One Person's Thoughts on Animal Farm.

[Ghost]

A lot of keystrokes and thoughts have taken place since Boston announced their theme this year. Some have felt the recent video's from two design staff members was a way of explaining this show to everyone. After a few days of waiting, permission was granted to post this author's reading of how they see Animal Farm. A person by the way who never marched in any musical unit. Enjoy.

"******* , the following is how I would describe what BAC is all about this year in response to your question regarding what does animal farm/bac have to do with their display of G7. Ive taken a plot summary of the book and inserted in bold type how I see what the designers were establishing. You can look at it two ways , that its chaotic and hard to understand or that it is pure genius..I believe as time goes by it will be recognized as pure genius. An example of the subtlety of it is really highlighted in your other question why cant BAC form there letters at the end like Carolina forms their crown !!!!! That is precisely how the irony of their show done as a parody of the growth of drum corps as juxtaposed with the Russian revolution. You cannot narrate that during a show . Its all really meant to think of drum corps ability to think outside the box , anybody can pitch a tent and run a circus. Anybody can tell their audience what their program is all about and how they should take it . BAC has taken on a totally different approach this year , that can be a game changer, providing fans and judges the opportunity to look beyond the obvious and experience a program in a very different way. Do the great performers of today tell their audience how they should interpret there songs/movies.

Take a look at the following if its rubbish just hit the delete button , hopefully it may add a different point of view."

" Animal Farm was written by George Orwell, in England on 17 August 1945. The book reflects events leading up to the Russian Revolution of 1917 and then on into the Stalin era in the Soviet Union Orwell, was a critic of Stalinism, which, he believed, had become a brutal dictatorship, and enforced by a reign of terror., Orwell described Animal Farm as a satirical tale against Stalin

Old Major, the old boar on the Manor Farm, summons the animals on the farm together for a meeting, ( in 1970 they called all the drum corps together for a meeting) during which he refers to humans ( schlecter , American legion , VFW ) as parasites and teaches the animal s( the corps ) a revolutionary song called Beasts of England ( this song beast of England is what latter became my darling clementine). When Major dies, the two young pigs, Snowball and Napoleon, assume command and consider it a duty to prepare for the Rebellion. The animals revolt and drive the irresponsible farmer Mr. Jones ( schlecter and company )from the farm, renaming it "Animal Farm".( Drum Corps International) They adopt Seven Commandments of Animalism, the most important of which is, "All animals are equal." ( all corps are equal )

Snowball ( DCI ) teaches the animals ( Corps)to read and write, while Napoleon educates young puppies on the principles of Animalism Drum Corps). Food is plentiful, and the farm runs smoothly. The pigs ( certain high performing corps ) elevate themselves to positions of leadership and set aside special food items, ostensibly for their personal health. Napoleon and Snowball ( the rest of the corps) struggle for preeminence. When Snowball announces his plans to build a windmill, Napoleon ( Hopkins and cohorts ) has his dogs chase Snowball ( Acheson ) away and subsequently declares himself leader of Animal Farm. ( G7)

Napoleon enacts changes to the governance structure of the farm, replacing meetings with a committee of pigs ( G7 )who will run the farm.( DCI ). Through a young pig named Squealer, Napoleon claims credit for the windmill idea.( Hopkins and company) The animals (Non G7 corps) work harder with the promise of easier lives with the windmill. When the animals find the windmill collapsed after a violent storm, Napoleon and Squealer convince the animals that Snowball ( Acheson) is trying to sabotage their project. Once Snowball ( Acheson) becomes a scapegoat, Napoleon(G7) begins to purge the farm ( DCI) with his dogs, killing animals he accuses of consorting with his old rival. Beasts of England ( the clementine song)is replaced by an anthem, ( the dark version of conquest ) glorifying Napoleon,( G7) who appears to be adopting the lifestyle of a man. The animals (DCI) remain convinced that they are better off than they were under Mr. Jones. ( Schlecter )

Mr Frederick, one of the neighboring farmers, attacks the farm, using blasting powder to blow up the restored windmill. ( the part of program where they run from mid field to the soloist in the corner and where they start their boxer solo) Though the animals win the battle, they do so at great cost, as many, including Boxer the workhorse, are wounded. Despite his injuries, Boxer continues working harder and harder, until he collapses while working on the windmill. ( their human windmill) Napoleon sends for a van to take Boxer to the veterinary surgeon, explaining that better care can be given there. Benjamin, the cynical donkey who "could read as well as any pig",[9] notices that the van belongs to a knacker,( G7 corp) and attempts a futile rescue. Squealer reports that the van was purchased by the hospital and the writing from the previous owner ( Acheson) had not been repainted. But in reality, Napoleon has sold his most loyal and long-suffering worker for money to buy himself whisky.

