…observations made while simultaneously watching the Olympic opening ceremonies, drinking quite a few beers and trying to get that damned six ball in the damned corner pocket.
1). European artistic conventions are a touch weird. Not bad weird, mind you – I’m weird myself – but there’s a definite cultural gap, there; the bar was, shall we say, bemused. Said bemusement was quite partisan, before you ask.
2). If I ever put on a symbolic representation of Grecian history since the dawn of recorded history you can be darn sure that I’ll include a little bit about how their outnumbered army took on Mussolini’s Fascists in World War II… and absolutely disemboweled them. Don’t screw around with Greeks. Seriously; there are entire graveyards full of people who ignored that piece of advice.
3). I got the symbolism behind the girl and the brightly glowing belly, sure, but the DNA strand light-sculpture might have been just a touch too over the top. The bar was a touch bemused by that, as well.
And now to bed. Everybody stay safe from the hurricanes.
Moe
PS: In more pleasant news, a straw poll of the bar reveals a definite support for the hope that Iraq kicks our ass in soccer this Olympiad. ‘Course, there might be some selection bias going on, there…
Olympic comments on a political blog would not be complete without the observation that NBC carefully avoided showing the breasts of the first human statue in the pageant (a woman) and the lower halves of a large group of male “statues.” Even though their “accoutrements” were costumes. Canadians and others in countries where Michael Powell doesn’t live doubtless were scarred by their viewing experience.
I thought the light sculpture was pretty spectacular, even if the symbolism was overwrought.
Howver, I’m with you on the European artistic sensibility, Moe. Perhaps it has something to do with the fact that many of us Americans were first exposed to such aesthetics through circuses?
FYI, the US mens’ soccer team didn’t qualify for the Olympics this go round. So I can pull for the Iraqis without any inner conflict.
In order:
That reminds me, Opus: there was some quite harsh commentary about the Cretan costuming – it’s amazing what kinds of historical trivia can get remembered by young heterosexual males. Personally, I think that CBS shoulda shown the accoutrements and been done with it, but that stupid stunt with the breast at the Super Bowl is probably still a ghost at the three networks’ feasts.
Gromit: I can’t say yea or nay about the circus for sure, but it has a certain ring to it.
mike p: (Johnny Carson) I did not know that. (/Johnny Carson) I probably should have.
Moe
PS: That should have been “quite bipartisan”. My apologies; it was fairly drunk out last night.
Olympic comments on a political blog would not be complete without the observation that NBC carefully avoided showing the breasts of the first human statue in the pageant (a woman) and the lower halves of a large group of male “statues.”
They did not, however, manage to anticipate a picture of a bare breast that was flashed on the statue fragment screens for about a second as part of the parade of imagery.
Jess and I were having our own running commentary about what parts of the ceremonies the “wingnuts” would have kittens over. It was almost as entertaining as watching.
I guess I must like European sensibility as I thought it was astounding, from start to finish. NBC’s coverage on the other hand was sub-par. it’s hard to fully enjoy it when you’re screaming ‘shut up’ to Costas and Couric for droning through much of the proceedings. It was like watching a movie behind a couple who never shut up.
I, personally, thought it was rather deflating for Bob Costas to characterize Cambodia as the nation that was ravaged by Pol Pot. Whatever happened to accentuating the positive?