Comments on: In girum imus nocte et consumimur igni.

By: gorjus

gorjus — Wed, 27 Jun 2007 18:13:21 +0000

No, you're not overthinking it. I mean, it's in Latin, and as you note it's a palindrome and called "the devil's riddle"! So you're right to be perplexed. For those who haven't Googled it, the phrase means roughly, very roughly, that "we go into the circle by night and we are are consumed by fire." I'm certainly playing on the theme of "consumption," most obviously with the cake, but also in a type of carnal indulgence and happiness (also evoked by the "fire") particular to the party and the couple involved. The "circle" is not only their union, but also the theme of the party--music, evoked by the chocolate records surrounding the (circular) cake and the jukebox. You also nailed the circular conception of time and relation between the photos, a sort of infinity unto itself. The times I use Latin (like in Nostra Aetate, or when I wrote about the November 2006 elections) there's likely way too much symbolism or hyperbole--but let's be honest, that's just how I am!

By: roy

roy — Wed, 27 Jun 2007 15:36:53 +0000

Am I just overthinking this . . . is it the circle of polaroids, night of the last two shots, and obvious consumption?

I really should be working

By: roy

roy — Wed, 27 Jun 2007 15:33:56 +0000

maybe I’m being dense, but could you explain how the palindrome/riddle/devil’s verse line relates to the celebration?

By: Professor Fury

Professor Fury — Wed, 27 Jun 2007 02:32:08 +0000

I second mix’s emotion…

By: mix

mix — Tue, 26 Jun 2007 22:33:03 +0000

So sick that I had to miss this!