Faces of Death

[APT]

and other "shockumentaries." You know, the series that show people getting killed, maimed, dead animals, and suffering. It's people that watch these types of movies for entertainment that the song Vicarious is about. Watching that kind of stuff through CNN or FOX is the same principle, just toned down more.

[Metalgod666]

those videos are so interesting yet so fucked up

[cold and faded anger]

i agree with APT...we like watching stuff dying from a distance

[Jesus Knievel]

war on tv

[APT]

Anyone?

[Misanthrope]

Faces of Death actually had very few real deaths.

[Dispatch]

I get the feeling lyrics are referencing our addiction to the insignificant and dramatic "news" (I use that term loosely) stories like natalee holloway and laci peterson. Our culture hooks into this shit for no rational reason other than the dramatic aspect. In the grand scheme of things these sort of stories really mean absolutley nothing, as shit like this happens all the time, but for some reason, America and most of Western Civilization cant get enough anytime someone beautiful or wealthy gets murdered.

[APT]

I get the feeling lyrics are referencing our addiction to the insignificant and dramatic "news" (I use that term loosely) stories like natalee holloway and laci peterson. Our culture hooks into this shit for no rational reason other than the dramatic aspect. In the grand scheme of things these sort of stories really mean absolutley nothing, as shit like this happens all the time, but for some reason, America and most of Western Civilization cant get enough anytime someone beautiful or wealthy gets murdered.

One thing I've found myself doing before, and this pertains to you Dispatch, is watching videos of Marines fighting in Iraq. Why do I get pleasure from shit like that? I think it seems more dramatic and heroic watching it on the internet with background music. If I was there it would most likely be a living hell. This type of shit is what Vicarious is about.

[MagnusFortis]

Yeah...I was pretty dissapointed with Faces of Death. But that narrator guys was freaky as hell!

[EleventhEye]

I get the feeling lyrics are referencing our addiction to the insignificant and dramatic "news" (I use that term loosely) stories like natalee holloway and laci peterson. Our culture hooks into this shit for no rational reason other than the dramatic aspect. In the grand scheme of things these sort of stories really mean absolutley nothing, as shit like this happens all the time, but for some reason, America and most of Western Civilization cant get enough anytime someone beautiful or wealthy gets murdered.

Amen.

Why the hell are human interest stories dominating our news? A baby got shot by a stray bullet. A girl fell down a well. Why is it news? How many people have died since you've started reading this post?

[samoflange]

that shit was some of teh first stuff i ever saw on the interweb, made me the man i am today babaaaaaa

[Ancalagon]

Yeah, we're all to blame. We are incriminated with this song (Maynard even incriminates himself). So much for blaming the media, politicians, etc. It's US watching these shows and going to rotten.com and ebaumsworld to watch things die from a distance.

[Dispatch]

I know what you're saying. I don't think it's so much glorification of violence as it is escapism. Our culture has created so many outlets for escaping daily life; video games, tv, angry music, spectator sports, shitty books like James Frey's imaginary life and maybe worst of all: The News. We've seemed to convinced ourselves that our lives are mundane and boring if we're not wired into something, and what excites the mind more than violence. This isn't even a new concept when you really think about it. The ancient Romans were obsessed with gladiatoral games, watching comfortably from their seats. It got so bad that by the time the empire collapsed that every 2 days was declared a holiday so they could go watch blood spill. I don't want to start rambling, but when I read the lyrics I started to think about the legacy of spectator violence throughtout history.

[lesfleursdumal]

Amen.

Why the hell are human interest stories dominating our news? A baby got shot by a stray bullet. A girl fell down a well. Why is it news? How many people have died since you've started reading this post?

People have been fascinated by death since the dawn of time, shitty topic for a song...yea the news is always negative, is this new??!! so dont watch it...the portrait you paint of reality is really left for us, the individual, choose the better story..

[SoulEdge]

Faces of Death actually had very few real deaths.

This is true, a lot of the acts are staged.

[a788]

i kind of agree with APT. but i dont think it is directed at people who watch the news necessarily. i think it is directed at all the people who are "zombies" and monotone and have become a victum of a life that we have to live in order to survive. tragedy happens every day, every second. in order to live, you have to vicariously live another life; a life that thrives off of death and blood because thats all we have left.
it's like they are placing our life on a platter. and we are "carnivores" and eat it. we buy into it. it's this "life" that everyone has succombed to that we are forced to live vicariously. i think your idea about the news is taking it a little to literal. who knows, i could be wrong. i could go on forever about this song and my connections, but i would probably bore you.

[martyr_02]

Yeah, we're all to blame. We are incriminated with this song (Maynard even incriminates himself). So much for blaming the media, politicians, etc. It's US watching these shows and going to rotten.com and ebaumsworld to watch things die from a distance.


