How To Analyze Art: King Crimson And Authorial Intent

[@KayAndSkittles]

Small correction: Robert Fripp actually didn't write the lyrics to 21st Century Schizoid Man though he is credited as a songwriter for it.

[@T.H.W.O.T.H]

Asserting the possession of something he didn't create eh? Like a landlord! 😁 Anyway, so glad Thought Slime introduced me to this channel. Possibly the best human/putorius furo collab on the internet. Keep 'em coming. 👍

[@Ksrwilhelm]

Peter Sinfield was the lyricist on the first albums, but composition was usually a group effort.

[@KayAndSkittles]

@Cassandra Thompson It's still very much His Band, no idea what kind of financial arrangements exist and wouldn't speculate but he seems to control the intellectual property.

[@meruscales]

@@KayAndSkittles Fripp only ever wrote one lyric (also about hyper consumption) but when it comes to the music exerted a near authoritarian level of control over full compositions, while still encouraging sections of group improvisation. Bill Bruford joined the band because he was drawn to the singularity of Fripp’s vision (there are great interviews with Bill on this)

[@internetenjoyer1044]

@@meruscales Kind of. Fripp decided the direction of the music and has the final say on what gets on the album, but to quote bruforf "Fripp would never dream of telling Tony levin what notes to play on a bass"

[@davidlevinson4870]

Ah, is there any feeling better than discovering a new amazing channel, binging all their videos, only for the channel to immediately post a new video? This is going to be great.

[@Gloomdrake]

What now, though?

[@KayAndSkittles]

@@Gloomdrake Now, the darkness.

[@AnchoviePossum]

@@KayAndSkittles Google has comodified our viewing of your intellectual and emotional labor. Thanks for feeding my brain a few more drops of knowledge-dopamine to stave off my eternal depression-boredom

[@danielhadad4911]

The true and only joy of the 21st century schizoid man.

[@grapeCaptain]

Ending credits song: 21st Century Skittles Man

[@visitor5451]

can't believe fripp let you play the song, unedited and untouched, at the end of the video. that was really nice of him.

[@shinjiikaribot]

I think the only one who can truly analyse art is Skittles

[@Dorian_sapiens]

Skittles is the only objective critic.

[@michalkocourek5401]

Had to play the schizoid personality disorder part twice, because I couldn't pay attention to the audio and was just enjoying Skittles playing with a balloon.

[@timonrein6113]

Same lol

[@KayAndSkittles]

Oops!

[@michalkocourek5401]

@@KayAndSkittles not complaining though

[@nekakagiggle]

That cover was amazing props to skittles for the acoustics.

[@jimmyl27]

(screaming at the top of my lungs) CATS! FOOT! IRON CLAW!

[@Runningfromtheredqueen]

NEUROSURGEONS SCREAM FOR MORE!

[@River_StGrey]

@@Runningfromtheredqueen Nero's Pigeons scheme for s'mores*

[@anchoDePulso]

Cat food, cat food, cat food, again... Sorry, wrong song.

[@River_StGrey]

This is great and all but I think you need to consider the extent to which the Black Queen chanting the funeral march caused the cracked brass bells to ring, and how it summoned back the Fire Witch to the court of the Crimson King.

[@mermanhellville]

Robert Fripp attacks me personally by having all KC gigs be seated shows for deep intellectual contemplation while it is hard for me to sit still when those sick beats drop

[@EthanBlock]

Robert Fripp attacks me personally by having all KC gigs cost $75 for a seat in the nosebleeds.

[@mermanhellville]

@@EthanBlock That's an incredibly valid point (and how the shows get sold out within seconds anyway)

[@ShirDeutch]

He prefers to sit while performing, which I totally get, but why does the audience have to? He doesn't require his other bandmates to sit!

[@9omargiugiangiugia5]

Tbh when I saw them I was so blown away I think I could not have handled having to stand up/and or move, so he kinda has a point there.

[@mermanhellville]

@@9omargiugiangiugia5 Damn that makes sense, he's probably doing it for our safety 🤯

[@chumblewumble2422]

Glad someone is actually talking about crimson

[@KayAndSkittles]

Best band.

[@CarmelPhillipe]

As someone who's only ever been a tangential fan of King Crimson (like their music, but never enough to dive deep into the lyrics/listening to the album in one go), the latter half of this video was very interesting to listen to. Thanks for making this.

[@theqoulyv]

Ha! You just got Fripped! Share to totally Fripp your friends!

[@mermanhellville]

You can't just share the Fripperies all willy-nilly, you'll get Frippunished by Fripp and his legal team - be cautious!

[@FrankieSmileShow]

Great video about one of my favorite songs! I knew about Fripp being pretty intense regarding copyright, but didnt know his rationale for it until now, interesting.

[@certifiedfunnyguy]

I found your channel about a week ago but you are definitely my knew favorite KZbinr, your insights on fighting for the rights of those with disabilities have increased my awareness ten fold

[@Gloomdrake]

Pretty sure Skittles has the best interpretations

[@Mbewe_SM]

Confusion will be my epitaph.

