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Understanding Babylon
Published: 2004-12-16 10:18:43 +0000 UTC; Views: 22930; Favourites: 204; Downloads: 10448
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Description
I am a son of Babylon. Weeping on the coffin of enlightenment. Cowering in the shadows of potential. Wrapped and disciplined and punished as the echo of stars ripple on the back wall of my attention. Watching the inside of my head while dreams of flame seal my eyes.I am a friend of Icarus. I am a brother of Phaethon. I am always a question. I will never be an answer. I am a product of science, I wear the psychology of history. Each book is a brick in a foundation destined to crumble. The gods would rather show me a furnace than a sun.
To understand me, you must understand Babylon. You must understand what the gods have done to humanity. You must understand I am human.
And the Lord came down to see the city and the tower, which the sons of men had built. And the Lord said, "Behold, they are one people, and they have all one language; and this is only the beginning of what they will do; and nothing that they propose to do will now be impossible for them. Come, let us go down, and there confuse their language, that they may not understand one another's speech."
The gods are not cruel. They are afraid. They work dissent into the architecture of civilization. They hold fire in the heavens and burn those who come too close. They have crafted mythology into a propaganda campaign.
All to ensure that we will forever maintain a fear of heights.
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Comments: 101
Do you mean the Tower of Babel story?
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A lot of religions borrow, build on, or otherwise repurpose myths from previous religions. Judeo-Christian mythology is no exception. In the Epic of Gilgamesh, the character of Utnapish built a great boat to save himself and every creature in the world, bearing more than just a passing resemblance to Noah in the Book of Genesis. Several pagan mythologies predating the birth of Jesus are reported to have had virgin birth stories. And so on. I find it real interesting to look at themes that are strung across multiple mythologies
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I find it interesting too. I've studied different religions and mythologies amongst other subjects. I've just recently been reading about the Annnaki and other
Sumerian myths.
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Hiya
Just a quick message to let you know this has been featured in MY JOURNAL
Thank you
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The Babylonians could have finished the tower of babel if only they had taken the time to try and understand each other again.
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"... But the lord came down to see the city and the tower the men were building The lord said 'as if one people speaking the same language they have begun to do this, then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them Come let us go down and confuse their language so they will not understand each other." All God did was make the people of babel speak different languages so that they could learn to deal others who were different from them, God never destroyed babel, if the Babylonians were going to get to heaven before they died with their "tower" they should have at least proven that they could love one another unconditionally.
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It's funny how in life we always try to achieve what is only allowed in the afterlife despite gods wishes. In life god may forbade us to climb the ladder, but only so that he knows if in the after life on the new earth we will not abuse that privilege. Adam and Eve would have gotten knowledge , if only they had waited. Theres no use fighting with god, I can wait. But I can understand if someones to weak to wait for a bomb to go off, they have to run to and check on it just before it explodes in their face and kills them.
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how do you get these descriptions to the audients in your gallery?
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Well, I don't hang everything at the gallery. I was thinking about putting together an exhibition of photos and prose...also someday I'll do a book, I think.
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well, i would love to buy your book.
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i am son of babylon
i am a question, never an answer
i am human
these are taken from my own writing
now i do a search on babylon, and find this
and the resonance blinds me
i don't need to tell how magnificent this image is, given the concept. you must know
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I dunno where to start with the comments on this one.
I so love the darkness and shadows this has.
This picture speaks a thousand words.
You really have a kick-ass style.
I love your imagination.
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an interesting idea, it is sad how people can often be as afraid of their full potential as they are of failure. the ladder here is interesting and i wonder if it were taller, more daunting, if that would better communicate your idea. but i can also see how its size, an ordinary and very human size, shows how sad and ridiculous it is that the huddled figure is afraid of climbing it.
so if we attained perfection, overcame our fear of heights, what would then be the purpose of existence? what would we do without meaningful struggle? i think that's what the gods might be considering.
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I can't help but gape at the awesome power this photo and those words hold. Wonderful, wonderful job.
