Ship of Fools: Paralympics Opening Ceremony (& Closing Ceremony !)

Thread: Paralympics Opening Ceremony (& Closing Ceremony !) Board: Oblivion / Ship of Fools.

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Posted by Robert Armin (# 182) on :

I thought there'd be a full on debate in flow by now (if there is, my apologies for not being able to find it).

I was looking forward to this; I was expecting to be inspired and maybe challenged as well. Instead I was bored and bewildered. What was going on? A sort of sub-Shakespearian hotchpotch, with only one quote from the Bard in it (the name Miranda by itself down't count). Lots of music I didn't know, with new pieces sung in such a way as to be incomprehensible. The stuff with the apples - especially when we are all meant to take a bite at the same time.

There were good moments, such as the flying athletes, and the arrival of the torch and lighting of the flame. But mainly it was a confused mess. (And why was Mcellan playing such a prominent role? Does gay now count as disabled?)

Anyway, that is my NSVH opinion. What did the rest of you think?

[ 09. September 2012, 19:47: Message edited by: Doublethink ]

Posted by St. Gwladys (# 14504) on :

I have been trying to find it on the net to watch it - can anyone tell me where it is?

Posted by Doublethink (# 1984) on :

You can get it on 4OD.

Posted by balaam (# 4543) on :

quote:
Originally posted by St. Gwladys:
I have been trying to find it on the net to watch it - can anyone tell me where it is?

From an Olympic thread festering in Hell:

quote:
Originally posted by Doublethink:
Opening ceremony - in case anyone's interested.

Posted by Huntress (# 2595) on :

There were beautiful moments - also some mind-boggling moments.

The thing that stood out for me was the apples, both great and small, which formed part of the "Isaac Newton" segment celebrating his theory of gravity and the further increases in knowledge and scientific understanding which that brought. When the announcer suddenly declared that everyone in the audience had an apple and they were all to bite it at the same time, also if anyone at home had an apple they should do the same (this last bit may have been a commentator) I identified it as eating the fruit from the Tree of Knowledge - though presented in a positive way. My better half thought I was reading too much into it and perhaps I was [Smile]

Posted by daisymay (# 1480) on :

I also reckoned it was beautiful, many people from all over the world, dressed specially and often not able to walk.

Posted by Doublethink (# 1984) on :

I am watching on 4OD at the moment - I rather like the sparkly whale - and enjoyed that bit of Handel with the flying athletes.

Oh and loving the flame edged whirling dervish on top of the orrary.

[ 30. August 2012, 19:57: Message edited by: Doublethink ]

Posted by Doublethink (# 1984) on :

David Toole also fantastic.

Posted by PeteC (# 10422) on :

quote:
Originally posted by daisymay:
I also reckoned it was beautiful, many people from all over the world, dressed specially and often not able to walk.

Walking is over-rated.

Posted by Lothlorien (# 4927) on :

I saw only a few highlight but enjoyed what I saw. However, I was reminded that I could listen to Ian McLellan's voice for hours.

I actually was not watching the screen when I first heard him and recognised the voice straight away. [Yipee]

Posted by Sioni Sais (# 5713) on :

quote:
Originally posted by PeteC:

quote:
Originally posted by daisymay:
I also reckoned it was beautiful, many people from all over the world, dressed specially and often not able to walk.
Walking is over-rated.

If golf is a walk ruined, how does that rate golf?!?

Posted by Doublethink (# 1984) on :

Well, I really enjoyed it, though fast forwarded through the parade. I can understand why they commissioned new music, but I don't think that works well in a stadium setting.

I thought having Spasticus Autisticus was a good contrast of tone.

I would have liked a little humour, though I am not sure where they would have put it.

Posted by leo (# 1458) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Huntress:
I identified it as eating the fruit from the Tree of Knowledge - though presented in a positive way. My better half thought I was reading too much into it and perhaps I was

No - that's what I thought too. Rather good theology about the fall being a fall upwards.

[ 31. August 2012, 11:33: Message edited by: leo ]

Posted by Penny S (# 14768) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Huntress:
I identified it as eating the fruit from the Tree of Knowledge - though presented in a positive way. My better half thought I was reading too much into it and perhaps I was

That's what the Today programme went for, as well. Some people remembered Turing, too, but that seems a bit down for the general concept.

