What do you think of the car crash theory?

[noveltywave]

A spiritual person struggling with religious choices is involved in a car crash, slips into some kind of coma, journeys through an inferno in their mind, returns to childhood memories, dies at the end? There are a lot of hints in both the music and the artwork… but then of course some things that don’t make any sense.

[atubofturquoisecustard]

I dig this, maybe this narrative is one of several throughout the album. I feel like there's definitely commentary on dystopia's past & present and how some spiritual force is omnipresent through all this, which maybe the spiritual person you speak of comes into contact with and transcends?

[shelf]

Considering there's no reference to cars or a crash, i don't suspect there's any meaningful connection.

Also, a spiritual person struggling with religious choices? What would that look like, and why would a spiritual person downgrade their philosophical apparatus by following any dogmatic religious choice, when they have their own liberated mind to make such decisions on their own? Your theory seems like a unsubstantiated reach based on practically nothing imo.

Is this your own theory or are you reading it from somewhere?

[turquoise70]

why would a spiritual person downgrade their philosophical apparatus by following any dogmatic religious choice, when they have their own liberated mind to make such decisions on their own?

I wouldn't say I'm big into the theory itself, but let's be real, *this* part happens all the time. I've seen it happen. We are seldom as immune from the lure of dogmatic views as we're comfortable imagining ourselves to be. Like I said... seen it happen.

[Skytree]

In the vacuum of an explicit theme, interpretation is left to each one of us. So in that sense, your interpretation is just as valid as any. In my opinion, this appears to be the intention, quite in the spirit of the source of your avatar image...

[shelf]

Didn't they say it's about the tension and chaos of the modern world when all our traditional worldviews breakdown in the face of new understandings of the world, essentially. I'm certain I read that somewhere around when the album was released.

Again, if the album was about being in a car crash I'm pretty sure we'd see something that reference cars or a crash. "You" can make it about anything you want but there ought to be evidence to support it or you just seem delusional, imo.

try to raise the bar a bit.

[shelf]

"In the vacuum of an explicit theme, interpretation is left to each one of us. So in that sense, your interpretation is just as valid as any."

Critical thinking has left the chat...

[shelf]

why would a spiritual person downgrade their philosophical apparatus by following any dogmatic religious choice, when they have their own liberated mind to make such decisions on their own?

I wouldn't say I'm big into the theory itself, but let's be real, *this* part happens all the time. I've seen it happen. We are seldom as immune from the lure of dogmatic views as we're comfortable imagining ourselves to be. Like I said... seen it happen.

What kind of examples are coming to mind?

Are you actually "spiritual" if you hand over your decisions to religious dogmas? It sounds like the opposite of spirituality to me, it's essentially conformity and submission.

[shelf]

[Cupz]

Out of the loop, but I didn't really get a specific car crash vibe from it. But it does revolve around death and the thereafter obviously.

That said, ever seen the Cronenberg movie "Crash"? It's absolutely amazing.

[Skytree]

"In the vacuum of an explicit theme, interpretation is left to each one of us. So in that sense, your interpretation is just as valid as any."

Critical thinking has left the chat...

I really don't think so. Been a Boards fan for 27 years. To my knowledge this is their first major release that has not been accompanied by any interviews from Mike and Marcus. They have not explicitly stated the intention or theme of the album publicly (or anything about the album for that matter). There's plenty to infer, but in the absence of an explicit meaning, personal interpretation is really all we have.

[Skytree]

To expand on that somewhat with David Lynch as an example, he fiercely believed that every one of his films should stand on its own, and that explaining his work "ruins the magic". He viewed cinema as a language of abstractions with viewers as detectives, and insisted that every individual's personal, subjective interpretation is entirely valid. Not too much of stretch to consider Boards taking a similar position, especially given their radio silence.

[2020k]

Tell us how you got to car crash and we'll go from there.

[Skytree]

Tell us how you got to car crash and we'll go from there.

Seems to me this kind of belongs more in an open thread about everyone's various takes/visuals/thoughts on the album. I think it's neat this poster had an idea, lacking in context as it may be. Asking good questions gracefully is awesome, as is keeping it organized for posterity.

Something I'm personally careful to mitigate/avoid is coming off as unweloming to new fans or members. The more the merrier. I'd rather see a newbie take a well-meaning swing than a long-time member insult people without justification. One is much less interesting and tolerable than the other. As a former WATMM mod, that would be where I'd start personally.

[atavist]

Didn't they say it's about the tension and chaos of the modern world when all our traditional worldviews breakdown in the face of new understandings of the world, essentially. I'm certain I read that somewhere around when the album was released.

Again, if the album was about being in a car crash I'm pretty sure we'd see something that reference cars or a crash. "You" can make it about anything you want but there ought to be evidence to support it or you just seem delusional, imo.

try to raise the bar a bit.

Tell us how you got to car crash and we'll go from there.

I believe they are referencing the sound at 1:32 in Somewhere Right Now In The Future that kind of sounds like a car crash. (It's very quiet in the background).

Also there are these images from the artwork.





I don't think its that cut and dry but this is where their theory is most likely coming from

[shelf]

I take it back, those car crash pics are definitely worth considering. I still don't get a car crash signal in anyway listening to the album, memory death is the only song i get a "having died or going to die vibe" from.

To me the album is about the consequences of mass formation psychosis, societal institutions falling away, being lost in the modern world, the end of the old world, contemplating the existence of awareness in a material world, pre-birth processes (the world before you, cellular/fetal developmental stages, etc.) and finding hope/potential in the aftermath. basically birth, death and rebirth.

[WATER_CAN-_-]

[Cupz]

Somewhere Right Now In The Future: You're in an accident.
Naraka: You're severely wounded in the car and rescued.
Acts of Magic: Doctors do their best to fix you up.
Memory Death: In the hospital you die anyway.
The Word Becomes Flesh: You are reincarnated.
Into the Magic Land: You are birthered.

Something like that?

I am not sure boc would ever done things this linearly/literally. At any rate it would still only be a small detail. The catalyst of the second act of the album.

[steeldancer-x]

Hm. Interesting and revealing idea

[Waterbagel]

fun to think about! maybe that cowboy finally crashed the dayvan