Aphrodite's Birth in Kylie Minogue's "All the Lovers" Music Video

So, for my Mythology class, I had to write a paper on how a Greek myth is reflected in modern (after 1300 AD) art, so I chose Aphrodite's Birth in Kylie Minogue's "All the Lovers" music video. Actually, it was the day before the paper was due, and I had no idea what to do, and since I'd already written extensively on the music video and its song (which, that paper can be seen here), I was fairly familiar with it. AND as I wrote this paper, I giggled.A.LOT!

So, here's the myth of Aphrodite's birth: Cronus cut off the genitals of Uranus and threw them in the sea, which created foam in the water, and Aphrodite arose from the foam. My professor went haywire with my selection, declaring to our class that he only got through half of his grading during his grading time, because when he came to my paper, he had to watch the video and then look up other stuff. He wanted to show the vid to his classes but felt it was too "naughty." He really liked my paper but said he disagreed on some of the symbolism regarding Uranus's genitals, which is fine with me, because I'm not so sure I agreed with myself. I was mostly grasping at something to say, and what I did say sounded so silly it made me giggle. My professor said he saw symbols of opposites rather than the symbolism I mention. I agree. Opposites would be needed for fertilization. Someone from another section he teaches told me he even brought up my topic in their class. Last Friday, he was late to class, because he was writing a response letter to my paper. He gave me the letter and then spent ten minutes of that class day to discuss his and my ideas on the topic. He was very respectful through the whole thing, and I found it really cool he was so into my topic. Friday afternoon, he emailed me with more of his analysis. COOL!

Here is my paper:

Kylie Minogue’s music video for her single “All the Lovers”[1] symbolically depicts the birth of Aphrodite from the castration of Uranus to her rise from the foam in the sea.[2]  The event is suggested by the symbolic use of objects, environment, and people and helps promote Kylie to a new status in pop music with the release of her fittingly named latest album Aphrodite.[3]

            The genitals of Uranus are depicted in four clips at the beginning of the video.  The four clips include separately falling objects—a coffee cup, a milk bottle, marshmallows, and papers—spilling onto a city street.  The spilling cup full of coffee shows that just as one would get burned from hot coffee falling on them, the spilling coffee expresses the burning sensation of Uranus’s castration.  The white milk spilling from the bottle as it drops represents Uranus’s sperm as it flows across the surface of the pavement to fertilize the ground, while the dropping marshmallows represent his testicles.  This is suggested by their round shape and the sweetness that comes from their use.  Since there are several dropping marshmallows, it is depicting the power and fruitfulness of his loins as a god.  The papers fall from a freely opening briefcase someone is holding.  The briefcase falls open without its owner’s consent, signifying Uranus’s castration was not consensual.  Paper is commonly used to write and share ideas in a communication.  Their significance here is that just as they contain communicational code, their genetic code is spilling on the ground, like the fertilizing milk, to pass that code along.

The setting of the music video is a street surrounded by skyscrapers.  The placement of people in this environment helps the image that they are mere mortals, tiny, insignificant, and influenced by a higher power.  When these symbols of Uranus’s genitals are poured across the ground, their influence is felt by the mortals around.

The mortals strip to their undergarments and passionately kiss.  They are projected as the foam that rises from Uranus’s genitals.  The mortals, as foam, multiply in number and gather to form a mob that raises Kylie—accompanied by doves, an animal sacred to Aphrodite[4]—from within them and, therefore, demonstrating Aphrodite’s creation from the foam.

Later in the video, a white convertible releases white balloons from its opening top, depicting that Aphrodite (Kylie) has arrived and is releasing love into the world.  So many of the mortals gather to the mob by the end of the video that their group grows to be nearly as tall as the skyscrapers.  The people hear her song and flock to her, worshipping her as their goddess and deliverer.

Kylie’s appearance as Aphrodite helps promote her to the status of Goddess of Love in pop music.  From her first single “I Should Be So Lucky,”[5] Kylie explored the theme of love and the vulnerability that accompanies it, as she sang of dreaming that her hidden feelings for her love interest would be returned.  Over years she continued to explore the themes of love and vulnerability, but her peak of the themes came with the release of Aphrodite, a collection of songs solely dedicated to concepts of love, beauty, and the celestial, as they are associations of the Goddess.

