, share it around so we can all see your pov.

I am going backwards. I was 4'11" in my freshman year, I had jumped up to 5'2" by senior year and now at 25 I am back down to 5'

it sucks.

That's the truth. A lot of people in India are short. But I've heard short men are attractive to tall women, and vice versa. (shrugs)

Farquaad as Hitler...hmm, considering his megalomania and extreme shortness, I would think Kim Jong Il might fit better. **peers through Shrek costume, sips Shrek cola, munches on Shrek fruit snacks, calls out to pet named "Donkey," and watches all three Shrek movies plus a preview of the fourth Shrek movie at the same time**

**tosses Shrek beer to everyone**

I was having abstract thoughts again which for some reason I like to do on break time and then it hit me. Did anyone notice that in the first Shrek, Lord Farquad wanted his kingdom to be top notch, the finest. He wanted his kingdom's people to be the best, he wanted them to be perfect and not that he had a secret police force [his knights] that got rid of "fairy tale freaks" and offered money to those who reported them. Similar to the gestapo aye? He also had a personality cult, there were guys dressed as him as a mascot, his face and dolls appeared everywhere and last of all he was short. It then struck me that Farquad is supposed to represent Hitler. Then Shrek comes along with his friends and stops him and destroys his regime.

Has anyone else noticed this?
I thought everybody knew that Lord Farquaad was supposed to represent former Disney CEO Michael Eisner. What a disappointment.

Pshaw, goodsir, surely you are aware that you make but a mockery of interpretation? Any community college graduate could see that the Battle of the Bulge is more directly represented by the musical montage featuring "Hallelujah" by John Cale.
I have an incredibly good memory for useless things, like movie plotlines and song lyrics.
Actually, I liked the musical montage featuring "Hallelujah" by Rufus Wainwright much more. But of course I have nowhere near your level of incredibly good memory. ;)

Actually, I liked the musical montage featuring "Hallelujah" by Rufus Wainwright much more. But of course I have nowhere near your level of incredibly good memory. ;)
I thought that they used Cale's version for the movie and Wainwright's for the CD soundtrack?
Amazon.com sez it was the other way around. Buggerrit, I've been undone!

Ah well, at least I got the song right, and this should allay Barringtonia's suspicions.

*hint* US megaplex theaters.

we (US) dont know what overkill means. /*hint*

It's not just US. Japan, for example, has lots ridiculous movie and video game promotion merchandise. Just take a look at this (http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=Final+Fantasy+XII+Potion&btnG=Google+Search).

I thought that they used Cale's version for the movie and Wainwright's for the CD soundtrack?
Amazon.com sez it was the other way around. Buggerrit, I've been undone!

Ah well, at least I got the song right, and this should allay Barringtonia's suspicions.

Confusion abounds.

Just when I was about to gently point out that it's Rufus Wainwright both in the movie and on the CD, I checked Amazon.com (http://www.amazon.com/Shrek-Music-Original-Motion-Picture/dp/B00005CF9Y/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/104-7433884-0827933?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1180558592&sr=1-1) and indeed their track list sez John Cale.
Now, that is odd, because for one, I have a copy of that CD and it is most assuredly Rufus Wainwright singing that song. For another, the Amazon audio sample of the song also is Rufus Wainwright. For yet another, the same CD on Amazon.de (http://www.amazon.de/Shrek-tollk%C3%BChne-Held-Various/dp/B00005CF9Y/ref=sr_1_2/028-7660028-1392534?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1180558743&sr=1-2) has the name as Rufus Wainwright to begin with.

So either you just hacked Amazon.com to weasel out of your memory failure or... or something else.

Why? This is a political thread right? I was wondering if anyone else noticed this.

How come when my more fortunate cousin who posted here posted his abstract thoughts it was tolerable yet when I do it it's atravesty?

If yer gonna make odd ball comparisons take a leaf outta this geezers book....

http://nedmartin.org/amused/communist-mario

I thought that they used Cale's version for the movie and Wainwright's for the CD soundtrack?
Amazon.com sez it was the other way around. Buggerrit, I've been undone!

Ah well, at least I got the song right, and this should allay Barringtonia's suspicions.

No, no it doesn't - the fact that you even knew of a distinction between Cale and Wainwright merely confirms my suspicion - it's just that your fellow members of the Shrek Happily Repeat Evermore Kids (S.H.R.E.K) club might require you to hand back your membership card due to your error.

EDIT: Surely not the same John Cale who did that disaster of an album with Lou Reed - Songs for Drella - tainting their VU legacy forever in my mind?

No, no it doesn't - the fact that you even knew of a distinction between Cale and Wainwright merely confirms my suspicion - it's just that your fellow members of the Shrek Happily Repeat Evermore Kids (S.H.R.E.K) club might require you to hand back your membership card due to your error.
I hope you didn't strain anything too badly reaching for that acronym.
EDIT: Surely not the same John Cale who did that disaster of an album with Lou Reed - Songs for Drella - tainting their VU legacy forever in my mind?
Mmm . . . quite, yes.

I hope you didn't strain anything too badly reaching for that acronym.

I did, hence the multi-editing. It was the E that bothered me most and I'm still not happy with it, speaking of which I edited the 'Happily' from the original 'Happy'. The R was a problem as well. I'd also prefer not to have used Kids for the K but K is a limited letter really.

The whole thing was a bit of a struggle to be honest and overall the answer is most likely not worth it.

Nor is this one come to think of it.

That's the truth. A lot of people in India are short. But I've heard short men are attractive to tall women, and vice versa. (shrugs)

Keep on wishing that, lol.

I'm glad I got the rare "tall brown guy" genes.

I did, hence the multi-editing. It was the E that bothered me most and I'm still not happy with it, speaking of which I edited the 'Happily' from the original 'Happy'. The R was a problem as well. I'd also prefer not to have used Kids for the K but K is a limited letter really.
You should have used "Klub" for the K and, if anyone challenged you on it, you could chalk the letter change up to whimsy. Or hit them in the face with a large stick.
The whole thing was a bit of a struggle to be honest and overall the answer is most likely not worth it.

Nor is this one come to think of it.
That's okay, you're special anyway.

On reflection, it's trying to find a reasonable means of making the K work - I'm thinking of using the Calvin & Hobbes G.R.O.S.S technique, as it's technically known, and allowing the K simply to be in the final word.

Or I might not bother :(

EDIT: Dammit, Klub! So obvious yet so beyond my abilities!

Confusion abounds.

Just when I was about to gently point out that it's Rufus Wainwright both in the movie and on the CD, I checked Amazon.com (http://www.amazon.com/Shrek-Music-Original-Motion-Picture/dp/B00005CF9Y/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/104-7433884-0827933?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1180558592&sr=1-1) and indeed their track list sez John Cale.
Now, that is odd, because for one, I have a copy of that CD and it is most assuredly Rufus Wainwright singing that song. For another, the Amazon audio sample of the song also is Rufus Wainwright. For yet another, the same CD on Amazon.de (http://www.amazon.de/Shrek-tollk%C3%BChne-Held-Various/dp/B00005CF9Y/ref=sr_1_2/028-7660028-1392534?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1180558743&sr=1-2) has the name as Rufus Wainwright to begin with.

So either you just hacked Amazon.com to weasel out of your memory failure or... or something else.

All other than Jeff Buckley and Leonard Cohen for that song pale in comparison.

Keep on wishing that, lol.

I'm glad I got the rare "tall brown guy" genes.

Lucky you. And hopefully it's true. Probably not, but what the hell?