A Rebellious Body

A Rebellious Body

Ezekiel Chapter 3

1. And He said to me, son of man, eat what you find; eat this scroll, and go and speak to the house of Israel. 2. So I opened my mouth, and he caused me to eat that scroll. 3. And he said to me, son of man, make your belly eat, and fill your bowels with this scroll that I give you. Then I ate it; and it was in my mouth sweet like honey. 4. And he said to me, son of man, go, get you to the house of Israel, and speak with my words to them. 5. For you are not sent to a people of foreign speech and of a difficult language, but to the house of Israel; 6 Not to many peoples of a foreign speech and of a difficult language, whose words you can not understand. Surely, had I sent you to them, they would have listened to you. 7. But the house of Israel will not listen to you; for they will not listen to me; for all the house of Israel are impudent stubborn of heart. 8. Behold I have made your face hard against their faces, and your forehead hard against their foreheads. 9. Like adamant harder than flint have I made your forehead; fear them not, nor be dismayed at their looks, though they are a rebellious house.

 

This passage from Ezekiel brings much that I question to the surface. Like our forefathers I am by nature hardheaded and skeptical. But as this passage illustrates I’m surprised to find these texts settle “in my mouth sweet like honey”. I think to question and rebel are natural to a thinking person.

As a visual artist and a theatre designer I admire both artists and performers who are true innovators. A rebellious spirit can be the best fodder for creativity. This next passage exemplifies the life and art of such a person.

Don't Talk Old To Me

Don't tell me I should, I better, I can

Don't talk old to me

Don't shake that finger in my face no more

Cuz I might bite it off and spit it on the floor

Better get secure get my life insured

Buy a house and car that run

Better sell my bike, my leather coats

Those city auto parts and all my guns

Don't talk old to me

Don't talk so old to me

Don't talk old to me tonight, tonight

Don't talk old to me tonight

Don't bark and I won't bite

Won't bite

Don't you bark

No fun, no fun

No fun, no fun, no fun, no fun fun fun

Don't talk old to me...

- Alice Cooper 1981

 

For contemporary juxtaposition I have chosen one of rock music’s most famous rebels, Alice Cooper. American songwriter, rock singer, and musician, his career spans more than 40 years. Alice Cooper was a pioneer of Heavy Metal rock. He created a persona and stage shows that draw equally from horror movies, vaudeville, and garage rock to pioneer a grandly theatrical brand of heavy metal that was designed to shock. Best known as gender bending rock and roll witch, he was a consummate showman.

Hello Hooray!

Hello! Hooray! Let the show begin

I've been ready

Hello! Hooray! Let the lights grow dim

I've been ready

Ready as this audience that's coming here to dream

Loving every second, every moment, every scream

I've been waiting so long to sing my song

I've been waiting so long for this thing to come

Yeah - I've been thinking so long I was the only one

Roll out! Roll out your American dream and its recruits

I've been ready

Roll out! Roll out your circus freaks and hula hoops

I've been ready

Ready as this audience that's coming here to dream

Loving every second, every movement, every scream

I've been waiting so long to sing my song

I've been waiting so long for this thing to come

Yeah - I've been thinking so long I was the only one

I can stand here strong and thin

I can laugh when this thing begins

God, I feel so strong

I feel so strong

I'm so strong

I feel so strong

So strong

God, I feel so strong

I'm so strong

 

-Alice Cooper 1972

 

Foot Note:

In his personal life Alice Cooper is a political conservative, has been married for over 30 years, and plays golf 6 days a week.