In the movie Demolition Man, Stallone’s character expresses confusion over the lack of TP in the bathroom. Some other character goes on to chide Stallone for “not knowing how to use the three seashells!”
So what’s that? The movie just leaves it hanging, as some kind of a gag. I think it’s even repeated later on. I know it wasn’t crucial to the plot or anything, but still – I like all my T’s crossed in cinema.
Now, wasn’t Demolition Man based on a comic book series? Maybe there was also a movie novel commissioned for Demolition Man? Does ANY alternate source explain WHAT exactly the “3 seashells” were & HOW exactly they were used?
It’s what’s known in the moviemaking biz as a McGuffin, like Pulp Fiction’s briefcase, although not as “mystical”.
In other words, the “3 seashells” bit serves to show the audience just how funny it is that Stallone doesn’t understand any of the modern conveniences, like future-sex, only more practical . The function of the three seashells is actually irrelevant.
However, if you want a possible explanation … try comparing it to a modern Japanese toilet - spray, wash, and dry.
I always tough that the briefcase contained Marsellus Wallace’s soul, but that could be a load of crap. It does make the flock of segulls boy a minion for the devil though (and with that haircut what else could he be?).
If they could program him to like to knit while he was in cryo-stasis, wouldn’t it have made sense to give him the knowledge he would need to live in their society?
Maybe they were planning to, but they hadn’t gotten to that part when they woke him up.
For some strange reason, I’ve been thinking the three-seashells custom was derived from some historical New-England custom. I haven’t been able to corroborate this through Google, though.
Other than that, my Google search turned up a lot of stuff about people decorating their bathrooms with seashells, seashell-patterned things, & seashell-shaped things. Weird.
. The function of the three seashells is actually irrelevant.