Years pass, and the pigs start to resemble humans, as they walk upright, carry whips, and wear clothes. The Seven Commandments are abridged to a single phrase: "All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others". (The current premise of G7 all drum corps are equal ..but.. some drum corps ( G7) are more equal than others). Napoleon holds a dinner party (Tour of Champions) for the pigs( G7) and local farmers, with whom he celebrates a new alliance.( G7) He abolishes the practice of the revolutionary traditions and restores the name "The Manor Farm". ( Comes full cycle back to 1971 ) As the animals look from pigs to humans, they realize they can no longer distinguish between the two.( Schlecter and Hopkins)"

Edited July 29, 2014 by Ghost

[Fred Windish]

Good read!

Just to step aside for a moment, I want to say the Crusaders have taken on a controversial program, in both design and message, they surely knew would be a 'tough sell.'

Viewing them from Atlanta indicates they are performing the H*LL out of it, improving every time out, showing high level skill. Very strong corps. They are probably just about maxed out for final placement, unfortunately.

Edited July 29, 2014 by Fred Windish

[JAZZER]

"You can look at it two ways "

or more!!

Thanks for your thoughtful post.

[ShortAndFast]

Concepts that communicate well via the drum corps show idiom: "Tilt - Hey look, the field is slanted, and they lean a lot, and hold their horns at angles, and..."

Concepts that don't communicate well via the drum corps show idiom: "This set represents slide 12 of Hopkins' G7 powerpoint. Notice how the letters B, A and C appear nowhere on the field..."

I'm glad Boston is trying to stretch the envelope, but I'm pretty confident that 0% of the audience would figure out that Animal-farm-as-allegory-for-DCI by just watching the show.

[mcjordansc]

I would say the design staff reached on this one and the corps final results will not match the talent level of the members.

[NR_Ohiobando]

"Show" being superior to "Tell" is a common rule in any artistic medium. People often criticize shows like The Office and Modern Family for having a cheap effect of a talking head where characters can simply sit down and tell you how they are feeling, rather than just you watching them and having to figure it out for yourself. DCI of course is becoming that way, where if you're "telling" the audience something it somehow becomes more effective and typically gets you higher scores. Unfortunately I don't think it should be that way.

I love that Boston went the "Show" route rather than the "Tell" route.

Edited July 29, 2014 by NR_Ohiobando

[mingusmonk]

" Animal Farm was written by George Orwell, in England on 17 August 1945. The book reflects events leading up to the Russian Revolution of 1917 and then on into the Stalin era in the Soviet Union Orwell, was a critic of Stalinism, which, he believed, had become a brutal dictatorship, and enforced by a reign of terror., Orwell described Animal Farm as a satirical tale against Stalin

Old Major, the old boar on the Manor Farm, summons the animals on the farm together for a meeting, ( in 1970 they called all the drum corps together for a meeting) during which he refers to humans ( schlecter , American legion , VFW ) as parasites and teaches the animal s( the corps ) a revolutionary song called Beasts of England ( this song beast of England is what latter became my darling clementine).

<HUGE SNIP>

( Comes full cycle back to 1971 ) As the animals look from pigs to humans, they realize they can no longer distinguish between the two.( Schlecter and Hopkins)"

[nallop24]

I love the show and the guts it took to put this on the field.

[gabe211]

[KVG_DC]

I found the parallels somewhat obvious after seeing it live then watching a second time on FN and looking for specific elements from Animal Farm (book). The G7 formation in the middle of the show was the clue to watch it again and look for the parallels between DCI organizing/politics and the show.

Then again, I've actually read Animal Farm.