(FYI, that joke is hilarious! You’ll see why.)
I’ve never seen all the Pixar film “Inside Out.” Really. I always end up having this weird allergic reaction about halfway through the movie, my eyes get all squinty and watery, then my throat closes up. Its gross and it makes it really difficult to see some of those scenes. Sometimes, I do forget that I have this allergy and sniffle my way through the movie. I mean it’s a good movie and, as far as I can tell, the allergic reaction isn’t life threatening, just mortifying. I can’t have people thinking that I cry… ever… for any reason.
What I like about the movie is the simplistic way in which they explain complex emotions. It’s what everyone likes about the movie, it’s kind of the whole point. Though, that isn’t what I like the best about the movie. To me, the most interesting introspection of “Inside Out” is the question of core memories and Personality Islands (See, we are getting to the point where the title is hilarious).
The tapestry of our personality is a bit more complex than a single memory creating an aspect of our personality. Who we are is more of a tapestry weaved together with different memories. There are good memories and sad memories, and they weave together to make up the pieces of who we are. So, if the majority of those strings are joyful, the tapestry will reflect that. That piece of who we are will be joyful or angry or… I don’t know, what are some things that people feel? Those tapestries will, in turn, make us who we are, but those tapestries of personality have to start with an important memory. In “Inside Out” the idea is simplified to the creation of a core memory, an important memory that glows brighter than the rest, creates an aspect of the personality.
“Inside Out” starts out with Riley’s five personality islands; Goofball, Friendship, Hockey, Honesty, and Family. By the end of the film there are dozens of islands and some of the original islands have grown and expanded, each featuring much more complex emotions and memories than the five original concepts. That in particular interests me. The original five islands are big concepts, not a single facet of who we are. Then, as Riley grows into a more complex adult, those big concepts develop new facets and levels.
Every time I “watch” “Inside Out” I find myself wondering what my personality islands might be.
It’s pretty safe to say that we all have a “Friendship Island,” like Riley. While hers was shown to expand to include a neighborhood for friendly debates not everyone else’s did. My own would probably include a section for “healthy boundaries” or neighborhoods of “camp friends” and “college friends.”
But it’s not the big concept islands like friendship and family that I’m interested in. I’m most interested in the more obscure facets of personality. Riley’s islands include “Goofball Island” and “Hockey Island.” Then, at the end of the film, “tragic romance novels” and (everyone shut up!) “fashion island.” Those are the aspects of our personalities that don’t cross over for everyone. Those are the islands that I want to know about because I’m pretty sure Riley has interests that don’t show up on the personality islands. So, what are my personality islands? What are yours?
I think it is pretty safe to say that there is a “Writing Island” somewhere in there. Maybe it started out as an expansion of a story telling island or books island, but it expanded in a lot of different ways. There’s probably a section for drippy teen romances and a skyscraper of creative nonfiction that was built when I was at Whitworth. Maybe the whole thing is loosely connected to “Library Island.” I don’t know.
Those are the kinds of questions I find myself asking, just because I want to know. Is there a “Dessert Island?” There’s probably an “Art Island” with sections for photography and film analysis. I’m certain there is a “Faith Island” connected to “Family” and “Camp” and even “Friendship.”
But… what else.
I’m inclined to introspection. I have so many questions.
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