The 2018 Winter Olympics: Opening Ceremony Pt.2

Obviously this should be read as a continuation of Part 1; https://watchitdie.blogspot.co.uk/2018/02/the-2018-winter-olympics-opening_10.html

The early parts of the ceremony introduced us to Korea's tradition of animist religions and the Creation Myths they have spawned.

It also introduced us to the iconography of animist religions. This often  involves circles as unbroken lines signifying unity. Particularly Taoism also features the Wu Xing - the five essential elements these are each assigned a colour; White, Green, Black, Yellow and Red.

The logo of the Olympic movement is five interlocked circles or rings coloured; White, Green, Black, Yellow and Red.

The rest of the ceremony was therefore loosely based around the Wu Xing.

Let There Be White:

Within the Wu Xing the colour white signifies the element metal: However this sequence as officially titled; "The Light From the Beginning."

Since the creation of the Republic of Korea (RoK/South) at the end of the Second World War the US has been aggressively promoting Christianity within the country. They see it as a counter-balance to the aggressive Communist atheism of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK/North). It has led to the suppression of Korea's traditional animist religions.

This US strategy was personified at the Opening Ceremony by the presence of America's Evangelical Christian Vice President Mike Pence. As a guest Vice President Pence had invited the father of Otto Warmbier - an American Evangelical Christian missionary who was arrested and later died in the DPRK.

The official title of the sequence - the light from the beginning - is reference to what here for fairness I have to describe as the Creation Myth of the Abrahamic religions. Laid down in the book of Genesis this is believed by all Jews, Christians and Muslims.

It is rather simple. A single god in another dimension creates the human dimension in six days and rests on the seventh. This process begins with him sayin; "Let there be light" and there was light.

By blending the book of Genesis with the Wu Xing the South Koreans seem to be making the point their animist creation myths are certainly a lot more elaborate then the Abrahamic one. Some would say far cooler.

The sequence began with a shot of the circular arena floor. In the centre there was another sunken circle.

The sunken centre slowly began to rise revealing a large number of well regimented Korean women all dressed in white and all playing the same traditional Korean drum.

The 2008 Summer Olympics were held in Beijing, China. Its Opening Ceremony featured a world record 2,008 traditional Chinese drummers. It has become an oft referenced thing in subsequent Olympic ceremonies.

Here the South Koreans seemed to be highlighting their close cultural links to China.

In part this is simply a statement of fact. The border between China and the Korean Peninsula has shifted many times over the past 10,000.

However it did also seem to be a bit of a warning to the RoK's regional rivals Japan the DPRK. A reminder that the RoK currently enjoys better relations with China then either of them do.

The well regimented female drummers were soon joined by well regimented female dancers. They marched around the stage creating military shapes in almost military. I think the two most important were the star featured on the DPRK's flag and the Taoist Ying, Yang symbol.

This was a direct reference to the DPRK and their fondness for military parades. What is striking about those parades is not how well regimented the military are but well regimented the civilian spectators are.

This shows what an absolute dictatorship the DPRK is. There is absolutely no distinction between the military and civilians. Everyone is simply there to serve the leadership with absolute obedience. The Communist dream.

Prior to the games the DPRK agreed to send a 400 strong delegation to the games. This is largely made up of an all female cheer-squad. They are already providing competitors and visitors with little glimpses of the DPRK's extremely regimented society.

Aside from Vice President Pence this sequence also took another swipe at the US. Or more accurately former President Obama and his Democrat Party's efforts to turn America into the World's just dumbest nation.

In 2014 the Democrat Party needed a way to energise their base ahead of the November mid-term elections. So they invented a story about an innocent young black man named Micheal Brown being murdered by the racist police. While having his hands up in surrender and begging; "Don't Shoot!"

This birthed the "Black Lives Matter (BLM)" movement. That drove extremely well regimented riots and protests alongside a campaign to erase the Democrat's racist role in the US Civil War from history.

It has also turned public discourse in America into a contest to see who can come up with the most elaborate way of identifying racism and being offended by it where not racism exists. One of the largest elements of this is the concept of ; "Cultural Appropriation."

In more normal societies this is known as the doctrine of multiculturalism. However America now sees no greater crime then a white person doing something they claim is part of black culture.

