if you havent already seen it already check out the adv3rt created by a full pint and a half productions - should be easy enough to find on the internet - it's the advert that features a gorilla and a drum set
my question is this - what is it about it that is so funny?
[BTW - If the above sounds a bit disseminating it is because this is my third attempt at posting this discussion - some word I'm using is causing it to be blocke]
Human beings must be known to be loved; but Divine beings must be loved to be known. Blaise Pascal
Originally posted by Have a Word: if you havent already seen it already check out the adv3rt created by a full pint and a half productions - should be easy enough to find on the internet - it's the advert that features a gorilla and a drum set
my question is this - what is it about it that is so funny?
[BTW - If the above sounds a bit disseminating it is because this is my third attempt at posting this discussion - some word I'm using is causing it to be blocke]
hey that's cool I'll send it to my son, he plays the drums,. in fact there's an uncanny likeness
I always find typing "Catchphrase Snake Charmer" into a certain well know website produces very funny results. (Esp. the full 2 1/2 minute version.)
I do recall hearing that when the staff at London Zoo originally decided to do Chimps Tea Parties the Chimps would behave very well, drinking from the cups, carefully picking up slices of cake etc. Unfortunately the public found all this far too boring, so the chimps had to be trained to throw things around and to try and put the cups on their heads so that we could all feel superior to them. No idea how true that is though.
--------------- "The fact that we live at the bottom of a deep gravity well, on the surface of a gas-covered planet going around a nuclear fireball 90 million miles away and think this to be normal is obviously some indication of how skewed our perspective tends to be" D Adams
Reminds me of 2001 A Space Odyssey. I don't find it 'funny', I find it enthralling, and one of those ads you just want to watch over and over again. *Wonderful*!
Originally posted by Roy P: Reminds me of 2001 A Space Odyssey. I don't find it 'funny', I find it enthralling, and one of those ads you just want to watch over and over again. *Wonderful*!
can you put into words what exactly it is about it that enthrals you?
Human beings must be known to be loved; but Divine beings must be loved to be known. Blaise Pascal
my question is this - what is it about it that is so funny?
The gorilla actually looks like Phil Collins? The drumming doesn't actually match the music?
I think the surreality is the key here. It's made well enough to avoid boredom or ridicule, and bears little direct connection to chocolate. Hence opening up the scope of ambiguous debate.
Originally posted by Roy P: Reminds me of 2001 A Space Odyssey. I don't find it 'funny', I find it enthralling, and one of those ads you just want to watch over and over again. *Wonderful*!
can you put into words what exactly it is about it that enthrals you?
I'm not going to speak for Roy (or anyone), but if you wish to engage in a twisting of a visceral/emotional liking for a fictional film into the argument "but it's all about a higher sentient power being in control of our poxy species and determining our evolution, and as you like it, you must believe in God really", don't bother. I've heard it before and it wasn't well thought out or funny the first time
What it does show, IMHO, is that Richard Strauss (amongst others) had a fine understanding of the dynamics of time and space
Originally posted by Roy P: Reminds me of 2001 A Space Odyssey. I don't find it 'funny', I find it enthralling, and one of those ads you just want to watch over and over again. *Wonderful*!
can you put into words what exactly it is about it that enthrals you?
I'm not going to speak for Roy (or anyone), but if you wish to engage in a twisting of a visceral/emotional liking for a fictional film into the argument "but it's all about a higher sentient power being in control of our poxy species and determining our evolution, and as you like it, you must believe in God really", don't bother. I've heard it before and it wasn't well thought out or funny the first time
What it does show, IMHO, is that Richard Strauss (amongst others) had a fine understanding of the dynamics of time and space
Yea I mean that's exactly what I think evvery time I hear the Blue Danube "what an incrdible understanding of time and space...
Besides which - the topic of conversation was the ad - not kubrick's film....
Go on to that well known video website and search for glass and a half productions
Human beings must be known to be loved; but Divine beings must be loved to be known. Blaise Pascal
People, please don't muddle up your Strausses. One of them wrote pop tunes and the other was a serious late romantic composer. There is a world of difference between the Blue Danube Waltz and Also Spracht Zarathustra.
well looks like I'm going to have to... you guys anticipating and second-guessing the whole time - I can never get a straight answer to a straight question.
sometimes it is only when you see something familiar in an alien context that you can see it "anew". G.K. Chesterton said it as only GKC could when he observed that, in fairy tales the leaves on the trees are described as golden to remind of of that forgotten moment when we first discovered that they were Green"
THe point about that Gorilla ad that is so funny (well I think it is funny) - or enchanting - is because the Gorilla is behaving like a human - and the behavour - remove from its familiar context - jumps out at you. The inhaling of the breath (literally - inspirational), the closing of the eyes - that hillarious turning of the head to the right during the actual drumming - all such reveal an inner spiritual life... the spiritual dimension of the human person. We are more than just a naked ape. The Gorilla in the ad demonstrated behaviour that you would never observe on a real Gorilla - and no I'm not talking about the drumming - I am of course referring to all those littlr mannerisms (Gorillaisms!)
