Hello Mondains,
Here we are again another Monday. As I sit here I have been listening (or trying not to listen) to a car alarm that seems to have been possessed by an evil spirit. It has been going off for about two hours now. Sometimes it sounds like a real alarm but for the most part it sounds as if someone gave a giant toddler a giant penny whistle and a 500cc injection of caffeine at the same time. I just stepped outside and found out that it's my neighbors Chrysler making all the noise and it could also resemble a remote key-less entry double beep noise streamed rapidly together with a fluctuating pitch. Strange but true.
Now to the music! This is a song called My body is a cage by Arcade Fire. I like the song but what really catches me is the video that I have posted with it. It is a fan made video that takes clips from the movie "Once upon a time in the west" and patches it together. I am struck by how well the song and video correlate. In fact it was so much so that I had to watch the movie and I am thankful that I did because it was also fascinating and well done. Though the artists don't know that they did, I am happy for this collaboration between mediums.
My Body is a Cage from JT Helms on Vimeo.
Coincidentally the main theme of the song that of the body being a cage is not a new idea. It has been around for centuries and is repeated in many different religions and philosophies. Most notably the Christian gnostics of the second century. Gnosticism is based on the idea that matter is evil and the way of salvation is through knowledge ("gnosis" is an ancient Greek word which translates into the english "knowledge"). It is interesting to me that this idea would spring up in such away again. Interesting.
Until next time, keep the one you love on the dance floor.
EO
Here is ye ol' wiki link for Gnosticism
2 comments:
I finally got a chance to watch this. What on EARTH is the deal with the harmonicas? Have you ever seen this movie? The scene w/ the boy balancing the man with the harmonica in his mouth was intense.
Ah yes the harmonica. The man (Charles Bronson) who puts the harmonica in the mouth of the other man (Henry Fonda) at the end is the boy from the beginning scene. He lives his life to avenge his loss becoming a deadly force with a pistol. The harmonica becomes his constant reminder of his mission in life. I believe that his putting the harmonica in the mouth is symbolic of a debt repaid and a man fulfilling his oath of vengeance. Consequently Charles Bronson's character doesn't speak much, he is usually introduced by a harmonica being played. He's the classic underdog hero.
There are a number of amazing scenes in this movie beginning with the balancing scene and ending with Henry Fonda's ten minute hometown Oscar pleading death extravaganza.
EO
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