If the Exhibition of Arts And Crafts during ‘The Chimes of Big Ben’ is anything to judge by, it would seem The Village suffers from the “cult of the personality” when an individual uses mass media, propaganda, or other such methods to create an idolized hero, and sometimes a worshipful image, at times through flattery and praise. Is that why the majority of art work is of Number 2’s image, because they see Number 2 as a worshipful image? Such appears to be his popularity, as he seems to be well liked, even loved by the people, and that does seem to please Number 2 at the Exhibition of Arts and Crafts. Now which of the busts of Number 2 belongs to Madam Professor?
“Highly original” Number 6 said
sarcastically.
In the main, contributors to the exhibition
used Number 2 as a model for their art work, such is his populartiy as a Chief
Administrator of The Village. From drawings, sketches, and watercolours to the
General’s King of his hand carved chess set. Eventually even Number 6’s piece
of abtract art incorporates the image of Number 2!
One thing that must not be overlooked is the fact that displaying an abundance of No. 2 images is meant as an ironic twinkling of the eye and directed to the viewing audience in the first place. Surely also a comment on the politcs of certain art exhibition customs. But arguably most exhilarating. - BCNU!
ReplyDeleteHello Arno,
DeleteThe irony of which you comment I have to admit, eluded me. As for the politics of art exhibition customs,I'm afraid that I'm not up on such things. But thank you for your input.
Best regards
David
BCNU
Hello David! I feel that in these moments of the episode, at the exhibition, it is satirising the art business on more than one level. Art as it is commonly regarded is to be "drawn" by the most creative individual, the artist in an act of ingenuity. But this is arguably a romantic vision of the matter. The lonely artist in his attic - this image has been shattered by advent of, say, the industrial revolution. The multiple "facets" of No. 2 on display at the exhibition, on the other hand, can be understood as quite the opposite: art that has become a mass business. The question of why each Village artist believed he or she was expected or even told to "create" (No. 2 perhaps) not withstanding. - BCNU!
DeleteHello Arno,
DeleteAs one of the three judges of the Awards Committee said "I see what you're getting at."
Best regards
David
BCNU
Hi David,
ReplyDeleteNumber 6 was certainly outnumbered by Number 2's in the art gallery! I wanted to do something in the art field when I first graduated from high school...and my high school art teacher always told me to use texture, color and VARIETY in all my work!
I was greatly interested by the "cross" and the "opening" through which Number 6 looked back through at the "judges" with Number 2 ( picture ) looking over his shoulder.
I recently obtained the 2 books of scripts for The Prisoner, and all though I haven't had a chance to sit down and read through both of them....I have always wondered if the "boat" sculpture was meant to illustrate anything about religion.
I was highly amused by all of the "different" sketches and paintings of Number 2. Genuine admiration...or brainwashed "artwork", it certainly illustrates that Number 2 is "watching."
BCNU
Karen
Hello Karen,
DeleteWhen I watch that scene when Number 6 is explaining his sculpture I always think that it was a piece of quick thinking on his part. He certainly put up an excellent smokescreen hiding the true meaning of his abstract sculpture from the Awards Committee. Mind you Number 2 was perfectly aware of what Number 6 was up to, but happy to allow the Prisoner to carry on with his deception. A Church door it could be, but at the same time it looks like a Norman arch. As for the crosspiece, well that’s a mast and yard arm.
The artwork using Number 2 as a model might be through genuine admiration {he’s the most likeable of the Number 2’s} or through brainwashing. It may well illustrate Number 2 is watching them, but the artists have also been watching him!
Be seeing you
David
Hi David ,
ReplyDeleteYes , that's good . ..very very good...to quote Number 6 .
Even at the age of 12...I KNEW that his sculpture was a boat at first sight. I always thought that Number 6 should have kept some of the prize "credits" to purchase supplies . ..but I think Patrick McGoohan preferred to illustrate that Number 6 was fully prepared to take any chances necessary to escape from the Village ...and that he didn't expect to be back in the Village to have to use any credits.
He planned to come back...to obliterate the Village !
I referred to the religious aspects because the female judge asked him questions about the sculpture that led me in that direction . This scene and a few in Fallout are the only references to religion that I perceived...but I think they're there.
After all , if the Prisoner was to represent "every man" ...he would also represent those who believe in GOD ....just my opinion , of course .
That's another thing about The Prisoner...it can be viewed in many different aspects .
Best Regards ,
BCNU
Karen
Hello Karen,
DeleteNumber 6 was so desperate to escape The Village that he had a complete disregard for his personal safety!
“I’m going to escape and come back, wipe this Village off the face of the Earth, obliterate it, and you with it” Number 6 told Number 2. I’ve thought how interesting it might have been had the Gloster Meteor jet been armed instead of being a reconnaissance aircraft. He might have taken the opportunity to, well no Number 6 was merely the navigator, not the pilot. So using the aircraft to attack The Village would have been out of the question!
When it comes to references to religion in ‘the Prisoner’ Patrick McGoohan always denied there were any. But of course that’s never stopped fans and enthusiasts from seeing them. The crosspiece, the church door, the resurrection of Number 2 in ‘Fall Out.’ Mind you I see that as Number 6 being resuscitated rather than being resurrected! There maybe indirect references to religion but there is no religion in The Village. There is no church, chapel, or mosque for people to attend. I suppose people do not need such religious fabrics to pray to God. But that’s as deep as I go, its merely an observation, not being of a religious nature myself.
I grew up with ‘Danger Man’ John Drake, he was my boyhood hero, so to me, and other people I know of my generation, the Prisoner was and is, always John Drake. I know that the Prisoner is everyman, Patrick McGoohan said so. But what gets me is, if the Prisoner is everyman, why do so many people fervently deny that he could be John Drake, when the Prisoner is everyman. So why not John Drake? But then that’s an age old argument that’s run for nearly 50 years!
Best regards
Be seeing you
David
Hi David ,
ReplyDeleteI've often thought that the reason that there was no church in the Village , might have been because the church represents standing for one's beliefs ( in GOD ) and the Village wouldn't want to encourage anyone to do THAT...stand firm in their resistance to the Village's attempts to get the "information " they wanted .
The church also represents hope...and the Village would like to take away any hope that the prisoners have...anyways feelings of hopelessness might compel a prisoner to give in and tell them whatever they want to know .
Best wishes ,
BCNU
Karen
Hello Karen,
DeleteMmmmmmmm I’m not sure. Is it important the need for a church in The Village, because the church is but a building where the godly can go to take part in religious rights, to pray, and glorify and praise the word of God. But for a person to be of religious belief, one doesn’t actually need a church, does one? The church is said to be God’s house, but God didn’t build all the churches, man did. And before the very first had been built, there had to have already been religious faith. Perhaps citizens of a religious belief pray to God in the comfort of their own cell cottage, and that faith may well help see them through their ordeal. On the other hand they might believe that God has abandoned them in The Village! There, and I wasn’t going to talk religion!
Number 6 doesn’t seem the religious type, and yet he has belief in the individual, the right to privacy, and stands against everything The Village represents, and he stands firm on those beliefs, as he resists their attempt to extract information.
I disagree, I think there is always hope in The Village, its people’s spirit they try to break down, and when one’s spirit is broken, then perhaps there is the danger of abandoning all hope. But then one should never do that, or all is lost!
Best regards
Be seeing you
David