Human beings must be known to be loved; but Divine beings must be loved to be known. Blaise Pascal
sometimes it is only when you see something familiar in an alien context that you can see it "anew". G.K. Chesterton said it as only GKC could when he observed that, in fairy tales the leaves on the trees are described as golden to remind of of that forgotten moment when we first discovered that they were Green"
Hi Have a Word
I don't know anything about GK Chesterton but I really liked that quote. I'd like to examine the psychological process involved in the labelling of the 'green'. When we see 'green', before we mentally formulate the concept of 'green', there is just awareness of the 'green' which is not dulled by categorising something into a mental 'box' if you like. I'm not saying that this categorising isn't necessary, obviously it is, but it is very hard to revert back to this simple awareness which gives everything in the universe a mellifluous and intangible beauty. But to persevere with stepping back into simple awareness lessens the harsh solidity of the outside world, it lessens the sense of separation because simple awareness of 'green' leads to simple awareness of everything, or of 'the whole' without putting things into categories of separateness.
quote:
THe point about that Gorilla ad that is so funny (well I think it is funny) - or enchanting - is because the Gorilla is behaving like a human - and the behavour - remove from its familiar context - jumps out at you. The inhaling of the breath (literally - inspirational), the closing of the eyes - that hillarious turning of the head to the right during the actual drumming - all such reveal an inner spiritual life... the spiritual dimension of the human person. We are more than just a naked ape. The Gorilla in the ad demonstrated behaviour that you would never observe on a real Gorilla - and no I'm not talking about the drumming - I am of course referring to all those littlr mannerisms (Gorillaisms!)
I'm not sure of the necessity of bringing 'spirituality' into this. I agree that there is definitely something about our innate humanity which becomes more explicit rather than implicit when superimposed onto the gorilla. But i think the idea that this implies spirituality depends on how you define 'spirituality'. I know this is an extremely difficult question (i'm not sure i could put it into words clearly!) but how do you define spirituality?
Originally posted by Have a Word: The Gorilla in the ad demonstrated behaviour that you would never observe on a real Gorilla - and no I'm not talking about the drumming - I am of course referring to all those littlr mannerisms (Gorillaisms!)
you've obviously never watched any wildlife gorilla footage at length. they are uniquely individual creatures, clearly with personalities, mannerisms, temperaments, attitudes, likes, dislikes, habits all of their own.
Originally posted by NowPower: I agree that there is definitely something about our innate humanity which becomes more explicit rather than implicit when superimposed onto the gorilla. But i think the idea that this implies spirituality depends on how you define 'spirituality'. I know this is an extremely difficult question (i'm not sure i could put it into words clearly!) but how do you define spirituality?
How do I define spirituality? I point to your computer screen and say "there - that's spirituality"
When the gorilla closes his eyes and fills his lungs he also fills his soul.
The "Sunset argument" for the existence of GOd.
There is such a thing as a sunset - therefore there must be a God!
To quote one well known philosopher: "I can feel it comming in the air tonight - Oh Lord...."
Human beings must be known to be loved; but Divine beings must be loved to be known. Blaise Pascal
The usual waffling and evasion when it comes to defining spirituality.
"The whole point about it is you can't define it" no doubt you say.
The whole point actually is that YOU can't define it.
Pitiful.
I am quite well aware of your view on such matters - but all due respect I am trying to have a conversation with someone here - and that conversation began with a question. Instead of just using this as a platform to restate once again your own position - why don't you just answer the question. Do you find the ad funny? If so can you put into words what the joke is?
Greater minds than I have resisted trying to define the ineffable. Wittgenstein in his Philosophpical Investigations eschewed such an approach in favour of "family resemblances".
Ultimately we are dealing with the human person and the human person is a Mystery.
Besides - even if I did profer a definition you would just ask me to define exactly what I mean by.....
The point is - we all know what the word spirituality means.
In the words of Wittgenstein (at least something like...) - don't define - point. Don't ask for the meaning of the word - consider rather its use.
Well, as a good disciple of the great one, "point" is exactly what I have just done, and my finger is directed towards the Gorilla ad.
Human beings must be known to be loved; but Divine beings must be loved to be known. Blaise Pascal
Originally posted by Have a Word: The point is - we all know what the word spirituality means.
Classic.
No, really, honestly, I don't know what you mean by the word spirituality. I'm not sure how much you know about language works, but there are very often many and subtle differences between how individuals interpret a particular word. You've only got to think of a word like 'wicked'. Your average octagenarian probably has quite a different interpretation to someone substantially younger.
As to the gorilla, and why it's funny, that is a good and interesting question and it was wrong of me not to answer it considering the thread title. I've just checked it out on YouTube again.
Having watched it again, I don't find it that funny. I think this is because it's basically only funny because of the surprise element. The gorilla looks pretty convincing and it looks like a nature program. Then he does the drum break. I'm afraid for me there's not really any more to it than that. Once you know what's coming it's not funny.
What's funnier is you trying to see the meaning of life in it.
How do I define spirituality? I point to your computer screen and say "there - that's spirituality"
When the gorilla closes his eyes and fills his lungs he also fills his soul.
The "Sunset argument" for the existence of GOd.
There is such a thing as a sunset - therefore there must be a God!
To quote one well known philosopher: "I can feel it comming in the air tonight - Oh Lord...."
While I can sort of appreciate what you’re saying here – I’m still a bit confused. This answer would indicate that the word ‘soul’ is interchangeable with ‘spirituality’. Or have I got that wrong?
If that’s right then could you try to elaborate on what you take to be the soul? What part of human (or, indeed, animal) consciousness falls under your title of ‘soul’ or ‘spirit’. And what is ‘God’s’ relationship with this spirit/soul? Could ‘God’, as a word, be interchangeable with ‘spirit’ or ‘soul’?
From having lengthy discussions with some of the atheists on here, I think it would be to your favour if some of the definitions were cleared up before continuing. I know my woolly wording hasn’t done me any favours at all with this lot in the past!
