The 2018 Winter Olympics: Closing Ceremony Pt.5

A continuation of Part 4; https://watchitdie.blogspot.co.uk/2018/02/the-2018-winter-olympics-closing_28.html

The Big BANG! Theory:

You can't seriously have thought you were getting through a Korean Olympics without some hardcore physics could you?

This sequence began with hundreds of English numerals counting up being projected on a black arena floor. As they counted up they appeared to move towards and then collapse into a vortex in the middle of the arena.

Although it wasn't technically correct this was an artistic representation Einsteinian phenomenon of; "Time Dilation."

Essentially time moves more slowly the closer an object is to a gravitational source.

Some of the most powerful gravitational forces in the Universe are Black Holes.

However there is also slight time dilation between objects orbiting the Earth and even between objects at sea level on Earth and objects high up mountains. Such as Olympic competitors in alpine events.

Time Dilation is part of Albert Einstein's; "General Theory of Relativity (GTR)." He published this in 1915.

In part Einstein's GTR allowed two German scientists - Otto Hahn and Fritz Strassmann - to discover the concept of Nuclear Fission in 1938.

The discovery of nuclear fission prompted a number of scientists to write to then US President Franklin D. Roosevelt warning of the dangers of this discovery. Signed by Albert Einstein in 1939 this became known as the; "Einstein-Szilard Letter."

The Einstein-Szilard Letter prompted US President Roosevelt to start the; "Manhattan Project" later in 1939. By 1945 the Manhattan Project had produced the first nuclear Atomic bombs (A-bombs). These were promptly dropped on Japan in August 1945.

I think you can see where we're going with this.

Suddenly a single performer runs the length of the vortex. Revealing it is not a vortex at all. Just a trick of the light.

At the other end of the vortex he meets a group of other performers. Together they raise a column rather like a flag pole or mast.

These performers are dressed in a black and white striped costume. This is similar to a costume wore by the; "Doctor Sheldon Cooper" character in the US TV Show; "The Big Bang Theory."

That sitcom is very popular amongst scientists. It brings complex scientific principles and introduces them to a wide audience.

The shows scientific credibility is summed up by the; "Doctor Amy Farrah-Fowler" - neurobiologist. She is played by Doctor Mayim Bialik - a neurobiologist.

In the show one of Sheldon Cooper's hobbies is making a webcast called; "Fun With Flags" dedicated to flags in all their forms.

This makes the show very popular with the people who produce Olympic ceremonies. They have to draw up their grand artistic vision. Then constantly have to stop and start it to allow the IOC to mess about with flags.

In this particular costume Sheldon Cooper had been invited to a fancy dress party. So he decided to go as the; "Doppler Effect."

The Doppler Effect is the phenomenon of waves changing their frequency in relation to their observer. People commonly notice this when emergency sirens sound different when they're moving towards you then when they are moving away from you.

The Doppler Effect also has a number of important practical applications.

For example Doppler Radar which allows you to track weather events. The Doppler Effect also allows a medical doctor to perform an echocardiogram to check on the health of a patients heart.

The Doppler Effect is also used in astronomy and astrophysics. It creates either; "Red Shift" or; "Blue Shift." This allows you to measure the distances to and from objects in space.

If you watched the Closing Ceremony then you watched it on a satellite feed. In order to do that the satellite needs to correct for the Doppler Effect. It also needs to correct for Time Dilation. Time moves faster in orbit.

After raising the flag pole like mast the performers then arranged themselves in a neat line. Not only in front of it but in line with it. This formed a shape very similar to the train carriage like structure seen in the; "Beaten Black & Blue" sequence in the Opening Ceremony.

From the flag pole like mast a beam of white lite started making its way around the arena in a clockwise direction. This signified the movement of a clock or watch's hand.

Accompanied by apocalyptic choral music it was a specific reference to the Doomsday Clock. This was established by the Atomic Scientists Society in 1947 to warn of the danger of global nuclear war. The closer the minute hand is to midnight the closer we are to total destruction.

Due to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK/North) advancing nuclear weapons program the Doomsday Clock was set in January 2018 to two minutes to midnight. The closest it has ever been.

I suppose it could also be a reference to a woman's biological clock. After all the Birth Strike is the other Extinction Level Event facing the RoK.

As this was happening waves of light were snaking their way around the arena. To highlight the reference to the Doppler Effect.

Then the performers fanned out from their line and arranged themselves in something of square like formation. Each with their own individual spotlight. Making them appear to be particles of light.

This introduced you to the concept of; "Wave-Particle Duality."

