01111: Kool aid man...
By: CraqhoreYesterday I managed to combine Christian theology, Eastern mysticism, and Nietzschean proto-existentialism using THE KOOL AID MAN.
Yes, the KOOL AID MAN represents both the Christlike figure, an androgynous libido force (a la Taoism) combiining animus and anima, and the "Ubermensch", that is to say the nietzschean concept of the Superman. It's very simple.
Before going any further, let me describe the Kool-Aid Commercial. There is a wall. (a la Pink Floyd's "The Wall"). There are bored kids. Then the KOOL AID MAN bursts through the wall and gives the kids Kool-Aid. The kids are happy.
Now, how does the KOOL AID MAN come into this?
Let's see.
1. KOOL AID MAN AS CHRIST
The KOOL AID MAN represents a Christlike figure in his giving of Kool-Aid, much recalling the Eucharist. Bear in mind that the KOOL AID MAN is, in fact, a pitcher of Kool-Aid, thus Kool-Aid is the KOOL AID MAN's blood. Does this not recall the Eucharist "Yea, verily, eat this bread, for it is my flesh; drink my Kool-Aid, for it is my blood!" Yes it does! We also see the KOOL AID MAN's Christlike role with the CHILDREN.
For is it not said that a child "will lead the way?" And does a child not lead the way to marketing Kool-Aid? Of course! Here, the KOOL AID MAN is saving the children's souls with Kool-Aid (for Kool-Aid represents a force of CONSTRUCTION, the Jungian Libido - as it is fruit, a living object; whereas colas and the like are NEGATIVE forces, Jungian Thanatos - for is 7up not the UNcola? Nihilism!)
We finally see KOOL AID MAN filling the Christlike reinterpretation of the Promethean archaic myth; that is to say, messenger from the god(s) comes down bearing fire; in the case of Christ, the fire was the dissolution of the divine Lexicon (Judaic law); in this case, the fire is the dissolution of the cola hegemony. Prometheus sacrificed his godliness for fire; Christ scarificed his mortal life for our sins; KOOL AID MAN sacrifices his internal liquid for hot-weather refreshment! In all cases, Prometheus/Christ/KOOL AID MAN alleviates the unendurable tribulations suffered by mortal man.
2. KOOL AID MAN AS ZEN
We see KOOL AID MAN fulfilling the eastern role of nature mysticism as well. Let's examine KOOL AID MAN, shall we? KOOL AID MAN is a round pitcher... ROUND, much like the Earth, and like the Earth, he gives sustenence (in the form of Kool-Aid.) KOOL AID MAN here plays the role of _Terra Mater_, Mother Earth. Yet the KOOL AID MAN's booming baritone voice and distinctly aggresive bursting of the wall suggests a MALE influence. Thus, KOOL AID MAN is a complete world system, androgynous, giver of material sustenence (the Kool-Aid); giver of societal framework (orders such as "Drink Kool-Aid.") He is a combination of animus and anima not found in mortals; the only true androgynes in humanoid form are inevitably deities; thus, KOOL AID MAN is an Eastern nature god.
3. KOOL AID MAN AS UBERMENSCH
Here it gets downright fun. We see the KOOL AID MAN fulfilling the role of Superman; namely, he/she/it is the nihilist (remember, "Amor fati") that creates in the ashes of ruin. Note the term "IN the ashes" not "FROM the ashes". The reason is simple; This is what distinguishes Superman from what Nietzsche termed the "Last Man", a herd mentality in an existential world (Note to all you non-philosophy majors: THIS CAN NOT HAPPEN).
The KOOL AID MAN bursts through the wall, an act of destroying the previous order; much like the Ubermenschen's destruction of the previous moral order. But the KOOL AID MAN does not create a statue out of the fallen bricks; for that would be to grant the wall CREDIBILITY. But in an existential world, if you do not recognize the previous moral order, by individual default it HAS no credibility. Thus, like a phoenix from the ashes, like the Superman, the KOOL AID MAN creates OF HIMSELF; the raw _materiel_ for his art is his OWN BLOOD - Kool-Aid!
KOOL AID MAN thus creates out of one's intrinsic worth, subjective (a la Sarte), but, in lieu of the fact that the KOOL AID MAN is a "take-charge" kind of guy, IMPOSED upon the hapless herd mentality of the children. Thus the whole Kool-Aid commercial represents the individual's domination over the masses; the ubermansch over the Last Man.