Curiously Americans don't seem outraged by black rap groups like the Wu Tang Clan and in particular RZA appropriating Asian culture. Particularly that associated with martial arts. Despite the fact they get it so wrong it has anyone with even a basic knowledge of the culture they're appropriating seeing red with anger.

One artist who has been particularly accused of cultural appropriation is Justin Timberlake. His half-time show at the recent 2018 Super Bowl dealt primarily with this.

It featured what is termed a; "Drumline." In the UK this is synonymous with white Protestant marching bands like the Orange Order. They use them to intimidate equally white Catholics. However in the US drumlines are more associated with black culture.

Through the use of a white drumline Timberlake was posing the question of whether black Americans can really claim a cultural monopoly on the concept of hitting one object with another object in order to make a sound?

This sequences in the Opening Ceremony re-stated that question. On a much larger and grander scale.

There is a 2012 Quentin Tarantino move called; "Django Unchained." These deals with racism and slavery in the US. One of the oft quoted lines from the movie is;

"The D is silent ... Hillbilly!"

The drums used in this sequence were traditional Korean Django drums.

As something of an aside during his Super Bowl performance Justin Timberlake referenced both Elvis Presley and Bruno Mars. At the tender age of 4 Bruno Mars launched his career in the entertainment industry as an Elvis impersonator.

Do you want to see a video of it?

I think you do; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nxjXp7cPBok

Throughout this sequence the director had been trying to subtly supplant the notion of the sun in your minds. The sun of course is the source of all light. Right at the end of the sequence there was what at that time just a blob of orange colour at the bottom of the shot. Rather like the orange of a rising or setting sun.

The flag of the RoK's big regional rival Japan is a red circle on a white background. This signifies the rising of the sun.

The RoK's flag is a blue and red circle on a white background. People often assume this is also the rising sun like Japan's flag. However it's actually the Taoist Ying,Yang symbol.

So this seemed like a good time for the South Koreans to bring out their flag as if to say;

"Oh, no. It's not like the Japanese flag. It's much, much better then them."

Flag & Anthem: 

It is a matter of Olympic protocol that every ceremony must feature the raising or lowering of the flag of the host nation and the singing of the national anthem. Although I don't think its strictly speaking protocol this often involves a large flag being brought into a paraded around the arena by figures of significance.

The Opening Ceremony 2012 Summer Olympic held in London, UK actually featured a South Korean flagbearer. Former President Ban Ki-moon in his then role as Secretary General of the UN.

It also featured as a flagbearer Shami Chakrabarti in her role as head of British civil rights campaign group Liberty. Outside anti-Olympic protests were taking place by groups whose right to protest had been defended by Shami Chakrabarti in Court.

As a result the significance of these flagbearers can get quite complicated and take an extremely long time to write up. Fortunately the RoK just went with six of its famous Olympians. As far as I can tell their significance was simply their achievement as Olympians.

The only real bit of significance was that they were wearing traditional Korean winter dress. If you've watched the long-running US TV show; "M*A*S*H" set during the combat phases of the Korean War you might be somewhat familiar with this style of dress.

It was at this point the fear really hit me. Good as it is and no matter how many times you watch it M*A*S*H in no way prepares you for the complexity of the current relationship between the RoK and the DPRK. It does though feature both a young Laurence Fishburne and a young Ron Howard.

It is traditional that the job of raising the flag is given to members of the host nation's military. After all they raise and lower flags at least twice a day and up to 500 times a day. If they're being punished. As a result they're really good at it.

The problem arises when the host nation - like 2016 Summer Games host Brazil - have suffered under military dictatorships. Those societies are understandably much more sensitive about the military having a role in public, civilian life.

Growing up at I promise the end of the Cold War I was always sold this image of the RoK as this beautiful beacon of freedom bravely standing up to the tyranny of the Communist DPRK.

This is an utter lie. Park Chung-hee the RoK was an absolute military dictatorship between 1962 and 1979. The RoK didn't fully transition to democracy until after the Cold War in the mid-1990's when it was finally allowed to join the UN.

As a result they continue to be extremely sensitive about the role of the military and individual freedoms and privacy.

If in somewhere like the US or the UK the TV news are doing a story about the economy they will often illustrate it with stock footage of random members of the public on a shopping street.