Posted by Anselmina (# 3032) on :

I think the ceremony largely succeeded in being both very different from the other opening ceremony - and therefore its own creature - and also thought provoking and impressive. Though I did wonder about the emphasis on books at a sports event? Enjoyed the flying books though. The flying athletes over the beautiful music was just lovely.

I was slightly with Robert Armin on the 'is gay the same as being disabled' thing - but only humourously so! I suppose as they'd wheeled in Kenneth Branagh for the first ceremony, they needed an equally big wheel (if not bigger) for the second ceremony. And Dumbledore dressed as the magician Prospero is rather appropriate. And I think McKellen is an equal rights kind of guy for all sections of society?

I thought 'Miranda' was great. And Peter Toole.

I enjoyed the athletes' parade. And it was genuinelly thrilling to know that every seat in the arena was filled. It really did feel like the paralympics had 'come home' after its almost unrecognizable beginnings at Stoke Mandeville.

The 'Spasticus Autisticus' was a great change of pace and whether intended or not a great tribute to a still sorely missed musician and genius rocker.

The 'pity' element was well avoided which is a triumph, surely. It felt like a celebration of extraordinary people for all the right reasons - no small achievement. Though there were one or two moments I couldn't get my head around!

On 'The Last Leg', the comment show on the paralympics, one of the reporters said the best thing about the ceremony was that Paul McCartney did NOT sing at this one! Cruel but fair... [Big Grin]

Posted by Anselmina (# 3032) on :

Oh my goodness! How could I have forgotten Stephen Hawkings?! [Eek!]

Brilliant touch, really lifting the direction of the ceremony into a new area.

Posted by Telepath (# 3534) on :

It's difficult to get this from the C4 broadcast, but 90% of the show was mass choreography and pattern effects. This came over to full effect in the stadium, but on TV you wouldn't have known it was happening.

Pissed off at what seems like a semi-wasted effort due to the TV coverage, but a live show in front of 80,000 ain't peanuts.

Posted by Doublethink (# 1984) on :

Well, the closing ceremony is now on. It appears can haz cyberpunk [Smile]

Posted by Doublethink (# 1984) on :

First bit was a little boring, lots of floats etc - now they are doing presentations and stuff. Nice to have gifts appreciation for the games makers.

Posted by Firenze (# 619) on :

I think the invoking of the spirits of he seasons and (currently) the Fiery Man is all pleasantly pagan.

Posted by Doublethink (# 1984) on :

Triple-posting to add - its all gone a tad pagan noveau, (I'd be enjoying this more if I liked Coldplay.)

[Crossposted]

Yes,it went cyberpunk and then segued into something a bit more earthy.

Do like any circusy firestuff though - I was clearly a pyromaniac in an earlier existence.

[ 09. September 2012, 20:20: Message edited by: Doublethink ]

Posted by birdie (# 2173) on :

Is this a closing ceremony or a coldplay gig?

(I don't object to clodplay particularly, but I'm a bit bored now.)

[Edited to correct spelling error, then decided I like it.]

[ 09. September 2012, 21:01: Message edited by: birdie ]

Posted by Doublethink (# 1984) on :

Yes, I am somewhat disappointed and have now switched over - having decided that I am not going to watch the rest simply out of a sense of duty. Its all that slightly whiny music.

Posted by Firenze (# 619) on :

No harm to it, but the Brazilian anthem is a bit tiddly-om-pom-pom.

Bit of wheelchair break dancing quite fun and guy wearing a giant paper condor on his head?

Posted by Firenze (# 619) on :

Wow. Guys in fluffy trousers, girls in tutus - apart from condor man and rainbow feather woman. Fireworks.

Posted by Auntie Doris (# 9433) on :

quote:
Originally posted by birdie:
Is this a closing ceremony or a coldplay gig?

It was definitely a Coldplay gig. I was just grateful Macca didn't make an appearance!

Auntie Doris x

Posted by shamwari (# 15556) on :

An obscene waste of money and a PR boost for Coldplay.

Posted by Doublethink (# 1984) on :

Ah, a ray of sunshine.

Posted by Firenze (# 619) on :

quote:
Originally posted by shamwari:
An obscene waste of money and a PR boost for Coldplay.

Catching the Olympic zeitgeist as usual I see.

Posted by Firenze (# 619) on :

And continuing the note of geniality:

Why was George Osborne booed by 80,000 people at the Paralympics?

Because that's the capacity of the stadium.

Posted by Schroedinger's cat (# 64) on :

I thought it was good, and better than the olympic closing ceremony. But then, I don't have a big problem with Coldplay.