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Great lighting shadows and emotion 
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I like this picture for a few reasons. One being the complexities of the picture itself. The picture, to me, represents humanity. The part of humanity unwilling (or scared) to advance and evolve higher on the evolutionary latter, thus the naked man cowering in the courner. On a religious matter, maybe this man is being offered a way into heaven or to whatever diety he so desires, but he's scared, and what he thought all his life that he wanted to achieve is now dark to him. To the side of the picture is a light shining, maybe an alternative? I don't know, maybe I'm looking WAY too much into this picture.
Love the shadows and lighting in general for this shot. Very well done. Great job. +fav.
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This photo shows more than a figure, it shows art in its truest form. I love your 
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I love this, the shadows and the tones...everything looks so nice!
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The concept has been well done...I don't think I have much to say. The pose...the shadows..the ladder...the backstory... So sound in its execution, I can only pausde and reflect on this incredible piece.
I've only watched you for a short time and your work never disappoints. Congratulations.
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everything has been covered i think already mate, but have checked this out 4 or 5 times and was so stoked to see you get a daily deviation, your stuff is always inspiring, however this shot in particular really made me think, and to some extent am still quite perplexed.
thankyou, and congratulations yet again
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It's great to have that kind of support, thanks you.
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Great work! 
I love the pose and shadowing..
the combination of the picture and the description makes it very emotional
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Wow, what is it with all the god haters getting DD lately..?
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Where did you draw hate from this?
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Are you in such a rush to condemn me?
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so what else would you call it? You're certainly not sitting there bursting with love for your Creator.
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what can i say that someone hasnt already said? its great i love it...
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I love every work with a good background story..
and this one is really full of power and sense....
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I adore this. I love that you put so much thought into your description, and that your mythical references fit so nicely. I understand the fear of hights, I have to admit I never thought of the relationships that way. You've given me something to think about and for that I thank you.
Beautiful composition.
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The rext really touched me. Ever since I read the comic book Aria, I have a much different perspective of the Icarus story and how it relates to your pic. Maybe it wasn't careless/foolishness that killed Icarus, but the whole touch the sun thing was a dream that he went through without fear and even at the cost of his own life. For him, it was worth it because he did what most people are scared of doing. That's what I thought when I read your Icarus line.
As for Babylyon and coming from a religiously disillusioned background, the Old Testiment God (to me) is a spoiled, hateful bully who feared man's potiental and struck the humans down so they'd live in even more fear.
To me a lot of this how we limit ourselves with not only our religious myths (original sin), an anti-intellectual society (at least in the states), and by our own hand. Imagine all we could achieve if there never was racism/homophobia/sexism to hold certain people back in fixed roles.
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Excellent analysis, I feel you are so right on so many points...
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OMG, that is so incredibly beautiful. This is my life story contained in a single photograph. This goes beyond amazing photography; it transcends the artfrom and speaks to the soul. Thank you.
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Likewise, the DD..but..this..pardon my blatant disregard of formality..is damn, freaking DEEP. I'm just..astounded, really. The literature that accompanies it..it IS brilliant. I believe it deserves far more than just a Daily Deviation promo. This is an awesome piece of work, it's mind-boggling!
Absolutely lovely work!
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Amazing photograph with an equally amazing message behind it. If each were a seperate work, I would probably fav them both--together they are twice as astounding. Congratulations on DD as well. :]
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The DD cought my attention. This work reminds me of one of my favorite photographers Bill Brandt.
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I'm not afraid of heights just of falling from them.
It's not about the absence of fear that makes you strong, it's the conquest of it.
screw the gods, climb the ladder, let your mind be your gateway, what can stop you if you dont want to stop yourself.
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A fear of heights, a fear of bad luck by walking beneath it, a fear or falling, a fear of having no one to catch you, a fear of what waits for you at the top. So many possibilities expressed in such a tragic shot. Tragic in the emotion section, not in the quality department. I love the black and white colours and the way the ladders footing is darker towards him, making the ladder even less inviting.
I like the crumples insecure being almost sobbing in fear or sorrow at what they cant do, as if their thoughts are haunting them.
I adore this piece.
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So powerful, so imaginative, and yet somehwat easy to understand. Very good concept. Well done. It certainly makes me consider my philosophical understandings. . .:think:
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shit.. i'm reading this, looking at the pic and i have tears in my eyes.
so strong, so true, stunning.
michal
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