In the RoK they're not allowed to interfere in a person's private life by confirming to the public that they may have attended a shop at some point in their lives. So news in the RoK often features lots of footage of people's feet or heavily blurred footage so you can't identify the people being shown.

As part of its transition from military dictatorship to democracy the RoK created something called the Royal Guard to perform this type of ceremonial pageantry. They are based on the military guard for royal palaces during the 500 year long Joseon Dynasty.

The RoK has military conscription. So at some point members of the Royal Guard will have served in the military and may at some point in the future serve in the military again. However despite their name an appearance they are not a military force.

They seem modelled on the Vatican's Swiss Guard. They are technically an army. However they rely on the Italian police to provide security for the Vatican.

The South Korean Royal Guard are also similar to the Yeomanry or "Beefeater" Guard you get at Britain's Tower of London.

For tourists its easy to mistake the Beefeaters for the military Guard regiments who guard other London landmarks like Buckingham Palace in red tunics and black bearskin hats. When they put on more sensible clothes these Guards are actually amongst some of the most elite troops in the British Army.

The Beefeaters however are civilians. Although they only employ people who are former members of the military.

As the Royal Guard raised the South Korean flag the South Korean anthem was sung by the Rainbow Children's Choir.

It is not so much a tradition as a cliche that at some point an Olympic ceremony will feature a multi-ethnic children's choir to signify peace, unity and inclusion. No matter how spiteful and hate filled the rest of the ceremony is.

This Opening Ceremony went on to have quite a bit of fun with this type of cliche. Particularly during the Yellow (Cheese) sequence featuring the songs of John Lennon.

At around 17:15 on 12/2/18 (UK date) I need to take a break from at least this screen.

Edited at around 19:50 on 12/2/18 (UK date) to add;

Parade of Nations:

It is protocol that each ceremony must include a segment in which the flags of the competing nations are parade around the arena and then raised. Although not compulsory many of the competitors choose to join their flag in this parade.

In many ways this parade is the most important in the ceremony. It focuses entirely on the competitors who will make the games happen.

However from the perspective of a viewer it can be quite dull. I've discovered the advantage of recording the ceremony is that you can whizz through the parade at x32 speed. You that then whizz back through it at x32 speed. While adding your own music for comic effect.

This parade though contained two very significant elements.

The first of these was the inclusion of the; "Olympic Athletes from Russia (OAR)."

The 2014 Winter Games were held in Russia. They were scene to just appalling levels of Islamist violence. Due to Russia's longstanding opposition to Islamist terrorism.

Under significant pressure from the UK and the US under former President Obama the International Olympic Committee (IOC) took the unusual step of siding with the terrorists against Russia.

Russia was partially banned from the 2016 Summer Olympic Games and totally banned from the 2016 Summer Para-Olympic Games. This was justified on the grounds that Russia had engaged in state sponsored drug cheating (doping).

If the IOC was serious about banning drug cheats it would have to ban probably most nations. It is well known that the US Olympic team itself engages in widespread, state sponsored doping. What is worse is the IOC give the US permission to cheat by issuing what are known as Therapeutic Use Exemptions (TUE's).

For example at the 2016 Olympics the entire US women's basketball team apparently suffered from Attention Deficit, Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Not only that they all apparently suffered from an extremely rare form of ADHD that can only be treated with amphetamines.

US gymnast Simone Biles who 'won' gold in 2016 also apparently has this extremely rare form of ADHD which can only be treated with amphetamines.

Stimulants like amphetamines and cocaine are why professional sports were forced to introduced drug testing back in the 1930's. So not only does the US engage in widespread, state sponsored and IOC sanctioned doping it doesn't even attempt to hide it.

In the weeks and months leading up to these games the US has been gripped by the trial of Larry Nassar. This former US Olympics gymnastics coach/doctor has been convicted of sexual abusing many young girls. The trial featured many prominent US Olympians including Simone Biles giving evidence and victim impact statements.

The timing of the trial seemed to be a gesture by the US that it was in no position to criticise Russia. Not only does the US Olympics team engage in widespread, state sponsored doping it also engages in the widespread and apparently officially sanctioned sexual abuse of its athletes.

Russia has been challenging the IOC's ban in such a long succession of cases before the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) it's been hard to keep track of each one.