For a long time physicists thought that light only existed as a wave. Then they discovered that in certain circumstances it behaved as if made up of particles.

This led to them exploring what those particles were made up of. A field known as; "Quantum Physics."

It is through the study of Quantum Physics we learnt to identify and manipulate particles smaller then atoms (sub-atomic). This allowed for the creation of things like China's Quantum Encryption communications Satellite (QUESS).

Eventually Quantum Physicists formulated the; "Unified Quantum Field Theory."

This holds that everywhere in the Universe there are these tiny elemental particles. Although they are far too small to detect they make up everything and surround everything. Somewhat like water in a swimming pool.

If you disturb these tiny elemental particles it knocks the quantum field out of equilibrium. This has something like a ripple effect causing hard to predict outcomes elsewhere in the quantum field.

One fun example of this is the so-called; "Rihanna Effect."

In 2007 Rihanna released a single called; "Umbrella" which was the biggest selling song in the UK throughout the summer. It rained throughout that summer. The theory is that the Rihanna song getting stuck in everyone's head disturbed the quantum field making it rain.

During Rihanna's 2013 Diamonds World Tour (DWT) the US government of Barack Obama seriously put forward this Rihanna Effect as an alternative explanation for Climate Change.

I'm sure Obama's commitment to the Paris Agreement comes from a good place though.

In October 2013 scientists at the CERN supercollider discovered the Higgs-Boson. One of the key tiny elemental particles. Thus proving Unified Quantum Field Theory.

A discovery which no doubt had Korean Taoists looking at the Wu Xing and going;

"You call that news?!"

Funnily enough at around 21:00 on 28/2/18 (UK date) I'm going to have to pick this up tomorrow.

Edited at around 14:45 on 1/3/18 (UK date) to add;

This sequence was something of a competition over who had the best scientific knowledge and understanding of physics.

The DPRK obviously has a deep understanding of physics. They've been able to produce not only A-bombs but much more powerful Hydrogen bombs (H-bombs).

The RoK has never produced any sort of A-bomb or H-bomb. It seems important though to remind the DPRK that is through choice. Not because the RoK lacks the expertise in science.

The other much talked about nuclear program is Iran's.

The DPRK have been pursing nuclear weapons technology because they want to possess nuclear weapons. Iran however seem to be pursuing nuclear weapons because they want to increase their scientific and engineering capacity. Whether that results in them ending up with nuclear weapons almost seems by-the-by.

A good example of a big project improving a nations science and engineering capacity more generally is the Space Race of the 1950's and 1960's. The US and the Soviet Union raced each other first to put objects into space and then travel to the moon.

Before you can even think about sending rockets to the moon you first have to find a way to build the rockets. To do that you need to increase your scientific knowledge and develop new engineering techniques.

At one point during the Space Race the US produced what they thought was the smallest drill bit ever made. They sent one to Russia as a boast.

Russia promptly drilled a hole in it and sent it back.

As the Sheldon suited performers were raising the flag pole like mast they resembled the famous Joe Rosenthal photograph.

This depicts US Marines raising the US flag on Mount Suribachi on the Japanese island of Iwo Jima during the Second World War. It has since been turned into a statue as the US Marine Corp's War Memorial.

The Battle of Iwo Jima was really what prompted US President Roosevelt to drop A-bombs on Japan ending the war. This was nod to Korea's wartime past. It was by defeating Imperial Japan the US liberated South Korea. The Soviets liberated the north.

Also it was a reference to the February 4th 2018 (4/2/18) US Super Bowl. This saw American Footballers who have long protested the flag being confronted by a veteran of the Battle of Iwo Jima during the pre-game coin toss.

This Super Bowl in particular revealed that the flag protesters really had no idea that 2018 marked the 100th Anniversary of the start of the tradition of flag and anthem ceremonies before big US sporting events.

With US troops finally engaged in the First World War there was debate over whether to hold the 1918 Baseball World Series.

Eventually it was decided that cancelling the event would damage troop morale. So it went ahead with the anthem being sung and flag raised by a military guard as a sign of respect for the sacrifice of the living and the dead.

Appearing amid this discussion of hardcore science and engineering the reference to the Super Bowl seemed to be a reminder to Obama's Warriors;

"Women's Studies is not a degree.

It's a lesbian chat-up line that's gotten out of hand." 

15:20 on 1/3/18 (UK date). 

Edited again at around 17:25 on 1/3/18 (UK date) to add;

Athletes Commission:

The International Olympics Committee (IOC) has an Athletes Commission to advise and assist on its operations. At each games competitors vote to elect new members to this commission.

