The Social Network isn’t a story about the founders of the social-networking website, Facebook. It’s the founding of a great idea and the cast of characters who clung to it like a lifeboat.
Watching The Social Network, gives moviegoers an opportunity to witness (by proxy) a notable ‘aha moment’ in recent history: the ideation of Facebook.
The aha moment of Facebook is the central character of the The Social Network. It’s more alluring than the real-life characters of Mark Zuckerberg, Eduardo Saverin, or Sean Parker played by Jesse Eisenberg, Andrew Garfield and Justin Timberlake (respectively).
As it should be.
Aha moments are powerful. They provide a moment of clarity among chaos. They are defining moments where you gain insight or wisdom that can change the world. Aha moments are magnetic. Everyone craves them. Everyone wants to be a part of them. Everyone wants to own a part of them.
Having an aha moment is (quite literally) like a big light bulb going off in our brains: In 2004, researchers at Northwestern University discovered that a split — second before having an aha moment, we experience a burst of electrical brain activity.
The dialog in Aaron Sorkin’s screenplay personifies bursts of electrical brain activity. It is uniquely paced to weave the story of Facebook effectively. It features flurries of Sorkin’s unique style of rapid dialog (present in West Wing, Sports Night, and Studio 60 0n the Sunset Strip) moderated by reflective visual moments and plot-driving monologues.
The cinematic, reflective moments poised throughout the film are also conducive to celebrating aha moments: 2006 research at Northwestern University found that aha moments tend to occur more often at reflective times — when we are most open to change.
The Social Network effectively transforms moviegoers into voyeurs. We observe the movie’s characters from a distance and devour the story of Facebook’s origin in guilty pleasure. It’s like taking a forbidden bite from the apple than fell on Isaac Newton.
Credits:
Length: 121 min
Rating: PG-13
Director: David Fincher
Screenplay: Aaron Sorkin
Based on Book: “The Accidental Billionaires”
Friends Don’t Let Friends Drunk Blog
Mark Zuckerburg’s drunk blogging, as shown in The Social Network, led to embarrassment, disciplinary action, and a ‘Hot or Not’ inspired site called FaceMash. In this video Kaitlyn Bridge demonstrates the dangers of video blogging under the influence.
About Troy Janisch
Pingback: Tweets that mention The Social Network: Good ideas are intoxicating | Social Meteor -- Topsy.com
Pingback: The net of the asocial | Gergina's World