[Note: This series originally started as a project on Reddit. You can find an explanation of what Bible Study is all about here.]
Today, we begin our discussion of Wooyoung's page but end up spending very little time on Wooyoung and a lot of time chasing down plot and symbolism things. We also spend a great deal of time thinking about the nature of art and what it takes to create Great Art. Because at the end of the day, that's what ATEEZ does every single time: create Great Art.
01: where are we in the story thus far?
GD: Okay let me prepare the sacred space
Bobby: We're going to have to face a time anomaly/ plot hole today
Which is to say that I've read the page and am thinking OneTeez thoughts
GD: First
Are they on jeju?
Bobby: I think that's the vibe. The inspiration rather
GD: Okay, I am caught up
Shall we begin with a recap? I literally don't remember how we recap, we don’t summarize this page, right? We summarize where we last left off?
Bobby: We get everyone up to speed
So, where we last left off, the boys, Left Eye and the Grimes siblings were on a boat traveling to the Android Guardian bunker. While the rest of the boys were sleeping, Mingi came out on deck and watched Left Eye and the Grimes dance and sing. He had a realization that he'd been running from happiness by being too focused on all his struggles
GD: Alright, and now their boat has arrived
Hey
Ateez does get on a boat
It's right here
Bobby: The boat content I so crave
It's not their boat, but when has that ever stopped a pirate
GD: It feels like it should never start as their own boat
02: thoughts on the page
GD: What are your oneteez thoughts?
Bobby: Well, my thoughts begin with an important question
At what point in time does HalaJoong deliver the cromer to Hongjoong?
I mean in Halajoong's timeline
Because he obviously can't be doing that from prison. The fact that they've been captured suggests that they no longer have the cromer
So, logically, Halajoong delivers it at some point before the arrest
But what makes him think he needs to give the cromer to Hongjoong in the first place? How does he even know Hongjoong exists? Have Halateez been to the real world? On purpose or accidentally?
GD: I know we don't trust Hongjoong when it comes to the lore
But
He has said that the cromer has powers we haven't seen yet. And we know it allows for communication through dreams. This is perhaps silly, but I had always imagined that Hongjoong's dreams to perform and do music after the break up were so powerful that halajoong could feel it
Bobby: Okay. Let's say that's true.
Halajoong realizes there's this other dimension with this other Joong who really wants to perform. So he thinks, this boy can bring art back to this world.
Why then does he deliver the cromer through a dream instead of explaining the situation? Hongjoong would have refused, of course. We know he only ended up in Strictland on accident. But Halajoong could have taken him there forcefully just to get his point across
What makes him give up the cromer, is my question
There are several possibilities. OneTeez answers all questions, imo. You could also say that Halateez were losing their passion and needed new blood. Maybe Halateez and Ateez cannot exist in the same universe at the same time, so they called them to strictland as replacements. Maybe something terrible happens to the rest of Halateez and Halajoong of the future is the only survivor. So, he goes back in time, delivers the cromer to Hongjoong, and then he and the rest of hala are captured. But this means there are two Halajoongs
I am aware that none of this is the point of the story
GD: Well, I think it could be a little more simple
Bobby: I will go get cake while waiting for the revelation
GD: I guess, the thing is, I can come up with several explanations, but all of them are just guesses because we won't know. We won't know how/why unless the intern tries to tell us, and so under our prompt of everything having a purpose, the question we should be asking is, why did they leave that information out?
But anyways, if the cromer allows for jumping in time, Halajoong could have seen they were going to be captured, so he needed to hide the cromer before then. If he knew of Hongjoong's existence because of the connection with art, he could've thought an alternate dimension is a reasonably safe place to hide it. Maybe he wasn't trying to get them to come save them as much as ensure that Z never got the cromer. (I'd need to go back and re-read what he says to Hongjoong.)
I had another theory but I've forgotten it while typing that one up
So I need a second
Bobby: I also thought perhaps he was just trying to hide the cromer
GD: I'll never remember it, but I remember thinking it was the better one
So just know that I have a better, forgotten theory
Bobby: But it seems to me that when Ateez arrive and the transformation happens, Halateez aren't surprised at all. It's like they were expecting them. Which is just an interpretation, but still
It's very clear that this information is not necessary to understanding the point they want to make with the story
I do wonder if someday we'll get Halateez's side of the story
Another Spin Off
Just before Halateez is killed off just so we all feel it more
GD: I do have a thought but it's like on the edge of being thought
So I want to go to the next thing and see if it arrives
What other thoughts do you have on the page?
