Max Fischer Quotes

This is not the "relativism of truth" presented by journalistic takes on postmodernism. Rather, the ironist's cage is a state of irony by way of powerlessness and inactivity: In a world where terrorism makes cultural relativism harder and harder to defend against its critics, marauding international corporations follow fair-trade practices, increasing right-wing demagoguery and violence can't be answered in kind, and the first black U.S. president turns out to lean right of center, the intelligentsia can see no clear path of action. Irony dominates as a "mockery of the promise and fitness of things," to return to the OED definition of irony. This thinking is appropriate to Wes Anderson, whose central characters are so deeply locked in ironist cages that his films become two-hour documents of them rattling their ironist bars. Without the irony dilemma Roth describes, we would find it hard to explain figures like Max Fischer, Steve Zissou, Royal Tenenbaum, Mr. Fox, and Peter Whitman. I'm not speaking here of specific political beliefs. The characters in question aren't liberals; they may in fact, along with Anderson himself, have no particular political or philosophical interests. But they are certainly involved in a frustrated and digressive kind of irony that suggests a certain political situation. Though intensely self-absorbed and central to their films, Anderson's protagonists are neither heroes nor antiheroes. These characters are not lovable eccentrics. They are not flawed protagonists either, but are driven at least as much by their unsavory characteristics as by any moral sense. They aren't flawed figures who try to do the right thing; they don't necessarily learn from their mistakes; and we aren't asked to like them in spite of their obvious faults. Though they usually aren't interested in making good, they do set themselves some kind of mission--Anderson's films are mostly quest movies in an age that no longer believes in quests, and this gives them both an old-fashioned flavor and an air of disillusionment and futility.

Let’s assume the match doesn’t happen. Fischer is disqualified. Who will be the challenger in his place?” Krogius understood. “Petrosian. The second finalist of the Candidates Matches.” “Do you think I want to play with Petrosian for the third time, in Moscow, for a few thousand rubles? I’m not just talking about the prize. Who will care about this match?” Spassky cared not just about the money. He wanted to go down in history. Krogius believed it was a risky game. “Fischer will realize how much you want this match. Euwe isn’t dumb either. They will think they can get away with a lot with you.” “And Fischer doesn’t want that money? Not to mention the title of world champion. And Edmondson? Do you think he doesn’t dream of Fischer winning the crown for America? And Max Euwe? This match is a gold mine for FIDE and personally for him. They will push the boundaries, but they won’t cross them because everyone will lose in that case.” “Only our authorities would be pleased if Fischer didn’t play the match.” Finally, Krogius understood what the game was about.

I saved Latin. What did you ever do?