If you have further inquiries, please e-mail mfarah@erols.com
Yes, the KOOL AID MAN represents both the Christlike figure, an androgynous libido force (a la Taoism) combiining animus and anima, and the "Ubermensch", that is to say the nietzschean concept of the Superman. It's very simple.
Before going any further, let me describe the Kool-Aid Commercial. There is a wall. (a la Pink Floyd's "The Wall"). There are bored kids. Then the KOOL AID MAN bursts through the wall and gives the kids Kool-Aid. The kids are happy.
Now, how does the KOOL AID MAN come into this?
Let's see.
1. KOOL AID MAN AS CHRIST
The KOOL AID MAN represents a Christlike figure in his giving of Kool-Aid, much recalling the Eucharist. Bear in mind that the KOOL AID MAN is, in fact, a pitcher of Kool-Aid, thus Kool-Aid is the KOOL AID MAN's blood. Does this not recall the Eucharist "Yea, verily, eat this bread, for it is my flesh; drink my Kool-Aid, for it is my blood!" Yes it does! We also see the KOOL AID MAN's Christlike role with the CHILDREN.
For is it not said that a child "will lead the way?" And does a child not lead the way to marketing Kool-Aid? Of course! Here, the KOOL AID MAN is saving the children's souls with Kool-Aid (for Kool-Aid represents a force of CONSTRUCTION, the Jungian Libido - as it is fruit, a living object; whereas colas and the like are NEGATIVE forces, Jungian Thanatos - for is 7up not the UNcola? Nihilism!)
We finally see KOOL AID MAN filling the Christlike reinterpretation of the Promethean archaic myth; that is to say, messenger from the god(s) comes down bearing fire; in the case of Christ, the fire was the dissolution of the divine Lexicon (Judaic law); in this case, the fire is the dissolution of the cola hegemony. Prometheus sacrificed his godliness for fire; Christ scarificed his mortal life for our sins; KOOL AID MAN sacrifices his internal liquid for hot-weather refreshment! In all cases, Prometheus/Christ/KOOL AID MAN alleviates the unendurable tribulations suffered by mortal man.
2. KOOL AID MAN AS ZEN
We see KOOL AID MAN fulfilling the eastern role of nature mysticism as well. Let's examine KOOL AID MAN, shall we? KOOL AID MAN is a round pitcher... ROUND, much like the Earth, and like the Earth, he gives sustenence (in the form of Kool-Aid.) KOOL AID MAN here plays the role of _Terra Mater_, Mother Earth. Yet the KOOL AID MAN's booming baritone voice and distinctly aggresive bursting of the wall suggests a MALE influence. Thus, KOOL AID MAN is a complete world system, androgynous, giver of material sustenence (the Kool-Aid); giver of societal framework (orders such as "Drink Kool-Aid.") He is a combination of animus and anima not found in mortals; the only true androgynes in humanoid form are inevitably deities; thus, KOOL AID MAN is an Eastern nature god.
3. KOOL AID MAN AS UBERMENSCH
Here it gets downright fun. We see the KOOL AID MAN fulfilling the role of Superman; namely, he/she/it is the nihilist (remember, "Amor fati") that creates in the ashes of ruin. Note the term "IN the ashes" not "FROM the ashes". The reason is simple; This is what distinguishes Superman from what Nietzsche termed the "Last Man", a herd mentality in an existential world (Note to all you non-philosophy majors: THIS CAN NOT HAPPEN).
The KOOL AID MAN bursts through the wall, an act of destroying the previous order; much like the Ubermenschen's destruction of the previous moral order. But the KOOL AID MAN does not create a statue out of the fallen bricks; for that would be to grant the wall CREDIBILITY. But in an existential world, if you do not recognize the previous moral order, by individual default it HAS no credibility. Thus, like a phoenix from the ashes, like the Superman, the KOOL AID MAN creates OF HIMSELF; the raw _materiel_ for his art is his OWN BLOOD - Kool-Aid!
KOOL AID MAN thus creates out of one's intrinsic worth, subjective (a la Sarte), but, in lieu of the fact that the KOOL AID MAN is a "take-charge" kind of guy, IMPOSED upon the hapless herd mentality of the children. Thus the whole Kool-Aid commercial represents the individual's domination over the masses; the ubermansch over the Last Man.
If you have further inquiries, please e-mail mfarah@erols.com
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