I’ve been thinking about this for two days. Wasn’t planning to post but my mind keeps wandering back to it.
First, I didn’t find the Choir of the Immaculate Prophylactic funny at all. Or endearing. I found it sobering, even chilling. My expectations were subverted Tessa! You said it was funny so I kept waiting for the reveal but the moment never came. I was left just feeling like human beings are hopeless, the ones who mean well as much as the one’s who don’t.
Second, Heart of a Dog was so good. I watched the whole thing that same night. The next day I was still thinking about it so I looked it up and read come commentary on it. Though I know almost nothing about Soviet history I’ve been thinking about this same theme for as long as I can remember. [From wiki: “…the revolution's misguided attempt to radically transform mankind."] That’s why it was so compelling for me, I’ve been watching the English speaking world perform a similar operation on itself, though instead of turning dogs into humans we turn soul-endowed humans into narrow-focus consumerbots.
I’m not qualified to say you’re doing god’s work Tessa, but I can say you’re doing Gaia’s work. I think we swaddled westerners could use a lot more refresher courses on the Soviet experiment, along with periodic reminders that none other than J Goebels had nothing but the highest praise for Bernaysian Propaganda – the book upon which our whole dumb culture is based.
Thank you, Jeff!! I hear you. The choir was funny to me because it was just like a very lame Soviet performance piece, very sincere, very child-like, awkward in its ridiculousness, but lame as it gets. It's like a 360 view of the world's state! The endearing part is hidden but it's there, as a potential. They are trying to impress the invisible man and be praised for that, like children! On a semi-related note, this https://tessa.substack.com/p/proud-intellectual
And the film (as well as the book) is so good! The subtitles are kind of meh but I couldn't find a better version with the English subtitles. For example, the "disruption" they are talking about is not the same as modern "disruption" (innovation, etc.). It is more like "decay." And all in all, it is much richer in Russian, But even so, it's so good! I am glad you liked it.
Yes you're right on both counts - I just reread your OP and you did say endearing 'in a scary way', and it is funny too. I feel almost cruel mocking their soulful genuflections.
They are talking to God, aren't they? I hadn't thought of that. They're trying to convince themselves too, that their hearts and souls are pure because their opinions are pure.
Could it be that all of this - your Soviet nightmare, our House of Stupid - all stems from the incorrect belief that our rational brain is evolved and our feeling brain is primitive? I think so. I think much of what I will write about will touch on the divided brain thing, because it's at the core of the materialist-reductionist fallacy and all that that gives birth to. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Matter_with_Things
I read your proud intellectual essay too, and just reread it again. You can tell I've met the machine too, can't you? That essay is the other reason I felt compelled to write to you.
Doesn't anyone see the contradiction of the conductor not wearing a mask while the subordinate choir does. A wise person was said to have admonished "know them by their fruits". Words and lyrics are just that. Words. Liars use words when a whip will not suffice.
Two wingèd memories enter the safe space I call home and land on my skull:
1. [Late seventies, post 'Stonewall') My father is reading the (leftish mainstrain, called 'critical' at the time - 'hardcopy' A2) newspaper, looks up, and says: 'They got it wrong! I was at that demo, and I'm not gay.'' (Headline, more or less: Homosexuals rally against Anita_Bryant). Foolish young me wanted to know why my good dad was so upset about it. Shame perhaps?
'Not in the least. [raising his voice ever so slightly] It's about INJUSTICE.'
I never forgot this remark, that predates "justice warriors" on the horizon (and post-dates the murder of MLK). Only now, I notice Bryant is/was part of a thing called 'Save The Children.' Goosebumps...
2. (Late eighties: a Jamaican musical. Leading motif/refrain): 'Identity is a mystery....' Very poignant, and wholly eh... 'de-sovietized.' I left the theatre in tears.
Thank you, dear Tessa, much appreciated... One gotta love preaching to the choir... now that the counter-choir merely sabotages the dangers of thinking-out-loud-in-public by feigning a horrific loss of memory...
I ask one dear sister of mine: 'Remember how the Berufsverbote' [= bans on/ sackings of teachers, academics, reporters etc in the seventies in West-Germany made you livid?'
Sadly, she doesn't. Her Botticelli-grey eyes glaze over in a most professional manner.
Identity or tribalistic politics is the only potentially blood-soaked "game" in town!
It always has been.
The winners then get to write the "official" his-story. Such was of course the case in what became the "official" authorized entirely fabricated version of the Bible and of institutional Christian-ism altogether. Which is why such Christian-ism became a "heresy"-hunting religion. Such "heretics" were of course always dealt with via the business end of a sword, and in later times by "witch"-burning.