Bobby: We've already talked about the drunk android guardians, so I'll leave that alone
I think we've already talked about how Z has set up a base in a former art gallery and is keeping Halateez like they're exhibits in a museum
GD: I am back to the smoke being an unexpected byproduct that can't be controlled.
Bobby: Perhaps the android guardians are still androids, but the smoke does interfere with their circuitry somehow. But Woo wouldn't know that. From his perspective they just look drunk
GD: The fact that it is in a gallery is important because the intern specifically draws our attention to it
Bobby: It feels purposeful and malicious
Mocking
GD: A thing that I think is interesting is that no one visits the island, right? And I guess, there's something here about the idea that art is meant to be seen. What is art if it's never shown to anyone?
Bobby: Well, that assumes that art only has value when appreciated by others. Isn't it just as valuable to create something for yourself?
GD: I'm sure that it is, but I have not known many artists who didn't want their art to be seen. And it's not really that they want people to appreciate the art--it's usually like, they want people to see them through their art
if that makes sense
But a gallery is by design a place where art is meant to be shown and consumed
Bobby: Yes. But to me the point here is not that no one's looking at the art, but that they've thrown away recreation. Art brings rest and rejuvenation, but they no longer need that in a society that only values production.
My sister was briefly obsessed with the musical Godspell
(belated tangent alert)
At one point in that musical, I think it's the Jesus character talking about recreation. But he pronounces it RE-creation.
Which I've always liked the idea of. Rest and recreation is where we rebuild all the parts of us that have been torn down
GD: I think there's a lot of symbolism in the fact that they've claimed a gallery in a vacation spot as their home base.
In general, I have a lot of interest around tourist culture, and places where tourism is like a large part of the revenue
And one again, I think I have a thought, but it is truly beyond my grasp today
I don't' even feel tired?
Who knows.
But something in line with the idea that recreation is related to the ability create art--like you can't actually create if you don't also take time to play
And I don't mean play in like... a party type way. I mean like, explore? Let your mind do what it wants to do. Follow your whims. etc.
Bobby: It's why a "starving artist" is such a romantic/ romanticized idea. Forsaking all the earthly needs--like food or medicine--in order to create art. When in reality, it's usually those who are well off who can indulge in art or other recreational pursuits
But it of course also reminds me of early Mingi who did not have time for friends or dreams
GD: I know you are familiar with John Green because everyone is
But I was thinking about him this week
He has been pretty open about his struggles with OCD and needing medicine to help control it. And he has this video where he talks about the idea that an artist should be a little bit off, and the mental health is often romanticized in the artistic communities as a valuable thing that makes you good at making art. And he talks about how when he is struggling with his medication and doses, that's when his art is at it's worst. And the best art he makes, he makes when he is in a good place physically and mentally
And I was thinking about it because I, because I am me, accidentally let my OCD medicine lapse and then wasn't able to take it for a little over a week, and honestly, like I know we did a lot with posting on the blog and I made all sorts of instagrams, and I even had a fever, so it probably appears that I was Very Fine
Bobby: It did not, tbh
GD: Well good, because it was all very hard and I was very overwhelmed
Bobby: Yes
GD: But the good news is, my prescription was refilled yesterday, so I am back on track to being Very Fine
But yeah, just the idea that you can make art while being in a bad place.. you can, but it's so much harder. You have to be settled and safe to be free enough to create.
It's like that study about kids playing at recess?
If there's a fence, they're more likely to go to the edge of the playground than if there isn't
Bobby: I need you to drive that metaphor home for me
GD: What if I can't because my brain isn't working? But kids are more likely to use the whole playground when it's fenced in because the fence offers them protection. When there isn't a fence, they will avoid the edge and stay closer to the teachers. It's a metaphor I usually use when I talk about boundaries and how they're good because boundaries make people feel safe to explore within those boundaries. I think what I'm getting at here isn't really about boundaries as much as the idea that a person whose soul is rested and unworried can focus more of their attention to things like art
Bobby: Ah. I wasn't sure if you meant that the kids all just ran for the borders or if they spread out with the fence. But I follow
(Can I just say that I haven't listened to Halazia in a minute and I am once again obsessed with Yeo's pre-chorus and that one idiot on reddit has never been more wrong about anything)
Cut that probably
Idk. Maybe I want my truth to be known
GD: Let your truth be known
We have forsaken reddit for a reason, and I think it's high time the people know that the real reason is that reddit atiny had forsaken us first
Bobby: I was thinking though that I think any time I've heard an artist talk about their art or writing or music from a dark period in their lives, they talk about how bad it was. Or how they don't like looking back on it
GD: Kingdom.
