There is a fish I once knew called the Four Eyed Fish. As I tried to look it up recenty, I discovered it had a funny name: Anableps, Ana for Large, and Bleps for Eyes. Anyway, the reason I was fascinated by this fish, and the reason why scientists study it, is that it is simultaneously able to see above water and below water at the same time. That is, each eye is divided, so that when the fish swims just below the surface of the water (sort of in the manner of crocodiles), it captures two images in its brain: one of the world above, and one of the world below. This allows it to hunt for prey abovewaters (insects, for example) while keeping a watchful eye out for predators below (or vice versa).
It is interesting for other reasons as well; for example, males have their sexual organs on the right side of their bodies, while females have their sexual organs on the left. This means the "deed" is done with partners side by side.
The reason I am currently interested in Anableps is that I wanted to utilize it as a symbol for the split perception of reality. I wanted the "main character" of this short story collection to be somewhat disconnected, confused, due to this strange "double perception" of reality. He is both living in Mililani, and "looking down on himself" living in Mililani. Thus, he is both in the situation and outside of it, critiquing it and joking about it.
The expression for this split perception in Marsilani is that the "main character" lives in this town, Mililani, but also imagines that he is on Mars, his true home planet (where perhaps he truly belongs), looking down at himself through the lens of some telescope...
BTW, the Four Eyed Fish is an apt descriptor for the "main character" (alright, alright, it's me), who happens to be pretty nerdy.
It is interesting for other reasons as well; for example, males have their sexual organs on the right side of their bodies, while females have their sexual organs on the left. This means the "deed" is done with partners side by side.
The reason I am currently interested in Anableps is that I wanted to utilize it as a symbol for the split perception of reality. I wanted the "main character" of this short story collection to be somewhat disconnected, confused, due to this strange "double perception" of reality. He is both living in Mililani, and "looking down on himself" living in Mililani. Thus, he is both in the situation and outside of it, critiquing it and joking about it.
The expression for this split perception in Marsilani is that the "main character" lives in this town, Mililani, but also imagines that he is on Mars, his true home planet (where perhaps he truly belongs), looking down at himself through the lens of some telescope...
BTW, the Four Eyed Fish is an apt descriptor for the "main character" (alright, alright, it's me), who happens to be pretty nerdy.
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