When
I first began this analysis, at least I assume that is what one can
call it; I had not intended to continue it past the first posting.
However, I felt it was required due to the amount of information that
I would like to share. Putting every bit of information in just one
post, I felt, would be too overwhelming.
The
use of the Apple is a very old symbol that is believed to represent
many things. The oldest example that I know is the story of the
Garden of Eden in which the apple was a symbol of Temptation, Sin,
and the Fall of Man. In Greek mythology it was the Golden Apple of
Discord (believed by many to actually be an orange) that was fought
over, ultimately leading to the Trojan War. I’m sure I was not the
first think of the apple from the story of Snow White; an innocent
gift that was intended to kill the one who ate it. However, in other
beliefs it is thought to not be an ill omen but one representing
fertility, immortality, reincarnation, youth, innocence, longevity,
and knowledge (think Tree of Knowledge here).
The apple is even
considered a symbol of love and sexuality
(especially
when associated with the
Greek Goddess, Aphrodite),
the spherical shape of the apple said to represent the curvature of a
woman’s breast and the core of the apple – when sliced in half -
is the vulva.
In
the case of LuCiD’s PV, I believe the apple is here to mainly
represent temptation. A crazed individual tempted by the innocence of
another as they lick their lips while eyeing the apple. I feel as if
the solitary apple represents the girl lying in the middle of the
forest. I believe it is safe to assume that she was murdered due to
the red and black silhouette scene near the end of the video as well
as the fact that when a single apple is shown, it is displayed in a
somewhat sexually teasing manner. It is a twist of something
wonderful and innocent that is being scrutinized and played with much
like the young woman when chained and blindfolded.
Fan
girls; you are welcome.
Now,
what about the other two apples? Well,
remember the two previous victims of the murderer, the two girls
writhing and twitching around? I believe the two apples to be a
symbol of their humiliation at the hands of this beast and as Ku
lunges at one apple, mouth open, he is devouring their knowledge,
their innocence, and their lives; at least this is what I take from
it.
Ooo,
that one looks tastier.
The
fact that the apples are red (because yellow and green apples exist
and are equally tasty) could possibly be a reference to the Japanese
folk belief in which red is the embodiment of powers that create and
sustain life. Also in Japanese folk lore, the color red is associated
with protection from demons that may cause illness. Red scarves in
particular are believed to shield children, fertility, and safe-guard
oneself from illness.
So,
why does Ryu have a red scarf? At first I honestly thought that he
may have been paying homage to Steven Tyler, front man of Aerosmith,
since he is known for having scarves tied on his microphone while
performing. But then I noticed that the scarf is darkened on some
parts, giving it an almost leopard print design. The red scarves that
I know of at the various shrines are plain red scarves with no
elaborate design on them, just simple yet beautiful. Perhaps this
mottled scarf is a distortion of the aforementioned belief, turning
something that one would usually trust into something with sinister
intent.
One
scene that I will admit that I still am stuck on and honestly am not
sure what it is supposed to be:
Just…what
are these?
I
would love to say that the above are some kind of wiring or something
but they seem to have some kind of connecting component in the
middle. Being just a mangled mess, perhaps they are indicating that
the three girls shown are not the only victims who share their fate;
maybe they are just the most recent ones. It’s very hard to say (I
apologize for not have a better quality shot) but I don't know. I
could just be looking too deeply into this. If anyone has any ideas,
please let me know in the comments.
As
I review the last few screenshots that I do have, I am getting a
feeling that perhaps this whole PV is just either a memory or a sick
fantasy. Shown below, Yuto peers out through a concrete wall with
the gated-barbed wire top, with a city in the distance. Could this
merely be a compound in which the murders took place or is this
person locked up in a federal prison? I am really not all that
knowledgeable on the Japanese Penal System so I cannot be sure.
Two
small scenes that pass quickly but definitely caught my eyes are
those of the open safely pin and dripping blood. The safety pin is
thought to date back to the 13 and 14 Century BC, in the form of a
fibula, which was a sort
of brooch. The purpose of the clasp on the pin serves to properly
fasten the pin to whatever it is attached to as well as protect the
user from being stabbed.
In many traditions, safety pins are believed to protect fetuses from
birth defects believed to be caused by solar eclipses. They are also
seen as a symbol of unity and of personal protection.
Shown
above, the safety pin is open, as well as bloodied, thus possibly
signifying that whoever wore this is no longer safe, i.e. dead.
The
dripping blood (shown before the red silhouetted scene) may
illustrate the victim’s life fading away. It may also be a link to
the emotional deterioration of the slaughterer, illustrating his
further decline into insanity before, during, and after the slayings.
I
will honestly say that I am still trying to decipher the last scene
with Ryu and the swing. During this time, there are flashbacks to the
blindfolded woman on the ground and him dragging her by the hair.
Could this have occurred before her death?
Swings
are (usually) regarded as a thing of childhood. I know I certainly
remembering playing on the swing set at school as a child. It is a
simplistic and innocent activity. Upon examining the swing, he
violently jostles in about in agitation before grabbing it and
angrily throwing in towards the tree. Could the drive to cause such
violent acts on his prey be due to a hatred of childhood and
innocence stemming from a traumatic event in his previous years? This
would explain the choice to prey one young women and having them
blindfolded while bound. It shows their lack of control of their own
reality and life. They must have power over someone or something else
that they see as insignificant and weak compared to themselves and
take their life in an attempt to have more control on their own.
What are your final thoughts?
By Akiterra
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