Kind of following on from Riuex’s recent post on Conan, I thought I would post a link to this documentary. It looks at Norwegian Black Metal, with a particular focus on Gaahl, singer and multiple felon.
What is interesting (aside from the Black Metal – some choice music cuts are to be heard on there) is the Nietzschean angle that these kids often take. i.e. One of the ubermensch, and the duty to transcend conventional human values etc. The question is, do people like Gaahl actually get Nietzsche, or do they just need a hug?*
* It should be pointed out that Gaahl has stated that he doesn’t have a lot in common with Nietzsche, despite releasing an album called ‘Twighlight Of The Idols‘.
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September 6, 2009 at 11:48 pm |
I'd suggest that lots of people profess an affinity with Nietzsche because a) a simple reading of his philosophy lets you justify pretty much any abomination as simply 'embracing the Dionysian' and b) he was such a swinging cat.
I'd think its more akin to a cultural affectation. Every 'emo' kids favourite book is Catcher in the Rye. I Heart Huckabees made existentialism fashionable amongst the celebrity set (including porn starlets). Bioshock was resolutely misinterpreted by the IT crowd as an endoresement of a Randian society with unfettered access to genetic modification.
Much the same with Black Metal, Nietzsche, Nazism and other occult Scandinavian tendencies.
* While we are on the suvject of occult Scandanavians…what about Varg Vikernes?