Aphrodite helps promote Kylie to a new status among the pop music community, and that status is iconically symbolized as her appearance as Aphrodite in the “All the Lovers” music video, as it demonstrates the birth of Aphrodite and alludes Kylie as a representation of the Goddess. 

---

[1] All the Lovers. Dir. Joseph Kahn. Perf. Kylie Minogue. EMI, 2010. Film.  Lead single from Aphrodite.

[2] See Hesiod, Theogony 188-195.

[3] Minogue, Kylie. Aphrodite. Parlophone, 2010. CD.

[4] Berens, E. M. A Hand-Book of Mythology. New York: Maynard, Merrill, & Co., 1894. Print.

[5] Minogue, Kylie. “I Should Be So Lucky.” Kylie. PWL, 1988. CD.

Here is the vid. It is INCREDIBLY SENSUAL, so be warned:

Adventure #5: Check It!

So, funny story!

Once upon a day last month, I wrote a check for a large amount of money but told the receiver of the check to wait a week to take it to the bank, because I didn't know how much money was in my checking account and promised I would be sure there was enough money in it. They complied.

I was SOOOO EXCITED!!! I had written my first check! even though I've had a checking account for about a year....or something. I felt like a grown up! HOT HOT HOT! And plus, now I had the chance to go talk to the fun bank tellers! They're always so nice.

However, my sister told me I could transfer funds from my savings to my checking online, so I tried that but couldn't find my checking account.

OFF TO THE BANK!!!!!!

I explained to the teller (a chill, Hispanic young woman with a sweet, sassy attitude I could befriend) that I wanted to transfer funds into my checking account.  She looked it up but only found my savings.

"Are you sure you have a checking?" she asked.

"Um, yeah," I sassed. "I opened one a long time ago. I've already written a check, so I better have one."

"Nuh-uh, really?" she said.

"Yeah, I have a checkbook."

"Are the checks in your name?"

"Yeppers. It's in my car. Do you want me to go get it?"

"Yeah, let's take a look."

I flopped away and brought in the book full of checks with my name and address on them. She searched again and still couldn't find a checking account.

"So, I've been wandering around with checks in my name but with no account?" I confirmed.

"It looks like it," she replied.

"Nice!"

Finally, the problem was solved when one of the bank managers helped me open a checking....again! Apparently, whoever I originally talked to ordered the checks but forgot to set up the account.

So, the moral of the story today, children, is that you don't need a checking account to write and own checks in your name.

Adventure #4: The Little Prince Personality

I have, what some may call, a Prince Personality. It seems to be genetic as the same characteristics can be found in two of my nieces (both are from different siblings of mine; one from a brother and the other from my sister) and a female cousin, though I have found it existent in some of my friends. A particular friend, a recurring companion of mine at my university, exhibits this personality to such a degree that at nineteen years old she reminds people of Giselle from Disney's Enchanted, which is helped by her strawberry blond hair.

Such personalities are more common among girls, but some boys do possess similar qualities. It is most easily seen in children, and some aspects of life perspective slough away with maturity, due to established social systems or other pursued interests, but most often the core of the personality stays with the person.

I would like to share a portrait of this personality, of which I will reference as a Prince, though a similar sketch can go for a Princess, as well. Much of what will be mentioned can be seen in other personalities to a degree but demonstrated will be the core values of this particular kind of personality. I mostly speak from my own experience.

Princes are most distinguishable by their soft- and tender-hearts. They are the most gentle and loving of beings. It is true that critical words can be damaging and hurtful to anyone. However, a harsh tone or cruel rejection can destroy a Prince. His sense of self and enthusiastic spirit for life die. He holds everything close to his heart and can eventually heal but slowly. It is common for him to connect with the vulnerable but leading character of a story, such as Winnie-the-Pooh or Cinderella. A Prince is easily reduced to tears, from fearful experiences but also from sympathy, gratitude, and love. He rarely allows others to see this, though, as he worries it would burden them.

A Prince will quietly maintain an air or impression of class and is naturally attracted to elegance. Often, he is seen as prim, especially in his desire to demonstrate immaculate presentation of self, quarters, and possessions. This sense will lead him to connect with classy figures, such as Audrey Hepburn or Prince William (son of Princess Diana and Prince Charles). Many general people are also attracted to these figures for their sense of class or from the general people's fascination with fame and royalty, but the Prince naturally views them as potential cohorts.