I think the line "we all need it don't you lie" is proof for maynard incriminating himself. And it is also one of my favorite lines. I t takes the song from him preaching to him talking to us. Unfortunately the whole violence on tv is a never ending cycle. We all agree that we are the ones who watch it and that we probaly shouldn't, but at the same time we would get pissed of at the FCC if they tried to censor it. Double edged sword.

And whats so wrong with ebaum? EBAUM DOT MOTHA FUCKIN COM

[Adonis Fitness]

This may not be of interest to anybody, but I thought I might share my reflections on the topic.

Its kind of strange that the subject matter of this song pertains to issues that I am personally confronting in my life as of late.

Faces of death was mentioned a few times here; as an example, I was sent one of those e-mail forwards from a friend, untitiled, and a video clip. The clip showed a video taken in a police holding cell, they sit their prisoner in the cell and leave briefly. The prisoner waits a second, then pulls a gun from his pants, takes a drink of water from a water bottle, and puts the gun up to his head and blows his brains out. The cops rush in and realize that they forgot to search him.

I honestly wish I hadn't seen this video. I actually gave my friend shit for sending it to me (he thought it was funny). It was way too real for me, and a couple things bothered me about it.

a) this was the first (and hopefully last) time I have seen anyone take their own life. I found it deeply disturbing and I remember thinking how can anyone justify such a horrible act. I am not a religeous person, but I recall thinking that "your life is not yours to take". This brings back a lot of my personal contemplations from Lateralus (Parabola specifically).

b) Secondly I dont see how this is something that can be entertaining. I found it horrific and discusting. Althougn I must admit that I did have the strange unsettling urge to watch it again "frown out your one face, but with the other stare like a junkie into the tv"

Within the last few months, I have decided to no longer watch the news. I will check on traffic and weather, but I promptly turn the channel when any "news stories" come on. I found myself becoming extremely negative and pessemistic towards the world when all I was seeing is death and carnage on the news. Im not naive enough to think that by turning off the TV these problems dont effect me, I just think that if I stop filling my head with all the propaganda, negativity, and scare tactics Im likely to be a better person to the rest of the world.

Basically what I am trying to say here is that I can completely relate to what is being said in Vicarious, but am making a point of not becoming one of the "junkies" and focus on more positive things in my life.

just strange that this song should emerge as these thoughts have been playing on my concious so recently.

[Dispatch]

I had the unfortunate and yet disturbingly enlightening experience of veiwing tapes of Islamic extremists beheading and executing hostages during my time in the Army. While I don't really recommend veiwing these to just anyone, it changed my perspective on a lot of things. Not only does it demonstrate the level of commitment and violence human beings are capable of, but it made me think of how we veiw violence. When does it cease being entertaining and thrilling and become disturbing, pornographic and repulsive? Those videos will turn your guts inside out, but watching 24 or Kill Bill leaves you feeling empowered and excited. Perhaps people look for outlets where they cannot only find drama outside of their own normal lives but can find sympathy for their own violent urges.

[Adonis Fitness]

Those videos will turn your guts inside out, but watching 24 or Kill Bill leaves you feeling empowered and excited. Perhaps people look for outlets where they cannot only find drama outside of their own normal lives but can find sympathy for their own violent urges.


I think this is where the distinction is drawn. When I watch violent movies and TV shows, I do so for entertainment, because I know it is just that. I am able to seperate fiction from reality (although frighteningly some people seem to be unable to make the distinction.

Its when things like this are broadcast on the news and "real life" shows that I become repulsed and refuse to watch.

[RED_THE_HAT]

and other "shockumentaries." You know, the series that show people getting killed, maimed, dead animals, and suffering. It's people that watch these types of movies for entertainment that the song Vicarious is about. Watching that kind of stuff through CNN or FOX is the same principle, just toned down more.

Faces of Death is an interesting documentary, and as much as shock is healthy for the heart, that kind of thing makes me value my own life even more. I dont think that watching those kinds of things is all that bad.

[Carbonatedgravy]

This statement is highly personal, and I'm not sure anyone will be able to relate to it. I hope so, but I'm not sure.

Here's the thing that is difficult for me. I feel that I either have to accept all the violence and all the ugliness that is out there, and be willing to take it all in, or I have to ignore it completely and live in a world of denial. All or nothing. I'm not sure how to look at life any other way. Death and violence is either important or its not.

Neither one feels healthy. I feel guilty being "okay" with things and at times I try to immerse myself in the worst possible news and imagery I can grab ahold of. I haven't done this in a long time and I can hardly explain what it does to me. To figure it out would be the key to escaping it, and would thus be the key to finding the solution to the problem, which is the song.

