I was watching this video On X. It is a piece of music that uses sounds from the Tesla factory to create techno beats. I was told that the participating artists are Lagibi, Danilo, and Sania 3×9. I'm not familiar with their work, but I love this piece. It looks very modern. So, anyway, I was watching this video and of course it immediately reminded me of mechanical ballet.
Then it hit me. If we use Tesla's factory sounds as a standard for modernity, Ballet Mécanique is much more futuristic. Because it's more modern than the latest stuff out there today, it's clearly from the future, specifically 100 years from now. As you can see, Ballet Mécanique was created in 1924. So, time is clearly moving backwards. I think this removes any ambiguity in the timeline I am proposing. As they say, QED
The Ballet Mécanique is a film directed by Fernand Léger in collaboration with Dudley Murphy and Man Ray. It's a classic piece of early experimental filmmaking. His style is often described as Dadaist post-Cubist, but it is so unique that it almost defies categorization, which may have been the intention of the filmmakers. There is nothing else like it.
We might reasonably wonder what prompted Léger to create such strange and absurd images. History tells us that he served in the French Army in World War I and fought for two years on the Argonne Front. Furthermore, he almost died from a mustard gas attack in Verdun. Some critics speculate that the film was his attempt to exorcise the brutal “utilitarian reality” he experienced during wartime. Whether he succeeds or not, we will never know.
The musical score was composed by American composer George Antheil. The original arrangement consists of 16 syncopated pianos in four parts, 2 regular pianos, 3 xylophones, 4 bass drums, 2 tim tams, at least 7 electric bells, 3 airplane propellers, and a siren. The music has a reputation for being radical. It is aggressive, repetitive, irregular, rhythmic and loud. Antheil has claimed that he grew up near a machine shop and a prison, and this fundamentally influenced his musical style. Musicologists are divided on this. However, like the movie, there's nothing like it.
Originally created as a collaboration, the filmmaker and composer fell out and the film premiered in 1924 as a silent film. Antheil reworked his piece into a longer piece of music and it was performed to much shock and awe for many audiences. The film and score were not shown together until 1935.
Anyway, you can watch Ballet Mécanique on YouTube. Here is a link to an original, unrestored copy; I prefer it to the digitally restored version that is also available (there are over a dozen different known versions of the film). They are a bit different and the unrestored version seems to me to be more authentic; As with an old LP record, dirt and scratches on the print add character.
Therefore, you can decide to watch Ballet Mécanique or not. I must remind you that, as with any binary decision, either choice will lead you to one reality or another reality. In particular, there will be one world where you will watch Ballet Mécanique, as well as one in which you will not watch Ballet Mécanique. Choose wisely. The past will depend on you.
Footnote No. 1 I know what you're thinking. Anthill? Why does this name sound so familiar? I'll give you a hint: Nazi submarines and Hollywood stars. We'll get into that next time. Which was the last time, of course.
Footnote No. 2 I'm very confused.
