Topic: Metropolis

Cinema is characterized as a new medium for mythology, comparable to the works of Shakespeare or Mozart's The Magic Flute. Early examples like the silent film Metropolis are cited for their heavy Gnostic and occult themes. The study of these symbols explores how the "great arcana" permeates material culture through decades of filmmaking, from Frankenstein to James Bond.

The discussion focuses on the personality and convictions of Forrest J. Ackerman, the creator of Famous Monsters of Filmland magazine. Ackerman was a massive collector of sci-fi memorabilia, housing thousands of props in his 18-room "Acker Mansion," but remained a staunch atheist who believed death was like a light bulb going out. Before his death, he jokingly promised Davids he would "drop a line" from the afterlife if he discovered he was wrong.