Death imagery, including decapitation videos, mangled corpses, murders on video and whatever else lies in that category can all be taken in as a form of pornography. I watch it, I fall into a trance... I experience comfort with this stuff. I'm not actively thinking "Damn, this shit is awesome!!!!" Not at all. I'm just letting myself get wrapped up in it. It's feeding something and I'm not sure what.

Porn is easy to figure out. It's a way of vicariously living out your instinct to reproduce. It makes a lot of sense. So why is death (the end of life) equally stimulating to the beginning of life, which is sex?

Not sure, but I can feel a parallel.

So with that I'm just trying to get the ball rolling. If anyone has anything to add, feel free. Tis a confusing topic.

[BlindVisionary]

The reason we watch horrible tradgedys is only because we see ourselves in that situation. It's the same if you see a hobo and feel sorry for him/her. We're all reminded of our mortality, and i think most people haven't come to terms with death, that one day they will die. I think what vicarious is trying to do is stop caring so much about everyone elses problems and concentrate on doing something constructive for ourselves...It's pretty obvious Maynard and crew are pissed with the lack of progress mankind is making...

[Carbonatedgravy]

The reason we watch horrible tradgedys is only because we see ourselves in that situation. It's the same if you see a hobo and feel sorry for him/her. We're all reminded of our mortality, and i think most people haven't come to terms with death, that one day they will die. I think what vicarious is trying to do is stop caring so much about everyone elses problems and concentrate on doing something constructive for ourselves...It's pretty obvious Maynard and crew are pissed with the lack of progress mankind is making...

Your assessment on why we watch tragedies and find them fascinating is a thoughtful one, but I don't think they tie in to the point of the song, at least as I hear it. I can't prove you wrong, but I hear the song as a bleak commentary on fact and it doesn't imply the point of view you're bringing up. Honestly though, I think what you're saying is valid. I just don't hear it that way yet.

[auralassassin]

reserved for when I have some deep spiritual shit to add...

[merkabalus]

One of the worst things I've ever seen was when I accidentally downloaded a video from Kazaa of what looked like a Russian soldier having his throat cut by someone filming it really close up. I'd love to find out it was fake as it really upset me at the time and I still think about it sometimes. The look of sheer fear in the guy's eyes has kind of haunted me since.

A quick search on google seems to confirm it's real though. :(

[junkie]

i agree with APT...we like watching stuff dying from a distance

But we're better than your average sickos. Because uhh, we admit it!

[APT]

I never watched them. Real Deaths would be considered snuff, thus illegal.

Only if someone is being murdered. Gruesome accidents or suicides are not snuff. Neither is video of bodies already dead.

[APT]

But we're better than your average sickos. Because uhh, we admit it!

But it's not like I WANT to get entertainment from it. Like seeing a terrorist decapitate someone: you know you will be horrified and disgusted, but for some reason you are curious about it. I wish I wasn't, but for some reason I am.

[eddie75]

and other "shockumentaries." You know, the series that show people getting killed, maimed, dead animals, and suffering. It's people that watch these types of movies for entertainment that the song Vicarious is about. Watching that kind of stuff through CNN or FOX is the same principle, just toned down more.
I see what you're saying, and I agree to a point, but I think the song is more about how everyone feeds off of the news and other news like documentaries. I don't think this is pointed directly at the extremes like faces of death, which is for the most part fake by the way. I think this pointed at the avg person who sits back and watches the Iraq war on TV as we invaded, or watches 48 hour mysteries, ect ect. I think it's pointed at the avg person who doesn't believe they feed off of tragedy, but in truth they thrive off of this kind media. Like I said before I think this is just a more in your face version of stink fist. It's like they tried to get the message across the first time, and it didn't work, so this one is more direct.

[APT]

I see what you're saying, and I agree to a point, but I think the song is more about how everyone feeds off of the news and other news like documentaries. I don't think this is pointed directly at the extremes like faces of death, which is for the most part fake by the way. I think this pointed at the avg person who sits back and watches the Iraq war on TV as we invaded, or watches 48 hour mysteries, ect ect. I think it's pointed at the avg person who doesn't believe they feed off of tragedy, but in truth they thrive off of this kind media. Like I said before I think this is just a more in your face version of stink fist. It's like they tried to get the message across the first time, and it didn't work, so this one is more direct.

I know its not literally about Faces of Death, I'm just saying people watching this stuff for enterrainment could fall under the idea of the song, though I doubt this is what Tool had while writing the song. I agree its about the media.

[eddie75]

I know its not literally about Faces of Death, I'm just saying people watching this stuff for enterrainment could fall under the idea of the song, though I doubt this is what Tool had while writing the song. I agree its about the media.
I think it's also a commentary on human instinct as a whole.
On the faces of death thing I didn't mean any insult.

[s ti N Kfizt]

i hate watching videos where people die, but when i see some video like that, sometimes i want to watch it again and again. hmm, it's very frightening to watch those :/