Bobby: Yes. Exactly
GD: We can all agree that ATEEZ put out the best stage the universe had ever seen
and they can't watch it
*had ever seen
ATEEZ has since put out better stages
Bobby: I don't know if the analogy really works for them since THEY weren't the problem
GD: I think it does. Because the important part is the safety and settledness, right? Like I'm sure they had a lot of anxiety and stress about everything that was happening
Bobby: But like, an artist looking back on their work when they were suffering from addiction--I don't think I've ever heard a single one say their art got worse when they got clean
Bobby: True
GD: Right--same with artists who suffer from depression and finally get on medication
It's always like 'god I wish I would've done that sooner'
Not 'I find it so hard to create now'
I don't remember how I got here
Bobby: I'm thinking about Moulin Rouge. So I also wonder
I think perhaps the idea we've been circling around is that it's never actually good to ignore your mental health. Nothing is worth sacrificing your sanity and well-being. Not for art. Not for productivity.
Which I guess brings me back to how this society--Strictland in case anyone else has forgotten what we were even talking about--the only way it can actually function is if there are no memories or emotions
They don't have emotions to warn them their minds and bodies are breaking down
GD: And no emotions, means there is no need for an outlet or activities designed to help process emotions
Like, I don't know about you, but most of my vacations (especially like the nice ones) are very healing. I come back feeling like I know more about myself and what I want in life.
Bobby: Yes, I always feel a bit reborn after time away from my life
Did you watch Dr. John? I think that's what it was called
GD: It sounds familiar? but I don't think so
Bobby: It's the one with the guy from Kill Me, Heal Me--can't remember his name
He's like a House type of doctor. Genius sort who goes against the rules and what not
He also has a condition where he cannot feel physical pain
The thing about emotions is that they are like pain. The pain itself isn't the problem. The pain is just the indication that there is a problem
So, just because you don't have emotions, that doesn't mean that there aren't things going wrong
GD: I think Left Eye is a great example of that
Though, it also seems like Left Eye had plenty of emotions, and it's hard to say whether he even had this no emotion implant they seem to have in the world?
Bobby: I don't think he did. It's always been a question I have though
Why they let him just be free in the dump with no regulation
GD: Perhaps prolonged exposure to the yellow smoke messes with the chip in the same way it messes with the android guardians.
I answer this with my head canon that he supported Z's rise to power
Bobby: Interesting. . .
Explains why there's no smoke in the city proper
GD: Yes, I do think the smoke is something they want to keep away from the general population
which makes total sense
And I'm not sure why I didn't consider that until Fireworks
Bobby: There are a lot of things to consider
You just hadn't gotten there yet
GD: Any other thoughts or should we praise and prayer?
I've decided I'm going to eat cheescake factory tonight, which is silly, but it literally has to happen
Bobby: Then let's P&P
03: praise and prayer
GD: My praise....
I would like to praise ATEEZ for having a flawless discography that I can constantly rediscover.
Which I know they didn't do this week
But I enjoyed it this week.
Bobby: I am still not over the fact that Jongho has returned
I continually re-remember it and it just makes my heart full
He wasn't even gone that long
Not comparatively
GD: Gosh
Yes
Jongho's triumphant return with his beautiful glow up
He does need to be studied
Bobby: I'm pretty sure his birthday song was recorded before he left even [Editor’s Note: I am not pretty sure but it doesn’t even matter.]
Still managed to glow up
Perhaps WE glowed up
Increased Jongho appreciation = glowing up
GD: It's like you say
I often think I'm fully appreciating Jongho
And then suddenly realize I'm not
Truly incredible
Which reminds me, safari ho and preacher ho pcs are in, so this weekend remind me and we can see which cards you want
Bobby: I hope I remember. I had to immediately throw Jongho birthday song up on the TV
GD: I'm sure I'll feel an overwhelming desire to show you my pcs and it'll just come up naturally
Bobby: I'm so excited for show and tell
I do kind of wish he'd go back to this hair
GD: I've decided he couldn't keep it
It was too powerful
Like ot8 Right Now, which the universe is still actively trying to prevent
Bobby: Everything about him is too powerful
GD: The world would implode if we saw that hair in person, and so it cannot exist
Be the light
Bobby: Halazia
And that is it for the first part of our Wooyoung discussion. We will be back next week with our sacred practice to further illuminate the ideas Wooyoung presents to us.
Until then,
Be the light.
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