Ghostbusters

What started out as a futuristic scifi cop drama like concept, became the modern day horror, adventure comedy we know and love.  Ghostbusters was one of the most phenomenal franchises of the 1980s and 90s.  It has spawned 2 movies with a 3rd on the way,  2 cartoon shows, various video games including the sequel game that brought back much of the main cast and even inspired real life concepts that I will explain in this article.  I myself got first introduced to the Ghostbusters through the 90s tv series called Extreme Ghostbusters which featured Tara Strong of Teen Titan fame and Tuxedo Mask himself Rino Romano.  However I have seen almost every incarnation, with the exception of the IDW comic.  This incarnation is what started it all.  It was Directed by Ivan Reitman and Written by and Starred Dan Aykroyd of SNL fame and Harold Raimis of SCTV fame as two of the titular characters, the third and fourth being Bill Murray and Ernie Hudson.

The story goes like so: Three down and out Parapsychologists, Peter Venkman (Murray), Ray Stantz (Aykroyd)  and Egon Spengler (Ramis)  just got fired from Columbia University just when they proven the existence of Ghosts.  With the remaining research and money from Ray's Mortgage they go into business to become the world's first paranormal investigators and eliminators.  Meanwhile Dana Barret, a Bassist for an orchestra, is experiencing paranormal problems of her own as it seems demons are hiding in her fridge.  Peter falls in love with Dana and decides in order to prove herself to her, to actively help her out in the investigation.  As they are close to losing their remaining money, they get a call about a disturbance in the Sedgewick Hotel.  After initial difficulty they capture their first ghost, Slimer.  This makes them instant successes and their careers as Ghostbusters flourish.  This catches the attention of EPA representative Walter Peck, who believes that their company is a front for handling toxic waste.  If that's not bad enough their containment field is reaching full capacity and Dana's experiences are getting more aggressive.  The Ghostbusters must convince NYC that what they are doing is real in order to stop these disturbances and save the world.

Now for the fun part, Could It Exist In Real Life?

First and foremost is the technology.  There is the PKE meter, which detects the Ghosts, The Proton Pack and Traps that catch the ghosts and the containment field that stores the ghosts.

The PKE meter is easy as there are various real world equivalents.  The first being the obvious EMF Detector which detects electromagnetic fields of surrounding areas,  if there is a field that has no source then you got a ghost.  The other is the Infared Thermometer which detects the sudden rises and falls in temperature.  A common way to find spiritual activity is to find what are commonly known as Cold spots.  Places in a haunted house that stay cold regardless of the change in the outside climate.  This is also what causes the cold shiver you feel in your spine, when you feel you aren't alone in the house.

The Proton Packs are miniaturized Particle Accelerators which shoot out protonic energy.  In layman's terms that means with the right equipment you can actually make a gun that shoots protons.  Don't try it at home, but if you are stupid enough not to follow my advice; at least do this: Don't cross the streams.  Why?  Well Egon explains it all "Try to imagine all life as we know it stopping instantaneously and every molecule in your body exploding at the speed of light."  Though in real life if two proton energy projectiles hit each other odds are it would repel one and other like a magnet. There was a youtube video I found on the subject where a guy did make a real life proton gun.  The result isn't as impressive as the movie, but it works none the less. He hasn't caught ghosts with it yet though.  Sadly I forgot where I found it. But look it up you'd be surprised.

Last is the trap and containment field.  They both work in the same way as the proton pack in theory, but unlike the pack, the ghosts are bombbarded with protonic energy to keep it stored.  Much like my Pokemon analysis, these ghosts are converted to data as a result and can be stored in the trap no matter how big.  Though as proven with the game it depends on how much the trap can take.  Hmm I wonder if the Pokeballs were inspired by the trap.

The Next concept is the ghosts themselves.  Unlike most supernatural movies, said ghosts up until the games and cartoons that is, have not had any known living equivalent, but are called ghosts none the less.  That being said, no matter how comical they look, these are the most realistic portrayals of ghosts you can ever find in a movie.  First off is the way they effect the living environment.  Subtle movements, like moving books and throwing the cards out of the drawers are based off Telekinesis.  This theorizes that the ghosts are our consciousness expelled from our bodies.  The second part is the Ectoplasm, a substance left behind from said spirits or entities as proof of physical contact.  Now before I confirm this, I understand that the subject of Ectoplasm is debatable as half see it as undeniable proof while others see it as the biggest fraud in the world.  However I assure you that the result as of this moment  is....inconclusive.  Mainly because I myself never seen actual ectoplasm.  However if it really does exist it would be undeniable proof that ghosts can manipulate the living environment.  Last but not least on the matter is how to catch them.   Now as stated in the tech section, that Protons shoot out protonic energy.  What I mean by that is that it shoots out positively charged energy.  In order to catch a ghost the ghost would have to be made of negatively charged energy.  Which means that if ghosts do exist in real life they are made of billions of electrons.   Which explains a lot, because of the following:
1. Opposites attract and protonic energy is the only thing that can catch electronic energy.
2. Why ghosts are so fast and aggressive in their movements.  Electrons are in a constant flux, they can't be stopped unless their pathways are cut off.
3. The ectoplasm, many electrical things and entity leave behind a residue.  Like battery acid leaking from the battery or industrial waste.  Everything leaves something behind.

Now on to the final part of it.  Could The Ghostbusters Exist In Real Life? The answer is yes.

First and foremost there are many colleges dedicated to paranormal investigations.  Even the Ivy League Princeton has one in the form of the PEAR organization as mentioned in the Stephen King analysis.  There are also however organizations that make the real ones look bad such as Ghost Hunters, who do nothing but scream and shake the camera.

Last but not least there is one real group of Ghostbusters or at least the closest to it. The Aykroyd family.  I am not even kidding about that.  Dan himself is a spiritualist and when not making movies or creating fine wines. (One of which I purchased, pretty damn good for the price.) he investigates, becomes a consultant of and documents paranormal events from ghosts to UFOs. He was even the advisor for how the ghosts were portrayed in this series.  He's not the only one though.  His Father Peter Aykroyd published a book called "History of Ghosts" to which Dan wrote the intro to.  This particular book chronicles the entire family's history of being in the spiritualist movement.  Most famously his Great Grandfather (Whom I do not know the full name of.)  who was a known dentist and mystic. This particular Aykroyd has on occasion had a correspondence with Sherlock Holmes writer Sir Arthur Conan Doyle on the subject of spiritualism.

All and all you can't get a closer version of real Ghostbusters, than the family of one of the movies well known well loved creators.

As usual debate, argue and let me know what I missed.  Stay Tuned For More.  Oh when there's something strange, in the neighborhood.  Who You Gonna Call?

Update: Oh and Slimer is The Ghost of John Belushi.  Don't believe me? Ask Dan Aykroyd himself.