The day before the Opening Ceremony CAS issued its final ruling. It found that the IOC's actions cannot be explained by an attempt to punish doping cheats. It can only be considered an arbitrary and political decision.

However it also found that the IOC apparently retains the right to make arbitrary political decision. Thus dispelling any notion of competitive or fair sport at the Olympics.

Some Russian athletes have though been allowed to compete as independent athletes under the combined banner of OAR.

In itself that choice of acronym is interesting. There is a saying in particularly America that if someones position is untenable they; "Up sh*t creek without a paddle (oar)."

Much like the IOC's actions a creek filled with sh*t stinks.

At these Olympics the OAR may not make or wear any statement logo or gesture referencing Russia. So during the Opening Ceremony they had to wear a uniform of entirely neutral colours and parade behind the Olympic flag. They were not even allowed to carry that flag themselves. A member of the event staff had to do it for them.

The South Korean hosts made it quite clear that they thought of this. The staff member they provided was wearing the typical staff uniform of a blue hat, a white coat and red trousers.

In short; The colours of the Russian flag.

The Parade of Nations ended with the South Korean and North Korean competitors entering the arena as one flying the Unification flag of a blue image of the Korean Peninsula on a white background.

This was immediately followed by a one man South Korea protest against unification. He slid down the ski jump/ramp leading up to the cauldron while carrying a banner decrying unification. After the assembled media had been given plenty of time for photographs he was hauled off by security.

This was not show as part of the broadcast. However fireworks did then immediately light up the path to the cauldron the man had taken.

The man's protest began at the cauldron. With the exception of the VIP area this is probably the most secure part of the arena.

So this man's protest was state sanctioned as part of the ceremony. It laid the groundwork for the upcoming Black/Blue segment.

Within both North and South Korea the issue of unification is a deeply existential topic.

Although it's probably no help to viewers in somewhere like Tonga the nearest thing I can compare it to is Brexit in Britain.

Before the referendum on leaving the European Union (EU) British people were asked to divide themselves into Leavers and Remainers.

Following the result they've been asked to choose from a wide range of Brexit options like Hard Brexit, Soft Brexit, Red, White and Blue Brexit or Wibbly Wobbly Woo Brexit.

None of these terms actually mean anything in relation to the UK's future relationship with the EU. However the one you choose has became a massive statement of your identity and existence.

So you almost get people saying things like;

"I know I've just lynched some black teenagers for daring to look at a white woman. But I'm not racist. I voted to Remain!"

The term unification has a similar role within Korean society.

Particularly amongst younger South Koreans there is a growing number who don't want unification. They've lived their entire lives in the RoK and they're happy to continue living their lives in the RoK.

However most Koreans support unification in some form. It's rarely defined though whether they mean;

A unified Korean Peninsula under the Communism of the DPRK?

A unified Korean Peninsula under the Democracy of the RoK?

A unified Korean Peninsula under the RoK dictatorship of Park Chung-hee?

A unified Korea which includes Balhae - essentially the peninsula plus large parts of what are currently China and Russia?

Or do you simply mean that a mother can get to see her children one last time before she dies?

On both sides of the conflict intelligence agencies have nurtured different political movements based around different interpretations of "Unification." They often trot them out in protest to send messages to each other.

For example following the January 20th (20/1/18) agreement on DPRK participation RoK President Moon Jae-in's poll numbers have collapses. Supporters of really the Balhae school of unification have taken to the streets in protest. You've been able to see some of these around the Olympic Park.

This serves to send a message to the DPRK. Although the RoK supports a rapprochement for the Olympics there are limits to how far that rapprochement is going to go.

It is because of this sort of thing it often seems that I'm ignoring Korea. I understand that different protest groups are used to send messages. However I don't understand enough about the history of the groups of the type of messages they're sending to feel I can get involved.

In fact I'm a little concerned about the effect making this small example - which I think is well understood by both parties - clear will have.

So what may often seem like me ignoring Korea is actually me assessing the situation. Then concluding it is better for me to keep my mouth shut then ask stupid questions.

I am obviously interested in learning more about these spy games. However in 2014 I did the Winter Olympics, took a little break and did the World Cup.

Then I got involved in the war in Syria. I'm still there now.

21:00 on 12/2/18 (UK date).