Obviously, the Prince is a dreamer personality. He is always in a dream, living in his own world. He is incredibly imaginitive. His dream, however, is not of selfishness. He does not live in his world for the sake of self-conceit. His dreams are filled with positive interactions with and from those he admires and loves. Some of his dreams are so close to his heart he would never dare share them with anyone. Most often these dreams are of his love interest.

When given opportunity to play companion to a love interest in the real world, he holds them at a high degree of importance and consideration, as also demonstrated in his long dreams dedicated to them. He feels for his love deeply and with complete commitment. Indeed, the mere presence of his love can be reward enough to please him. As a vulnerable/passive being, the Prince is not natural at forwardly establishing a boyfriend/girlfriend relationship. However, if a commital agreement is not made, even by word of mouth, then the Prince may allow time and attention to other interests or callers, even if he has already spent time with one that particularly catches his interest. Rarely will he brave to be the one to dictate such a distinction, even if he desires it. For all he knows, such a relationship pronouncement may be seen as inconvenient in his love interest's view. He has a much easier time with the marriage proposal and wedding, as those are follow-up to what is already initiated.

When color coded, a Prince is a White personality, or peace-maker. He values positive, safe social interaction above all else. Never does he say or do something to purposely harm. At times, there is a slip of tongue or mistake of action, and when these are realized as a mistake, the Prince has not only offended the communicative receiver but also himself. Rudeness cannot be tolerated. To receive outside punishment at this time is torturous and emotionally dangerous for a Prince, due to his paining realization of his dreadful folly. He knows no enemy and is friend to all. To be made an enemy by returned harsh words, silent treatment, or other punishments is emotionally unbearable, as he will become disappointed in himself for the strong offense against his intense values.

This is not to say that the Prince does not speak or act boldly. When he feels something is to be said or done, he will do it but for the cause he holds as right. Likely, he is scared out of his pants to make a statement but still takes an uncomfortable courageous risk. He desires to teach or share and will not excuse himself, though he hopes his communicative recipient is open and truly receptive of his view, for to act in bold manner is only done out of greatest love for his recipient. A bold act is to open the Prince to a state of vulnerability, for if the recipient retaliates, he faces strong emotional disappointment, as previously discussed (especially since he holds everything he does and stands for close to his heart). He would not take such a risk were it not for the sake of love.

There is a point of contradiction for the Prince (as there is contradiction in every personality). Though he maintains a prim, classy, and mild countenance, his friendliness leads him to be a boisterous player of fun, which can become immensely silly. The Prince loves this side of himself but only allows it if he feels emotionally safe. That is not to say that if he does not show it to you he does not like you. He is incredibly intuitive and simply does not feel like such behavior may be right or proper for the situation or setting. He just may not be in the mood, though the Prince holds this part of himself in high importance. For some, this is the most common side of the Prince they see. Most of his antics are harmless poking of fun. He does allow room for some light "rudeness," or sarcasm, in his display of comedy, but he never means what he says (or else he would not say it, as it would offend him). It is intended without the slightest trickle of vehemence. He simply has an eye for wit, irony, and the naturally ridiculous. His intuition allows others to express the same sense of sarcasm, but he will become offended if he senses true rudeness and disrespect.

Another contradiction is that his occasional boldness can sometimes play with his humor when he views something as ridiculous, giving him a sassy quality, at times.

The Prince holds his values in high regard and places them close to his heart. Simply, he is a natural lover and wants to share that love.

Of course, there is much more to the personality, but these are some basic aspects of it.

Suggested reading:

The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint Exupéry
which also can be found here:
http://www.angelfire.com/hi/littleprince/frames.html

Adventure #3: Arrested for BUI

I have always had a knack for blantantly stating things that others would consider inappropriate, particularly relating to bodily functions. I've tried to get better as I grow up, but still, I post things on Facebook or state things to my friends, like, "I had a bowel movement this morning." Honestly, what is there to be said to that? I wouldn't know what to say if I was in a sober mood and someone told me that (but when that has happened, I often celebrate with them). I find this to be known as Being Unnecessarily Inappropriate, or BUI.