Dissenters could be put in jail or murdered even for committing blasphemy, apostasy or even for just making fun of or criticizing the then "religious" authorities.
If our baritones would sing about Innovative Disruption in such a beautiful way, it wouldn't be quite so bad. But we don't even have baritones now. It's all countertenors.
This makes me feel so hopeless. In Canada our rights depend on a 'notwithstanding' clause that allows the government to negate the entire Charter of Rights and Freedoms by simply claiming there are reasonable grounds to do so, no evidence or opposing argument or public consultation allowed.
Text (do we call them lyrics?) by Stacey Abrams... LOL. It is fitting that all performers are fully masked and obviously intent on correcting the injustices of the world. United in the narrative... A comedy masterpiece, indeed. BTW, though the cello lends gravitas to the piece, the tune is less than memorable.
I waited for the choir members to rip off their masks for a statement to align with their lyrics. Unfortunately, they didn't.
I'm reading "Our Missing Hearts" by Celeste Ng. That is eerily real and a commentary on much of what we're experiencing and have experienced in the last few years.
Scientific Bio-Materialists define the Human Self as thee BODY, (biology, DNA, Genes, blood, skin color, gender, race & ethnicity), i.e. You are your Body.
The Spiritual concept of the Human Self, shifts our identities from mere bodies to Divine Spiritual Beings,i.e SOULS... individual sovereign souls....infinitely evolving into eternity.....
Tessa, great, heartfelt, insightful journalism, as always! Do you still live in Brooklyn? I’m a classical musician with no affiliation to any ideology or political party, would love to get together and pick your brain some time.
In my excitement, I sent without the second piece, apologies. Here it is https://youtu.be/xSvmIzpHjYk?feature=shared&t=111
You did link to it, took me directly to episode one which is really good. I subbed so I could watch the rest later. Thank you.
I added it to the article online as soon as I sent the email without it. :) And thank you!
I’ve been thinking about this for two days. Wasn’t planning to post but my mind keeps wandering back to it.
First, I didn’t find the Choir of the Immaculate Prophylactic funny at all. Or endearing. I found it sobering, even chilling. My expectations were subverted Tessa! You said it was funny so I kept waiting for the reveal but the moment never came. I was left just feeling like human beings are hopeless, the ones who mean well as much as the one’s who don’t.
Second, Heart of a Dog was so good. I watched the whole thing that same night. The next day I was still thinking about it so I looked it up and read come commentary on it. Though I know almost nothing about Soviet history I’ve been thinking about this same theme for as long as I can remember. [From wiki: “…the revolution's misguided attempt to radically transform mankind."] That’s why it was so compelling for me, I’ve been watching the English speaking world perform a similar operation on itself, though instead of turning dogs into humans we turn soul-endowed humans into narrow-focus consumerbots.
I’m not qualified to say you’re doing god’s work Tessa, but I can say you’re doing Gaia’s work. I think we swaddled westerners could use a lot more refresher courses on the Soviet experiment, along with periodic reminders that none other than J Goebels had nothing but the highest praise for Bernaysian Propaganda – the book upon which our whole dumb culture is based.
Argh!
Thank you, Jeff!! I hear you. The choir was funny to me because it was just like a very lame Soviet performance piece, very sincere, very child-like, awkward in its ridiculousness, but lame as it gets. It's like a 360 view of the world's state! The endearing part is hidden but it's there, as a potential. They are trying to impress the invisible man and be praised for that, like children! On a semi-related note, this https://tessa.substack.com/p/proud-intellectual
And the film (as well as the book) is so good! The subtitles are kind of meh but I couldn't find a better version with the English subtitles. For example, the "disruption" they are talking about is not the same as modern "disruption" (innovation, etc.). It is more like "decay." And all in all, it is much richer in Russian, But even so, it's so good! I am glad you liked it.
Yes you're right on both counts - I just reread your OP and you did say endearing 'in a scary way', and it is funny too. I feel almost cruel mocking their soulful genuflections.
They are talking to God, aren't they? I hadn't thought of that. They're trying to convince themselves too, that their hearts and souls are pure because their opinions are pure.
Could it be that all of this - your Soviet nightmare, our House of Stupid - all stems from the incorrect belief that our rational brain is evolved and our feeling brain is primitive? I think so. I think much of what I will write about will touch on the divided brain thing, because it's at the core of the materialist-reductionist fallacy and all that that gives birth to. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Matter_with_Things
I read your proud intellectual essay too, and just reread it again. You can tell I've met the machine too, can't you? That essay is the other reason I felt compelled to write to you.
