Wednesday, December 7, 2011

Koyaanisqatsi

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Wobbly Skater 2

Koyaanisqatsi is a Hopi Indian word than means life out of balance. It is also the name of my favorite movie of all time, Philip Glass and Godfrey Reggio's meditation about the state of our society and planet. However, the concept doesn't end there. I am familiar with life out of balance.

I haven't the slightest drop of athletic ability, leaning rather to the ungainly and clumsy. For example, I cannot ice skate. There were a few childhood attempts, all unsuccessful. (As an adult I made many attempts to learn to ski, which usually resulted in painful quads and a face full of snow.) Fortunately, I am not alone. This man is one of the couple at the far end of the rink in yesterday's post. He was on my level and I found that comforting.

Speaking of Glass, Mrs. C and I are attending a Metropolitan Opera video broadcast tonight of his Satyagraha at a local theater. It's my favorite 20th Century opera, very much a minority opinion but firmly held. Hey, who wouldn't want to see an opera sung in Sanskrit?


Wobbly Skater 1

11 comments:

Dave-CostaRicaDailyPhoto.com said...

If I tried to ice skate, I would look like the gentleman in the top photo. But I have not gone ice skating in nearly 40 years.

cieldequimper said...

I don't even know how many times I fell on my backside as a child. I've since stopped... :-)

PerthDailyPhoto said...

I really can't imagine who wouldn't want to see this Bob (she says tongue in cheek) haha!! As for the iceskating I'm with you, too many hard falls to be even a tad enjoyable!!Really love to watch it though.

brattcat said...

mr. bc would be sitting with you on the no-skating bench. but he would not, i'm afraid, join you at the opera.

William Kendall said...

I can't skate either, Bob, and I'm from a country of skaters and hockey players.

I do like cross country skiing though.

Birdman said...

Lesson of life #107... know when to don skates. Thou Shall NOT Look Pathetic!

Birdman said...

Oh, ya and sorry. I'm with Mr. BC on this one.

Virginia said...

I have never strapped on ice skates or skis, so I can't pipe in on this discussion. I can pipe up about PHilip Glass. I had Sirius radio for about a week ( i don't know why) and I liked the classical stations. One day I caught Phil, whom I think I"ve slammed here on a number of occasions, and really liked his Tirol concerto. I'm not saying I'm rushing to iTunes to load up but thought you'd like to know I'm "coming around".
V

Jack said...

I saw that movie and didn't understand it at all. Mr. Glass and I are not on the same wave length. (Fun shot of the struggling skater.)

Oakland Daily Photo said...

At least he's still smiling. Probably thrilled that he didn't land on his backside in front of your camera.

Carraol said...

Great post, especially for the mention of Glass knowledge of balance!