It is tradition the winners are welcomed during a sequence in the Closing Ceremony.

The new delegates elected at this games are;

Emma Terho. A 36 year old Ice Hockey player from Finland. She made her debut at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, Canada. The team went on to win Bronze.

Kikkan Randall: A 35 year old Cross Country Skier from the US.  She made her debut at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy finishing 9th. This year she won Gold in the Team Sprint event.

Both Emma Terho and Kikkan Randall are women. Their election brings the number of women on the 100 strong athletes commission to 28. Prompting discussion about gender equality.

Both women are also mothers. Kikkan Randall in particular campaigned on a platform of improving childcare provision at winter sports events. A hot topic given the RoK's Birth Strike.

Their first duty as members of the commission was to thank the volunteers who helped staged the games.

After presenting the volunteers with handshakes and bouquets of flowers they posed together for the obligatory "Selfie" photograph.

Go On Home Yankee Soldiers, Go Home:

This next sequence was a performance by K-Pop star Lee Chae-rin better known by her stagename; "CL."

Born on Seoul. RoK CL spent a lot of her time growing up in France and Japan. Highlighting the strong links/rivalry between Korean Pop (K-Pop) and Japanese Pop (J-Pop).

At the tender age of 13 CL moved to France and lived there for two years on her own. A example of a South Korean child adopting an adult role.

In 2009 CL became a founding member of the girl band; "2NE1" before leaving in 2014 to pursue a solo career.

Here she performed her biggest hit; "Baddest Female" and the 2NE1 song; "I Am The Best."

With flames rolling down from the Olympic Cauldron to fill the arena floor CL's performance was almost identical to the; "Twitchy Eye, Psychotic Face Emoji" sequence from the Opening Ceremony.

Bathed in red that sequence explored the greatest thought crimes created by Obama's (Black Lives Matter) BLM warriors was that of; "Cultural Appropriation."

Or more specifically it highlighted their hypocrisy. They don't seem to mind black American groups like the Wu Tang Clan misappropriating aspects of Asian Martial Arts culture.

The; "Twitchy Eye, Psychotic Face Emoji" sequence itself was almost identical to a sequence in the 2012 Summer Para-Olympics Closing Ceremony. This saw Rihanna and Jay Z perform the song; "Run This Town" while surrounded by fire.

The CL single; "Baddest Female" was originally intended to be called; "Bad Girl." Despite the name change it continues to contain lyrics about bad girls. Rihanna's third album is called; "Good Girl Gone Bad" and her Instagram handle is "Badgirlriri."

As such it is very easy to accuse CL of appropriating black American culture. Specifically Rihanna's culture.

However in parts Baddest Female reminds me of the song; "Salute" by British pop (B-Pop?) girl band; "Little Mix." 

Much like Multicultural Britain Little Mix are very much a mixed race band. One member is white British, one member is of black Caribbean ancestry (Bajan & Jamaican), one is of Middle-Eastern (Yemeni & Egyptian) ancestry and I think one is actually mixed race (white British & black African).

So if CL is copying the Little Mix song the obvious question is; "Which Culture is she Appropriating?"

The 2012 Summer Para-Olympic Closing Ceremony was of course also my marriage ceremony to Rihanna.

In November 2012 Rihanna embarked on her; "777 Tour." This included a concert in the UK. I was not included on that guest list. However Little Mix were.

Six years on I think I'm entitled to a little; "Do You Know Who I Am Now!" tantrum.

Particularly now Rihanna's stopped using Instagram because I've started following her and someone needs to introduce Little Mix to the World.

The Little Mix song is unashamedly inspired by the Beyonce song; "Run the World (Girls)"

That along with CL's song; "Baddest Female" and the 2NE1 song; "I Am The Best" are examples of Female Empowerment Anthems.

Female Empowerment - more women participating in the work force -  a major factor in the RoK's Birth Strike.

Throughout the Opening and Closing Ceremonies the RoK have made many references to US popular culture.

One of the main reasons why South Koreans have such a depth of understanding of US pop culture is because they have thousands of US troops stationed in the country. They bring that pop culture with them.

So through this discussion of cultural appropriation the RoK seems to be saying to Obama's BLM warriors;

"Stealing your 'culture'?!

We're trying to get rid of it!"

Of course if music rather than Rihanna, Beyonce, Little Mix, CL is you thing I understand there is a band called; "The Clash." They have a song; "I'm So Bored of the USA."

For those interested in the current war in Syria there is obviously an IRA version. There's always an IRA version.

17:35 on 1/3/18 (UK date).