Welcome to the Melrose Place Update. Each episode of Melrose Place is a broad commentary on contemporary culture, cleverly hidden behind a veil of meaningless dialogue and contrived social situations. Yet, much as a mother sees only good in her children, we can see beyond Spelling's mindless facade to the crux of his social exposition. As David Bowman approached the Monolith in 2001, others could see only its black, featureless surface, yet Bowman's last words to Discovery reported that the monolith was filled with "wonderful things". And, if we look closely, we too can see all manners of wonderful things.
We live in an era undergoing a radical shift in cultural paradigms. Our society is based upon a model where each person works, somehow, to guarantee their existence. This is a tradition extending back to the distant wisps of our collective memory. Man as hunter- gatherer supported an individual or at the most, a limited family group. A major shift occurred with the formation of communities; extended families which became the first workgroups. The joint/concerted efforts were more productive than individual efforts, allowing the strengths of others to account for individual weaknesses.
A further shift occurred during the Age of Specialization, when each person stopped being their own farmer and butcher and blacksmith, ad nauseam. Instead, one butcher worked solely on that task, relying on others to grow his food and shoe his horses, ad nauseam. Specialization opened our society to improve processes and advance technologically. Industries disappeared as we progressed, yet new ones appeared; the blacksmith now sold Dunlop tires.
The first businesses several hundred years ago operated out of the owner's home. As communities grew, the need for larger facilities, additional employees and communications required a separate workplace in the "market"; the successful business stayed close to its customer. Businesses grew into corporations and spread across the globe, each with their local "office" close to that "market".
Marshall McLuhan proposed thirty years ago that technology and media were extensions of man; much as the wheel was an extension of the foot, the book was an extension of the eye. Media have changed since then, spawning new processes and new abilities, with resultant new extensions. The traditional model of workplace and liveplace (the home) is shifting toward an integrated approach; the home as office, the office as home.
Yet as this change occurs, our culture will have to evolve in parallel, adjusting to the merge of workplace and liveplace. Social communication will alter as media support electronic interaction on unprecedented levels. The need to physically group in the same location will diminish, as relationships depend on new sources of communication. While this seems to be a return to the age of individualism it actually reflects a heightened level of workgroup interactivity; people will work closer though they are farther apart.
Our current paradigm of separate workplace and liveplace has driven technology since McLuhan penned his thoughts in 1962. We see the model as two separate industries, business electronics and consumer electronics; one for the workplace and one for the liveplace. Each addresses disparate markets with disparate marketing approaches. They will merge as the line between them fades until suggesting separate consumer and business electronics industries will seem as foolish as suggesting separate consumer and business pencil industries. Technology progresses toward a ubiquitous existence of instinctual utilization
The key for modern industries lies in recognizing this shift and adapting. Single-user scenarios and separate business and consumer strategies will disappear as the real winners realize progress lies in empowering the workgroup individual.
"Riptide, caught in a riptide:- Ian
Torn between two loves, the old and the new.
Riptide, lost in a riptide:
Where will it take me? What shall I do?"
- "Riptide" (c) 1938, Gus Kahn/Walter Donaldson
Allison is *still* dinking around with Keith as her emotions ride the Rollercoaster of Indecision. (I could not help but wonder why Spelling is dragging this story out over at least four episodes, especially when little new ground is explored each episode, but...)
Keith's wife Lily pops back into town about the same time Allison has a battle royal with Jane over Allison's relationship with Keith. Jane is upset with Allison, seemingly over her own insecurities with her marriage to Michael. (Who, of course, is masculinely oblivious to her concern and only aggravates the problem.) The two bicker back and forth for the entire episode over which is more insecure/irrational.
Allison is upset when Lily appears and Keith runs for safety to Allison's apartment. Billy is quite upset with the whole, er , affair, and Allison has nightmares of Lily blaming her for the failed marriage. The next day, Keith suggests the Lovebirds go camping but not before Allison sneaks by Keith's Beach/Bitchhouse to see The Marital Competition. Of course, when Lily catches Allison watching her from her car, Allison overreacts and roars off into the sunset leaving Lily breathing exhaust fumes.
While camping, Allison experiences an epiphany of sorts and is suddenly uncomfortable with Keith. They return the next day (but not until Keith catches three fresh trout for breakfast; I am entertaining any and all suggestions of where you can catch trout in Southern California...) Allison demands emotional time off and tells Keith she is through with the affair. He freaks out, Allison leaves and returns to the Big MP where Billy's Shoulder O' Comfort awaits...
Matt is still trying to clear up his wrongful dismissal from the Halfway House. The lawyer he wants to hire needs a $5000 payment up front, so Matt waits tables before Jake suggests he ask his parents for the money. Matt goes home where the Parental Types gripe, (although Mom, bless her heart, is amazingly understanding with Her Little Trooper). Spurned, Matt stalks off into the night.
Determined to continue the case, Matt puts his car up for sale and returns to the lawyer's office with the pink slip. The lawyer turns down Matt's car, suggesting she could take his case for the publicity and waive the fee. Matt says "What the hell" and we'll see you in court next week.
