Early in the video there is the scene with the three men who first cut the blue apple (which is probably a refrence to the "Pomme Bleu" at the Rennes-le-Chateau, see the article on Danney Carrey's page for details). This apple is also probably refrence to the Apple of Knowledge, in the book of Genesis. They cut into it, which in context to the knowledge of God, seems like a bad thing to do. Getting into something too big. Now, someone mentioned the three representing Judaism, Christianity and Islam. This is a good interpretation. First it is a pentacle, perhaps a reference to Wicca (and it's origins, of course), but in the next shot, it's a Star of David (I'm not sure the official Judaic term for it...). Next shot it's a 7-pointed star. A hybrid perhaps? I'm not sure. I can offer no explanation for the trinity of the apple, but it may suggest that it a universal factor between all religions. Now, this is where it gets interesting: the three vomit up on to the table and levatate, spinning around the circle, forming a VOMIT CIRCLE! This seems to be a direct reference to "Teddy", the underrated conclusion to 9 Stories by famous American recluse, J.D. Sallinger. Teddy, a Buddhist reincarnated into an American boy says that people in the west must "vomit up the apple of knowledge" (or knowledge, or wisdom, I forget but it doesn't matter). He is saying, here, that we should go to a natural state. Now apply this to the end of the video and Tricky's transformation past both love and pain (which I can't even begin to go into), he sees the metaphysics of his child(???) and later himself. Mortality? "This body holding me reminds me of my own mortality". But then, at the end, Tricky's character sees the truth, through the leaf. Again, I don't want to go into that.
Now, Teddy is the conclusion to the book which begins with the epigraph:
"We know the sound of two hands clapping. But what is the sound of one hand clapping?"
This is such a cliche in the west (which is probably our problem), but a serious question about the nature of reality. Our first instinct is the answer the question, perhaps with a clever Simpsons reference, but we have to remember that Koans (these questions) are designed to create peace of mind. You don't answer, because you can't(!) (unless you have reached enlightenment and see metaphysics clearly, such as in the Matrix, or the Republic), and it sets your mind in a state that allows you to think. Like Tool's music.
I also think the video is also in reference to Bill Hicks, who was mentioned AT LEAST a few times in AEnema. Mr. Hicks talks a LOT about drugs, particularly mind-altering drugs, and how they give us the "dangerous" impression that we are a species are the "perfect thought" of God, that we are one and that there is no reason to suffer, "ever". Doesn't that remind you of the video!
Re: Reference to Sallinger - the key to the video.
Wow, very insightful!
Prior to reading that, I haven't had the slightest idea of the meaning of that vomit circle. Damn, that makes a lot of sense even if they didn't fully intend on it.
Good call on "and it sets your mind in a state that allows you to think. Like Tool's music."
What a nice cycle that becomes. Tool's music allows you to think, which makes you crave more Tool music, which makes you think a bit more, mmmm.. Tool music... is there anything it can't do?
Ha! I worked a Simpsons reference. Excellent..
peace
__________________ |||||hardcore don't stop|||||
|whistle posse pump it up!|
the salinger reference is beautiful. actually, with that, we can assume that all three of the circle-hurkers are western schools of thought (not just religion.) perhaps religion, consumerism culture and government? they do not possess the way to enlightenment. at the end of the video, enlightenment is obtained while the chakras open up. this symbolizes eastern schools of thought and institutions, which are shown as a better alternative. thus we have a prabola, with the viewer at the center. off either side, stretching into infinity are the eastern and western paths to enlightenment...
__________________ if we are cattle, who milks us?
I am now going to blame tool for my atrocious spelling of parable....
Following this interpretation, does anyone have any thoughts on what the tiny flame on the "circle hurker"s hand represents? I had a passing thought about Promethean arrogance, "hey look what I can do, make fire"... the material accomplishments of men being rather insignificant compared what comes to be accomplished later in the video.. I'm just stabbing in the dark. The tiny flame didn't seem very significant, almost like part of the process to the meeting, a greeting or a ritual.
__________________ Gazing on a city under television skies.
Perhaps the light is yet another religious symbol. Several religions hold their gods/enlightened ones as a light in the darkness. My guess is the flame is just another way to support the notion that the 3 men are representations of different organized religions.
__________________ Jason Greguske
(aliases are cowardly)
Originally posted by Dub I am now going to blame tool for my atrocious spelling of parable....
Following this interpretation, does anyone have any thoughts on what the tiny flame on the "circle hurker"s hand represents? I had a passing thought about Promethean arrogance, "hey look what I can do, make fire"... the material accomplishments of men being rather insignificant compared what comes to be accomplished later in the video.. I'm just stabbing in the dark. The tiny flame didn't seem very significant, almost like part of the process to the meeting, a greeting or a ritual.
Maybe you're misinterpreting Prometheus? Since he was the one who gave us fire, he gave us a power that made us different from animals, something to make us divine. Similarly, the flame on the hand was the spark that ignited the fire in us, our 'soul'.
Also, I don't think the video is trying to make a direct reference to Bill Hicks. The only reason it seems like it does is that it's advocating principles that he himself advocated. That doesn't mean it's a tribute to him. It's just a matter of great minds thinking alike.
fire is often a symbol of life, of creative or biological generation. Perhaps the men are intent upon creating something (a god perhaps?) Maybe it's the soul, showing that he's willing to sell his soul. Probably not.
__________________ if we are cattle, who milks us?
I totally agree with the idea of the 3 people in the clip representing religion/beliefs. Also upon reading this realised most people failed to see the obvious parabola reference ( a parabola is made up using 3 points!).
I think the 3 guys in the clip represent this and re-enforce your interpritations!.
Tell me what you guys think :)
-dissect
:( a parabola can be formed with 3 points. A parabola can also have infinate points in it. I don't know if that proves you wrong or backs up your idea. Something to do with 3 major points representing the religions and the other infinate points representing a myriad of followers. I doubt that is the way the title is supposed to be interpreted, but you never know.
Did anyone else note the mood of the "meeting"? It seems very ho-hum, bored, and hollow. Could this be saying that what the religions once had...a peice of Truth...is now lost deep within the tradition and society formed from it? The 3 men vomit forth these words which actually hold some truth, each from a different point of view simply expelling what they had consumed. The rotation may be the arguments and the disagreement that they have with one another. Each repulsed by what the other is bringing forth and moving away only to find that when they come upon one anothers words/vomit they see something special in them. They see what the person expelling it did not see because it is new to them and they are looking on it in a new way. All three come to an understanding and the rest of the video occurs.
Much like Svartalfar had said we must vomit forth the tree of widom/knowledge and get it out so that we can look upon other ideas objectivly. Parable would thus make sense as a title suggesting that these metaphors have wisdom in them but simply hearing and repeating them does nothing more then retell a story. Its not until we evaluate them and compare them to other types of wisdom that we can come to an understanding. Parabola could be refering to the way that enlightenment would affect someone. Start at a base level "original worldly concept" come to an epiphany or peak and then come back into the world in a different spot but on the same plane as it were or even lateral to ourselves to get another tool title added into this.
As far as the flame in the video goes...I can't really come to a comment on this. I haven't seen the video recently enough to remember when the fire is seen and what is occuring directly before and after it. Help me out
I really didn't understand the whole video , but if you really want to understand the en of the video get into http://www.sacredmirrors.org/ this page is from the one who made the art in the lateralus album: Alex Grey.