Like diarrhea, there are typically no warning signs of BUI.  It just shoots out, often making a splattery mess, depending on your environment. Some people are more accepting of BUI, either casually overlooking it or lightly cleaning it up with a further joke. Others take the time to discipline or correct the offender in the same tone they would correct a puppy who had an accident on the carpet. Therefore, to scold in this manner serves no one, as the offender will simply continue thinking about the bodily functions of that puppy.

Much of the cause of BUI is honesty, though much of it can cross over to the realm of Too Much Information, or TMI. What most people overlook is that BUI can have its benefits. Recently, I told a friend that if she felt like she was becoming robotic in her acting audition, all she will have to do is fart. Farting is a very human behavior. It is a function of life and should therefore make her audition feel more natural and humanistic. It would be honest.

BUI seems to be a lifelong condition. However, there are different degrees in which one can be affected. Some are so far gone that possibility of normal interaction with others seems hopeless, but most are able to overcome and function more appropriately. No one is ever completely cured, though. After all, when you gotta go, you gotta go.

Adventure #2: Yo, Ga...Or How to See God (and Elves) and Be Happy

This semester I had a yoga class that was specialized for actors and covered Alexander Technique. At first, I didn't like the position of prana yama—I hated it, in fact. We started sitting in its position for five minutes, and as the semester progressed, we went for 10 and then 15 minutes. It was a lot like this:



ABSOLUTE TORTURE!!! I had so much trouble sitting still.  I knew that I had reached my limit (which eventually was at seven minutes) when my body would start to shake, particularly my arms. Nearly everytime I prana yama-ed I had the impulse to fall over and roll around on the floor, to which I occasionally complied when the time was up for the position. Further, we were instructed to breathe deep and concentrate our thoughts on breathing. This also proved troublesome as my mind worked as such:

"Think about breath. I am thiiiiiinking about my breath. Breathe deep....like they were teaching in Vocal Techniques. I wonder if this will also help with singing. I like where I sit in that class. I'm so glad there's an elevator in the Tanner Building. I nearly die having to climb up the stairs when leaving Richards. It's so gorgeous outside. BREATH. Yes, thinking about breath. Air coming in, and out. Trees make oxygen. I love trees. They're especially beautiful this time of year. I like their green!..." etc. etc.

Eventually, with lots of practice, I would get so focused on prana yama that Elves would come and do strange things to me while I was in concentration. I set up a camera to catch them in their mischief:

I didn't quite catch them amidst the action, but you can see what kind of silliness they do. I tried another day:

Failed, again, so I reset the camera for another attempt, but the little pests went even further:

Okay, so I never caught them to prove that it really was elves, but obviously something crazy was going on.

Anyway, as I've grown more accustomed to prana yama and other yoga stuff, I have noticed incredible BENEFITS from it. It's not so much an irritant to do, but it actually can be quite fun when I focus on the process, as prescribed by my professor (who was a hoot; he helped prana yama and yoga become more tolerable, especially as he would joke at the beginning of our prana yama time by flashing his hands out at the class, as if he were casting a spell, and proclaim, "Now, see God!!"; our final in the class was juggling two balls with one hand, as juggling also helps with focus and process-orientation).

General benefits that also have crossed over into my acting is a stronger focus on the present and enjoying the process of accomplishing what is happening rather than the finished product. The focus of yoga is spinal health, and from this, I've felt more stable and sure as a physical being. I feel my existence and feel more whole. I am deliberate. Another benefit is the release of physical/emotional tension (which are correlated; you feel emotions in your body, after all; why shouldn't they be connected?). From this, I am more physically free and openly expressive. A felt emotion is more commonly released through expression.

Overall, I feel I can say I've been much happier this semester, as I've learned something that helps me feel more peace and that releases emotional crap that I've gathered from the past or that I feel during my day and choose not to express, whether because it is not fitting the scenario or because I feel the results would be negative or unnecessary (or obviously rude—and therefore, unnecessary and negative). I'm not so much worried about what others think or how they may perceive me. I don't have those worries as much, anyway, as I get older, but even still, those worries have dropped even more. I don't need to worry about whether something is going to make me popular or well-liked or any of those sorts of things. My value can come from within myself, but of course, this is most often benefited from serving others but is not dependent on the praise of people.

I've even found a song I really like by Chantal Kreviazuk called "Weight of World." As I've come to understand its meaning, I've tried to live by it, and life is wonderful. I hope you enjoy it: