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" One touch of nature

makes all the world kin "

William Shakespeare

Orson Welles, Nakedness & Radishes

February 16th, 2008

I’m on the hunt of the peculiar convergence of nakedness, spirituality and root vegetables that I am starting to discern in various works of art.

In an earlier post I mentioned Alanis Morisette’s powerful song Thank U, which conveys spiritual ideas, but also bizarrely mentions carrots. You can see her singing it here. It is a beautiful little film that shows her singing the song naked in urban settings – streets, trains, supermarkets – and most people ignore her. But occasionally her message touches them and they acknowledge her. Wonderful!

And here’s another film clip – showing, some say, the most important moment in the history of cinema. From F For Fake, released in 1974, Orson Welles sings the praises of Chartres Cathedral. Again spirituality, nakedness and root vegetables come together – but this time it’s radishes.

Something very odd is going on here…

9 Responses to “Orson Welles, Nakedness & Radishes”

  4. Hmmm – I think I might have married that forked radish that he is talking about: Fiery by nature and prone to a spot of duvet-flapping flatulence.

    Is a radish the lowliest of the lowly in the Veg Champions League? Or do you think Orson’s pals in the pub bet him a pile of dollars that he couldn’t work the word ‘radish’ into a his stentorian Ode to Chartres with a straight face?

    Very odd right enough…..

    What about mandrakes – loads of stuff for your book about that?!

    AX

  6. …Indeed let us focus for a moment more on the common element between Nakedness, Spirituality, Man and Radishes, a common element which is…roots!
    It is said that an initiate is made of two great Trees, one of them having its roots in the sky. So, it could be said that the initiate is some sort of a naked and glorified radish! Tee Hee.
    Thus : a synthesis of all the elements that you mention in your blog.
    *grin*

  7. Yes Shakti – that’s it. Hurrah! 🙂 Another mystery solved!

    And Caitlin – thank you! What a splendid blog you have – so beautifully presented! I must think of an award I can present to your blog! 🙂

  8. Just thought I would comment on the Alanis song mentioned above. ‘Thank U’ is one of my all time favourite tracks from Alanis and for me touches on the principle of being thankful for everything.

    In an interview about the track she said that she views the lyrics to that song almost like a prayer and that the highest forms of prayer, are those of gratitude. I cannot help but agree.

    Blessed Be

    Gary /|

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