Manny’s Rock Concert Experience
Original Sin parallels, duality of ego, freedom in ignorance (imagination?), female self-actualization. All of it is crap. The truth is that Lewis Carroll is the father of literary drug culture, and that Hunter S. Thompson and the 60s psychedelic rock n’ roll are his acolytes. John Lennon confirmed it himself, citing Carroll’s evocative poetry as directly influencing Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds.The show last night reminded me of the Syd Barrett’s story, actually. The lead male and Alice shared a complex relationship. At one time or another they were lovers, or at least intimate friends (though he clearly wanted more). They were thinkers and artists and what we see is their story through the kaleidoscope of their mutual dreams and personal traumas. I would want a second viewing to reach a conclusion on major plot points, as I am unsure whether she died at the end or simply lost her mind and became a vegetative introvert. The other woman would also suggest that there were two sides of her and that he couldn’t have one without the other. All in all, I think the second half was decidedly playing on the idea of a more grown-up Alice than we’re used to reading about. Everyone outgrows their childhood fantasies, but who would Alice be without her closest friends, the ones in her head? The sinister looking shadow with the fedora means something else, I’m sure, as its sharply contrasted with the other more colorful and playful denizens of her imagined world. It seems to in fact resemble a man, which spurs a whole other feminist discussion altogether.
I thought it was quite beautiful, and I enjoyed it and am still thinking about it.
Interesting. I can’t say I have read Lewis Carroll, but I am certainly familiar with his influence on a certain segment of pop culture and am aware that Alice in Wonderland was probably a drug/alcohol induced stupor. I am intrigued by your idea of an older Alice. She is usually portrayed as a young girl, and people have been trying to corrupt her ever since.