Rhonda gets a new roommate, a Personal Organizer/ Anal Retentive from Hell who promptly takes over the apartment. The alphabetized kitchen is ok, the disinfected and deodorized clothes closets are pushing it, but the straw finally breaks when Rhonda does not clean one of Corey's frying pans like she should have. Corey hits the street and Rhonda continues her quest.
Signor Spelling continued the sordid affair between Success/Allison and Failure/Keith while Conscience/Matt struggles with the angst of Justice.
Innocence/Billy consults Responsibility/Married Couple around the Pool/Water/Life, symbolic of his eternal quest to understand Life, Success and the sometimes obscure interworkings of the relationship. Responsibility/ Michael is repairing the leaky roof, seeking to separate Innocence from the Realities of Life which have been leaking into Innocence's existence.
Spelling evokes several primal icons with the introduction of the thunderstorm at Melrose Place. We see the distant clouds of Confrontation approaching as Michael/Responsibility repairs the roof; Spelling indirectly indicates to the viewer that the climactic scenes are near. The tension in the air is electric, the impending storm stretches taut the frayed nerves of Success.
The thunderstorm is an ancient symbol of power and turmoil, reflecting the inner torment of Success as she faces Failure. Mythological Greece held the thunderstorm as a gesture of Pantheonic rage; a celestial outpouring of vitriolic anger and disgust with the lowly inhabitants of earth. So too Spelling exhorts the storm to convey moral outrage at Success' near-fall from grace, her illicit flirtation and affair with Failure demanding divine response. The Thunderbolts of Zeus accent the climax, outlining Success' angst and pathos in stark contrast to Failure's peaceful slumber. He has nothing to lose, Success may lose it all.
When Success/Allison and Marital Responsibility/Jane confront each other over Failure/Keith, notice that it is by the Mail/Male box. Marital Responsibility has repressed all of her anger over Failure/Keith, essentially locking it into her personal box. When Success and Responsibility repair the damage and apologize, it is in the Laundry Room; a symbolic cleansing of souls from the stress of conflict and resolution to begin anew.
When Success/Allison enters the apartment from the rain, notice that Innocence/Billy is watching television and in particular, he is watching the weather. The Rain symbolizes Success' disjointed Life, her cascading inner Sorrow and impending Failure, and Innocence is attuned to this inner turmoil; the weather will predict when the Rain will end, symbolizing Innocence's knowledge of Success' situation and ultimate denouement.
Success/Allison's desire to meet Lily/Purity and Hope lies in her inner fear and need for solace. The dual symbolism of Hope and Marital Fidelity both console and castigate Success in a bittersweet union of emotion. Success abandons Failure, yet the demonic lure of his temptations continues with Success' messianic wandering in the emotional desert.
Conscience/Matt also continued his battle for Justice in this episode. He adopts Everyman/Jake's suggestion that Conscience appeal to Rationality/Law, not realizing today's environment connects monetary remuneration with Rationality. Conscience is an idealist.
Notice that as Conscience leaves his Parent/Past's house, the painting on the wall is of Colonial Williamsburg; one of America's earliest settlements. Spelling's offhand hint is that Conscience's parents, like several other sets of Melrose Place parents, symbolize the Past and Tradition. Conscience must appeal to Tradition and the Past, yet he is not comfortable with this action.
Everywoman/Rhonda suffered persecution of her own. Her new roommate, Corey/Organization, seizes control of her life in an iron grasp. This storyline was lighthearted, yet it served to illustrate the destabilizing effect Organization can have on Everywoman (or Everyman) in today's fast-paced social environment. Organization is acceptable in moderation, yet the extreme level depicted in this plot served to disrupt Everywoman's life. The chaotic aftermath is indicative of the overwhelming pressure for Organization and its result.
Allison pines for Keith (so what else is new?) and Rhonda gets a new roommate. Dr. Ferreud is drooling...
"It feels so complicated and messy." "It's love." - Exchange between Allison and Keith where they determine what has been stuck on the soul of Allison's shoe for the last two episodes.
"Billy, you've already given me an indication of how supportive you are." - Allison to Billy, the Human Jockstrap.
"Oh, you smell good in the morning." - Keith to Allison as he walks into camp with a fresh trout in each hand.
"Um, smells delicious!" - Corey proves to Rhonda that she always nose what is going on.
"I had an ordinary childhood with ordinary parents; I don't want to bore you with all the details." "Someday I'd like to hear them." "Someday I'll tell you." - Exchange between Allison and Keith.
"The pleasure of love is in loving." - Francois , Duc de La Rochefoucauld, 'Reflections'
"I was in love with loving." - St. Augustine, 'Confessions'
"It wasn't love, but the idea of being in love." - Pet Shop Boys
"You don't love me, you love the idea of being in love." - Sandy to Paul in the previous "Stalker" Melrose Place episode.
"You realize you are falling in love with the idea of being in love." - Billy to Allison, recycling a well-worn line.