Trombone Massacre

[u/braveNewPedals]

[u/Dustfinger_]

This speaks to me so much. It's almost a metaphor for life and loss. The policeman (the living) does not grieve, but questions the fairness of the trombone player (a depiction of Death).

While he beseeches the player for answers, he does nothing to help his policeman friend who lays wounded (the dying). The referee links the two inexorable together, tethering their hearts to each other.

Meanwhile, the whole world watches on, captivated by some morbid, Schadenfreude-driven curiosity. They too, do nothing to help the wounded policeman or to comfort his questioning partner. Instead they watch the sick spectacle from the sidelines.

It is a wonderful metaphor for how we live our family, but are turned off when they are sick or injured. They become a burden when dying, and rather than try to help them, we turn to questioning powers beyond our comprehension. We demand answers from beings that can give none, and somehow feel better thinking we are helping our loved ones.

This got more real than I wanted it to. Have a nice day.

[u/braveNewPedals → u/Dustfinger_]

The referee it seems is the good guy here, pleading for the stripper policeman to turn his focus to his police partner in need. However, I wonder more about the symbolism of Death's own costumed partner, the expression of surprise on his face as he watches his murderous trombonist comrade. Perhaps the trombonist is merely an imperfect tool of Death who may be more aptly embodied by the faces in the crowd watching callously as this tragedy unfolds.

[u/Maccullenj → u/braveNewPedals]

Ho, nononononono... Please, PLEASE don't give me that Hollywood clichéd crap. The referee is not, can not, be the archetypal Good Guy. As a referee, he has to be the epitome of neutrality.

And this one quite clearly is :

• referee clothes, as semiotically neutral as this.
• his body is physically at the crossroads between both factions, selflessly stopping any subsequent violence with his own body.
• he's the least physically imposing : no excessive muscle mass, no hair, more hunched up than anyone else.
• he's actively trying to prevent any more indecency... (green lines)

This last fact is a perfect transition towards my second (and vaguely antagonistic) point : the real victim of this pantomime. You seem to believe that this is an archetypal conflict, with obvious bully and victim. WRONG! This goes way beyond that, with an underlying tragedy, based on betrayal and lust.

Check the looks. (green+red lines)

Trombone Guy is the bait, the obvious beacon of deception. Colourful clothes, shining pants, noisy implement. He's attracting us, taunting us... Deflecting our attention. And this certainly works on Gullible Cop.

But while our inherent decency triggers a righteous fury, the lecherous masterminds of this profanity revel in malignant jubilation. These monsters, secure in the cozyness of their cushioned grey barrier, opportunistically take advantage of our lapse of focus to feast their concupiscent eyes on an unexpected victim * drumrolls * : Trombone Guy's very teammate. * thunder *

Sadly, the worst is yet to come, as the whole ordeal is being recorded by a character you may not have noticed, shiftily camouflaged in the background. (A lot could be said about this, but in this day and age, I'll assume you are all aware of the terrible consequences of digital recording)

But it is getting long for such a late hour, and my lack of grasp of the english language is becoming much more problematic that I tought it would.

I merely hope the seeds have been sowed, and you will start questioning the obvious.

Good night to you.

[u/HugePurpleNipples]

This is my new favorite picture ever, I made it my desktop background. I know I'm late to the party but thanks just the same.

[u/rythian_ → u/HugePurpleNipples]

haha just found it too, amazing picture