I liked the steampunk. I have no idea why they did it, but it was good.

Posted by Anselmina (# 3032) on :

I thought it was interesting enough. But I think you'd have to be a hard-core fan of Coldplay to have really enjoyed it all the way through. To my mind it's surely a risk to feature certain bands in this way, because pop music is so subjective.

It did worry me when the commentator said at the beginning of the ceremony that there wasn't meant to be much of a narrative theme through it. I work better with narrative themes than with abstract gubbins. It all looked very impressive and clever but I kept catching myself wondering 'but what does it mean?'

There were some lovely moments - the motorbike on the high-wire, people floating through the arena etc. And the Paraorchestra. I saw the programme on that before the ceremony. Very interesting.

I hope the athletes enjoyed it - saw it as a great big party for them and their efforts.

Posted by shamwari (# 15556) on :

Thank God its all over. ( apart from the constant replays which will seemingly go on forever).

Now we can get back to being unemployed, paying £1.41 per litre for fuel when the wholesale cost of oil has dropped 20% per barrel, finding it impossible to get credit allowing small businesses to compete, no mortgages available, paying £7 for ribeye steak which cost £4 a few months ago.

I am visiting a man diagnosed with a malignant tumour on his kidney and whom the hospital told to go home after a 3 hour wait because the "consultant was busy on the wards" and this is his third abortive visit to the hospital in a week.

Its what is called Real Life. The magnificant summer games was a magnificent distraction.

Posted by Doublethink (# 1984) on :

quote:

Now when Jesus was in Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper,

There came unto him a woman having an alabaster box of very precious ointment, and poured it on his head, as he sat at meat.

But when his disciples saw it, they had indignation, saying, To what purpose is this waste?

For this ointment might have been sold for much, and given to the poor.

When Jesus understood it, he said unto them, Why trouble ye the woman? for she hath wrought a good work upon me.

For ye have the poor always with you; but me ye have not always.

For in that she hath poured this ointment on my body, she did it for my burial.

Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached in the whole world, there shall also this, that this woman hath done, be told for a memorial of her.

Posted by shamwari (# 15556) on :

The woman was extravagant in honouring the Saviour of the world.

Extravagance in aid of a feel good factor is something else.

Posted by Doublethink (# 1984) on :

OK - then explain why Jesus bothered creating wine, when he could have created water ?

There are a lot of challenges and problems in life, part of building up our resilience and energy to deal with that is having the chance to enjoy life.

You may happen not to enjoy sport, or possibly even none of the stuff put on as part of the cultural olympiad, but they have given a lot of people a lift. Which makes one's everyday shit just a little easier to deal with.

Posted by Enigma (# 16158) on :

I didn't understand the finer details of either the opening or closing ceremonies. But I didn't care --- they were both so much a celebration of the human spirit whatever bodies we find ourselves in!!! Let's all go go go (when and where we can).

Posted by Firenze (# 619) on :

quote:
Originally posted by shamwari:

Extravagance in aid of a feel good factor is something else.

There is frankly nothing else worth spending money on.

Posted by Lothlorien (# 4927) on :

Down here, we use the phrase, being a happy little vegemite from an old commercial. The phrase is being used sarcastically.

Posted by Sioni Sais (# 5713) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Doublethink:
OK - then explain why Jesus bothered creating wine, when he could have created water ?

There are a lot of challenges and problems in life, part of building up our resilience and energy to deal with that is having the chance to enjoy life.

You may happen not to enjoy sport, or possibly even none of the stuff put on as part of the cultural olympiad, but they have given a lot of people a lift. Which makes one's everyday shit just a little easier to deal with.

It was a feast, and wine was appropriate, so He made wine.

The Olympic and Paralympic Games are about excellence. Not merely of performance, but of character too, and not of the athletes alone, but of the support staff, broadcasters, organisers and the spectators too. That excellence demands resilience and energy. The ceremonies were more than a celebration, but they were a terrific motivator to all involved, just as good wine makes those at a feast realise that this really is a special occasion.

Posted by Boogie (# 13538) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Firenze:

quote:
Originally posted by shamwari:

Extravagance in aid of a feel good factor is something else.
There is frankly nothing else worth spending money on.

I'm not sure what you mean by that.

I didn't dislike any of the ceremonies. But any 'feel good' factor from the Olympics is short lived. There must be far more worthwhile causes for the money - but, sadly, there is no way this government would have spent it anyway.