Jeff, I am very touched by your responses. Thank you!!! Yes, you sound like you have met the machine as well, and grew stronger from it!!
Doesn't anyone see the contradiction of the conductor not wearing a mask while the subordinate choir does. A wise person was said to have admonished "know them by their fruits". Words and lyrics are just that. Words. Liars use words when a whip will not suffice.
Yes, and your last sentence is also very accurate! :)
Two wingèd memories enter the safe space I call home and land on my skull:
1. [Late seventies, post 'Stonewall') My father is reading the (leftish mainstrain, called 'critical' at the time - 'hardcopy' A2) newspaper, looks up, and says: 'They got it wrong! I was at that demo, and I'm not gay.'' (Headline, more or less: Homosexuals rally against Anita_Bryant). Foolish young me wanted to know why my good dad was so upset about it. Shame perhaps?
'Not in the least. [raising his voice ever so slightly] It's about INJUSTICE.'
I never forgot this remark, that predates "justice warriors" on the horizon (and post-dates the murder of MLK). Only now, I notice Bryant is/was part of a thing called 'Save The Children.' Goosebumps...
2. (Late eighties: a Jamaican musical. Leading motif/refrain): 'Identity is a mystery....' Very poignant, and wholly eh... 'de-sovietized.' I left the theatre in tears.
That is a great story, Pim! And very educational, thank you for sharing it!
Thank you, dear Tessa, much appreciated... One gotta love preaching to the choir... now that the counter-choir merely sabotages the dangers of thinking-out-loud-in-public by feigning a horrific loss of memory...
I ask one dear sister of mine: 'Remember how the Berufsverbote' [= bans on/ sackings of teachers, academics, reporters etc in the seventies in West-Germany made you livid?'
Sadly, she doesn't. Her Botticelli-grey eyes glaze over in a most professional manner.
Identity or tribalistic politics is the only potentially blood-soaked "game" in town!
It always has been.
The winners then get to write the "official" his-story. Such was of course the case in what became the "official" authorized entirely fabricated version of the Bible and of institutional Christian-ism altogether. Which is why such Christian-ism became a "heresy"-hunting religion. Such "heretics" were of course always dealt with via the business end of a sword, and in later times by "witch"-burning.
Dissenters could be put in jail or murdered even for committing blasphemy, apostasy or even for just making fun of or criticizing the then "religious" authorities.
If our baritones would sing about Innovative Disruption in such a beautiful way, it wouldn't be quite so bad. But we don't even have baritones now. It's all countertenors.
This makes me feel so hopeless. In Canada our rights depend on a 'notwithstanding' clause that allows the government to negate the entire Charter of Rights and Freedoms by simply claiming there are reasonable grounds to do so, no evidence or opposing argument or public consultation allowed.
Text (do we call them lyrics?) by Stacey Abrams... LOL. It is fitting that all performers are fully masked and obviously intent on correcting the injustices of the world. United in the narrative... A comedy masterpiece, indeed. BTW, though the cello lends gravitas to the piece, the tune is less than memorable.
Yep. And methinks, an open face is more important for sining that for conducting but thats just me... :)
But, the athletic hand-waving by the conductor makes up for the lack of vision...
At a Unitarian church in DC, I guess we can assume the masks aren't meant ironically.
I waited for the choir members to rip off their masks for a statement to align with their lyrics. Unfortunately, they didn't.
I'm reading "Our Missing Hearts" by Celeste Ng. That is eerily real and a commentary on much of what we're experiencing and have experienced in the last few years.
The Politics of Identity:
Scientific Bio-Materialists define the Human Self as thee BODY, (biology, DNA, Genes, blood, skin color, gender, race & ethnicity), i.e. You are your Body.
The Spiritual concept of the Human Self, shifts our identities from mere bodies to Divine Spiritual Beings,i.e SOULS... individual sovereign souls....infinitely evolving into eternity.....
NOTE: Self = Self identity. Self identity = Soul.
identity is good, its a part of human and of the whole creation, of course mutual respect is an aspect of a higher nature and an ideal to seek.
Tessa, great, heartfelt, insightful journalism, as always! Do you still live in Brooklyn? I’m a classical musician with no affiliation to any ideology or political party, would love to get together and pick your brain some time.
Hi to my fellow musician! Please send me an email, I am not in Brooklyn but an email is a start :) xo
The Unitarian church song is about what I would expect from that bunch. “Our democracy(TM)!”
I noticed "our democracy" as well :)