Smoke v SubZero

The Outworld warriors Smoke and SubZero debate and engage on the vital nature of modern capitalism-dreamcatchers.

Here's a fun Christmastime shopping symbolic fantasy-dialogue vignette featuring two iconic Mortal Kombat video-game avatars, the dialogic Smoke and the diabolical SubZero. Thanks so much for reading (signing off again), 

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The mystical smoky warrior named Smoke began debating with his longtime rival SubZero about the contours of capitalism, social consciousness, combat, marketing, fashion, consumerism toys, and active imagination. Smoke always felt idealistic about the value of commerce, but SubZero was much more Machiavellian in his disposition. That's what made this engagement rather exciting for onlookers. Smoke, a martial artist commanding the powers of speed and teleportation, stood in contrast to the cold SubZero who commanded the forces of icy winds and solid water.

SMOKE: Let's talk about war toys.

SUBZERO: How about water-guns?
SMOKE: Yeah, sure, water-guns symbolize childlike courage.
SUBZERO: They remind us of the value of water fights!

SMOKE: They sure do.
SUBZERO: Well, water-guns are consumerism tokens of vitality.
SMOKE: They ironically promote peace, because water is calm.
SUBZERO: Water can be a force of apocalyptic flooding too.

SMOKE: Yes, but water is a calming force compared to dangerous fires.
SUBZERO: You command powers of smoke and ash, while I prefer water fights.

SMOKE: I suppose you think water-guns reflect an enthusiasm about capitalism.

SUBZERO: Why, yes, water-guns remind us of the force of pure curiosity!
SMOKE: They sure do, but water-guns can also remind us of the value of Mother Nature.
SUBZERO: Well, then there's balancing tides in consumerism tokens.
SMOKE: Very agreed.

Smoke and SubZero transformed into two costumed characters or musketeers for Halloween. Smoke transformed into a bank robber and SubZero transformed into a KamaSutra specialist and Jesuit-like guru. They wandered around the US city of Chicago in America (Earth!) and talked about new trends in Halloween costumes. They noticed youngsters appreciated loud costumes representing a masquerading fascination with pedestrian daydreams! Smoke and SubZero were now diplomats of modernism imagination.

SMOKE: Let's talk about video-games!
SUBZERO: Yeah, the Sega Genesis was an iconic system.
SMOKE: Yes, Genesis games became very popular.

SUBZERO: I like Shinobi and Golden Axe.

SMOKE: I like Altered Beast and Strider and World Championship Soccer!
SUBZERO: These games remind youngsters of altered realities and combat.

SMOKE: We know much about combat and self-control.
SUBZERO: These video-games reflect an imagination about environments.

SMOKE: They capture our curiosity about active motion and adaptation.
SUBZERO: They represent modern capitalism at its most...playful.
SMOKE: Video-games have replaced tinker-toys.
SUBZERO: Capitalism is officially a vehicle for great modern textiles.

Smoke and SubZero then looked at the pattern of bank robbery in America, both in history and in modern times. They noted that in the past, bank robbers were canonized as press deities and folk-heroes, including Dillinger and the Sundance Kid. However, in recent times, bank robbers seemed to be more masked and anonymous and interested in more clandestine forms of covert 'anti-capitalism' terrorism. This was a real shift in both social behavior and storytelling. This intrigued them.

SMOKE: Let's talk about trends in bank robbery!
SUBZERO: Yes, bank robbers in the past have been more folkloric.

SMOKE: Today's bank robbers are like masked terrorists.
SUBZERO: Yeah, they're much more like serpents and aliens.

SMOKE: Yes, and perhaps that's because capitalism is more pedestrian now.

SUBZERO: Sure, you can shop and bank online now.

SMOKE: So today's 'highwaymen' and 'bandits' are simply 'trollers' avoiding exposure!
SUBZERO: They're like masked lizards.

SMOKE: Well, I wonder how this affects our views on fashion and marketing.
SUBZERO: Well, for one it can make the aesthetics of the modern bazaar more elegant.
SMOKE: Sure, when robbers are not deified with identities, bazaars seem more...ornate.
SUBZERO: That's because anonymity in crime breeds imagination about strong elegance.
SMOKE: Maybe that's because the 'fashion-house' traffic is resistant to crime-exposure.
SUBZERO: No one likes seeing images of celebrity crooks in times of streamlined fashion.

SMOKE: True; you notice that today's movie imagery boast more about pirates and dolls.
SUBZERO: Yes, and that's because pirates and dolls are better for ornate storytelling.
SMOKE: You have more luxury for ornate storytelling when markets are more traffic-embedded.
SUBZERO: That's why eBay and Amazon have turned capitalism into a...dish!

Smoke and SubZero wondered if such streamlining and normalizing of capitalism ethos would breed more 'graphic' movie imagery regarding the presentation of iconic dollhouse avatars, even Santa Claus himself, the goodly devil of Christmastime shopping.

Smoke and SubZero wisely concluded that the 'arc' of capitalism evolution would develop social views on the basic nature of human delight. Were they right?

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"Money is everything" (Ecclesiastes)