The 'feel good' factor may feed a soul for a day - better to feed it for a lifetime by improving schools, NHS, transport etc. All of which are desperate for investment.

The Olympics were actually a good example of social spending over private - but those lessons won't be leaned by the Tories either.

Posted by Firenze (# 619) on :

I mean that he best use of money is on that which increases happiness. Obviously that assumes a certain outlay on necessities like food and shelter on the individual level, and on services and infrastructure on the social. But it needs to be bread and roses.

I am an apostle of the ephemeral: so much of what makes up the best of life is superfluous, redundant, extravagant and fleeting. Who needs - in the strictly functional sense - parties or poetry? A coat is no warmer for being scarlet than being grey. What need you - as my compatriot remarked - being come to sense, but add the half pence to the pence?

I dislike the imputation that feeling good is a shallow and trivial effect, not to be compared with the sterling qualities of boredom, anxiety, fear or misery. I expect that for some, both participants, volunteers and spectators, the various Games may turn out to be the most significant thing that ever happened to them. And for most - what's the worst that can be said? A spectacle, an entertainment, some moments of vicarious triumph, at the very least a reminder that there are possibilities and dimensions beyond our narrow lives.

Posted by Schroedinger's cat (# 64) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Boogie:
The 'feel good' factor may feed a soul for a day - better to feed it for a lifetime by improving schools, NHS, transport etc. All of which are desperate for investment.

My feeling - no more than that - is that the British have been given a sense of how fucking awesome we can be. We have shown how much we support the disabled, we have shown that we can do thinks better than anyone else. That is a feelgood factor that I suspect will last for along time.

The real challenge (and I blogged on it) is to translate this into changes in policy from a government that is completely out of touch with this sense to put money into those things we need in this country. The real legacy of the summer should be a change in government policy. that is where the money comes from long term.

Posted by Boogie (# 13538) on :

I agree. I am an artist and I love to paint. But I can't paint when I'm hungry/uncomfortable/worried.

I know a lot of art comes out of pain, but some basics need to be covered first. I have taught in schools where the environment really does detract from teaching and learning.

This government want us to feel good with no investment imo.

In schools the arts have been the first casualties. I do painting classes, but very much 'under the radar'. Last year I taught painting to Y6 children who hadn't picked up a paintbrush since Reception.

This is due to a crap system which drives out 'so much of what makes up the best of life is superfluous, redundant, extravagant and fleeting.' and uses Market Forces as its only measure (and has done since Thatcher)

[Frown]

The Olympics and their ceremonies were a smoke screen to hide all this imo.

Posted by Boogie (# 13538) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Schroedinger's cat:

The real challenge (and I blogged on it) is to translate this into changes in policy from a government that is completely out of touch with this sense to put money into those things we need in this country. The real legacy of the summer should be a change in government policy. that is where the money comes from long term.

Exactly

Posted by Sioni Sais (# 5713) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Boogie:

quote:
Originally posted by Schroedinger's cat:

The real challenge (and I blogged on it) is to translate this into changes in policy from a government that is completely out of touch with this sense to put money into those things we need in this country. The real legacy of the summer should be a change in government policy. that is where the money comes from long term.
Exactly

Some money has been made available. OK, not a whole lot, but it isn't getting to where its needed. See here about the Regional Regeration Fund. £1.4bn available, £60 million actually supporting work, £364million parked mostly with the banks, doing f. all but that leaves about a billion in Whitehall doing nothing.

Posted by Ariel (# 58) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Boogie:
I agree. I am an artist and I love to paint. But I can't paint when I'm hungry/uncomfortable/worried.

YMMV. Most of my best creative work has come from those times when I've been under pressure and unhappy. Things tend to drift a lot in an unfocused sort of way otherwise.

Posted by Firenze (# 619) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Boogie:

The Olympics and their ceremonies were a smoke screen to hide all this imo.

The present administration were quick to bask in the reflected glory when the Games went well - even though they were not in power when the bid was made. I don't doubt that they would like you to take away the message That was a splendid circus (in the Roman sense - and hoping you won't notice the shortfall in bread). But people are equally able to read into it: We did that well. We should have more of the provision which made it possible.

What I don't think you get is No Spectacle = More for the unspectacular.

Posted by Schroedinger's cat (# 64) on :

And indicentally, when churches stop spending hundreds of thousands on their buildings "so they can be better used for the community" (Ha!) I might listen to them more when telling the government where to spend its money.

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