When this album first came out I was listening to Vicarious while driving. I was stuck in traffic behind a taxi that had an advertisement on it for an exhibition called "The Human Body", where various aspects of the body are studied and put on display, like muscle/bone structures, skin fibres, vital organs etc etc. Funnily enough, the photo on the ad was very much like the cover of Lateralus, with the photo of a human being illustrating the layers beneath the skin.
What really caught my attention were the words in bold italic underneath the image: "REAL BODIES ON DISPLAY"
This song really made sense to me after I saw that: I could picture people at the exhibition bypassing all the fake plastic skeletons, respiratory system drawings, etc etc, and heading straight for the "real bodies" where they would stand in droves and "stare like zombies" at this dead body on the table.
I could also imagine that people "wouldn't give pause" to even consider going to the exhibition until they learn that real dead bodies are on display. And the fact that the advertisers found it necessary to even mention it on the ad as if that makes the whole experience more "appealing".
But the funny thing is: I am no different. I would have been there front row centre, looking at the dead body. Even though it's wrong, you can't help but look. "Why can't we just admit it?"
We are all "Part vampire, Part warrior. Carnivore and voyeur." We are infatuated at the misfortune and suffering of others. "Like blood to a vampire"
What genius. Thank you Tool.
Anyway, I was late to work that day. But who cares!!!
One last parting thought: Think about all those times you watch TV, or watch a movie, or even watch a motor race and hope for a crash, a murder scene, etc. We are all monsters. We just need to admit it.
When this album first came out I was listening to Vicarious while driving. I was stuck in traffic behind a taxi that had an advertisement on it for an exhibition called "The Human Body", where various aspects of the body are studied and put on display, like muscle/bone structures, skin fibres, vital organs etc etc. Funnily enough, the photo on the ad was very much like the cover of Lateralus, with the photo of a human being illustrating the layers beneath the skin. What really caught my attention were the words in bold italic underneath the image: "REAL BODIES ON DISPLAY"
This song really made sense to me after I saw that: I could picture people at the exhibition bypassing all the fake plastic skeletons, respiratory system drawings, etc etc, and heading straight for the "real bodies" where they would stand in droves and "stare like zombies" at this dead body on the table.
I could also imagine that people "wouldn't give pause" to even consider going to the exhibition until they learn that real dead bodies are on display. And the fact that the advertisers found it necessary to even mention it on the ad as if that makes the whole experience more "appealing".
But the funny thing is: I am no different. I would have been there front row centre, looking at the dead body. Even though it's wrong, you can't help but look. "Why can't we just admit it?"
We are all "Part vampire, Part warrior. Carnivore and voyeur." We are infatuated at the misfortune and suffering of others. "Like blood to a vampire"
What genius. Thank you Tool.
Anyway, I was late to work that day. But who cares!!!
One last parting thought: Think about all those times you watch TV, or watch a movie, or even watch a motor race and hope for a crash, a murder scene, etc. We are all monsters. We just need to admit it.