When the prophets of strange religions ball out their bizarre despair do not join them on the mountain say only it is here it is here. Break your bones to mend your soul, die trying, a constellation of unabsolved fury a dichotomy of distress. Born of rage. Forced into narrower and narrower avenues of existence not by other but by self, is this who I really am?
"The Prophets of Strange Religions" is inspired by Nietzsche's "Thus Spoke Zarathustra." It explores themes of existential struggle, self-realization, and the rejection of conventional beliefs through vivid imagery and abstract reflections. The work cautions against following "prophets of strange religions" into despair, urging a grounded recognition of reality: "say only it is here it is here." This sets the tone for the necessity of enduring hardship to mend one's soul, echoing Nietzsche's idea of overcoming despair through the affirmation of life. The speaker grapples with self-imposed limitations and questions their identity, reflecting an emphasis on becoming who one truly is. An extended meditation on solitude, memory, and time follows, marked by imagery of desolation and reflection, mirroring Zarathustra's own journey of self-discovery and overcoming traditional values.
Scenes of societal decay and personal reminiscence highlight a sense of disconnection and transience, echoing Nietzsche's critique of modernity in "The Genealogy of Morals." The text references the inevitability of returning to nothingness and life's cyclical nature, aligning with Nietzsche's concept of the eternal recurrence from "The Gay Science" and "Thus Spoke Zarathustra." The speaker endures physical and emotional challenges, symbolized by vivid imagery, reflecting the struggle to maintain individuality in the face of societal pressures. This embodies the idea of the will to power from "Beyond Good and Evil," emphasizing the exertion of one's will to overcome challenges and achieve self-overcoming.
The narrative concludes by rejecting passive acceptance of prescribed roles and beliefs, emphasizing personal responsibility and the pursuit of self-realization. This echoes Nietzsche's critique of conventional morality and societal structures, urging listeners to embrace their potential and reject limiting beliefs.
"The Prophets of Strange Religions" is a short film that emerges from a journey of introspection and philosophical exploration, initially beginning as a blog post on theartofmann.com titled "SOME MEN JUST WANT TO WATCH THE WORLD BURN," dated September 17, 2019. The post captures a vivid scene of dissent, advising against joining the despairing cries of "prophets of strange religions" and instead embracing the reality of the here and now. This seed of thought expanded as I recorded myself reading "The Prophets" along with other writings on December 4, 2023, creating an audio piece that deeply resonates with the themes of Friedrich Nietzsche’s "Thus Spoke Zarathustra."
Over the following month, these recordings transformed into a 33-minute audio piece comprising 15 tracks, which continued to evolve in my mind. By March 2023, driven by the persistent impact of the audio explorations, I decided to adapt the work into a film. I began collecting public domain footage from various sources, aiming to visually represent the existential and philosophical inquiries sparked by the initial blog post.
The film, while rooted in the exploration of self-realization and the rejection of conventional norms, focuses less on portraying a linear narrative and more on invoking a meditative reflection on Nietzsche's ideas. It challenges viewers to confront personal hardships and societal pressures, advocating for a life lived with authentic presence and relentless pursuit of personal truth. The film concludes by urging viewers to reject passive acceptance of societal roles, emphasizing personal responsibility and the pursuit of self-realization, encapsulating Nietzsche’s critique of conventional morality and the imperative to forge one’s path.
1. Zarathustra Descends the Mountain
2. The Prophets of Strange Religions
3. Note Thee Hundred and Thirty-Three
4. Salty Little Beach (Death by Trans Fat)
5. The Aged Warrior
6. Oppenheimer Wept
7. The World Ended a Long Time Ago
8. The Republican Heritage Foundation (RHF)
9. Baby Face Desperado
10. Saturday
11. The County Fair
12. Your Words Are Empty
13. Disobedience That is the Nobility of Slaves
14. Loneliness is One Thing Solitude is Another
15. TOPY Spokesman