[@benzur3503]

The true power of King Crimson is to remove content from Jojo using copyright

[@jerryfeelgood8455]

Bravo, Fripp. Your work will be forgotten. Art is pointless if it's not shared and unless you're a starving, struggling artist, that needs every penny they can get, there is no good reason to keep it for yourself. Oh, and also, I find it amazing that someone else knows King Crimson, let alone that it shows up in my YT timeline. I didn't immediately recognize the artwork but when I did I was so surprised.

[@EthanBlock]

Fantastic analysis. I love both King Crimson an In the Court of the Crimson King. This video reminds me a lot of the contentious relationship between Igor Stravinsky and Walt Disney. For those who are not in the know. During the 1940 Disney film Fantasia, Igor Stravinsky allowed his piece, The Rite of Spring (Le Sacre du printemps) to be features. This is the dinosaur piece for those who do not already know. Some disagreement happened before it was finalized and Stravinsky ended up not wanting the sequel to feature his second most famous work, The Firebird Suite. For anyone who has seen Fantasia 2000, we know who won.

[@EthanBlock]

I also think it is important to say, in defense of Disney: Igor Stravinsky was a bad person who had many fascist sympathies. I do not feel bad for him.

[@LogicGated]

Skittles playing with a balloon is adorable af.

[@harrisonfackrell]

I suddenly understand King Crimson the Stand in a much different light knowing how King Crimson the Band deletes things from the internet.

[@ContinuaComiq]

I'm so glad I stumbled across the beautiful Skittles lens! No thanks to the KZbin algorithm but through another channel. Thank you for every video you've made so far, Kay! Looking forward to the next one.

[@mattgilbert7347]

I feel a spontaneous kinship with Skittles. Correction: Comrade Skittles

[@itsukizy]

this video is so good. i’ve always thought about this. i hate when people hold the artist’s interpretation of their work as unquestionable and objective. thanks the deprogram for introducing me to this channel

[@GigaliaTheGreat]

Papa Fripp, pls have mercy on this video

[@brianadam6718]

Interesting video as always; even with watching JSaint's and Patricia T's videos on the subject, I think you restate the relationship between author/audience/text very clearly. I was really surprised that the King Crimson song was -- 10 minutes long -- and it only had 3 verses? Although you don't explicitly mention it, I think the idea of "reader/interpretative communities" also helps to reflect the way that, more than just a variety of lenses, interpretative communities exist that trust or consider the value of one lens superior to others (for whatever reason[s]), potentially without acknowledging it.

[@chumblewumble2422]

The 5 minutes of saxophones n guitars screeching are very necessary

[@KayAndSkittles]

@@chumblewumble2422 They are! Prog rock babyyyyyyyyyy

[@calebjacobs9789]

YESSS this is a great intersection of my tastes

[@mikeisapro]

I have schizoid personality disorder. But it's hard to diagnose because for one thing schizoid types are less likely to want to see a psychologist enough times to get a diagnisis, and also the disorder itself is disappearing because it's becoming merged with schizoaffective and avoidant personality disorders, even though it's completely distinct from either of those disorders.

[@TakeV]

Wait, it is getting merged? I have AvPD and can see parallels, but do not personally see them as the same.

[@ButWhyMe...]

Could you explain a bit more, I'm trying to get a better understanding of schizophrenia.

[@Dorian_sapiens]

A living person can't possibly be without history, biography, or psychology. So, an interpretive lens that sees the author or audience as vacuum sealed and context free is assuming (or, in a sense, creating) the death of both author and audience. (I'm pretty sure this isn't what Barthes meant by the phrase "the death of the author".) Putting the author and audience in their social and historical contexts brings them to life. Long live the author! Long live the audience!

[@ESALTEREGO]

Death of the author is a completely different thing

[@Jokkkkke]

So glad that the day after I decide to subscribe, I get to watch a new video from you! Great stuff mate, I'm almost through all your videos

[@SaintTreAnos]

Skip to 18:07 for the most informative part.

[@dimitriosdrossidis9633]

I f****** hate mauler and this video gets to the point, about what exactly I hate about 'objective' analysis. Aside from that, good video. It honestly helps meto understand how to read something better or how to try and read something?

[@praxillascucumbers7680]

Great video! Alas, I cannot give you the credit for "Left-Wing KZbinr who introduced me to the best new song this week" since a) I was somewhat aware of King Crimson and b) Innuendo Studios closed his video with Sarah and the Safeword's "The Louisville Shuffle (RIP)". But seriously, much appreciated the arguments and the emphasis on contextualisation and the consequences of the instinctive/cultivated inclination to 'pick one' lens to contextualise with vs. 'stacking' them.

[@cata0rostika]

I don't remember when I subbed to your channel, but no complaints here. Great content! And beautiful furr baby 🥺

[@timonrein6113]

Amazing video as always, your channel is fantastic!

[@trombonemain]

I’m waiting with baited breath to see if this is about the band or the JoJo stand.

[@bookfan1239]

Me: King Crimson?! Oh it’s probably the actual band/song huh? Shoot.

[@trombonemain]

And...it’s the band! (I had to go to a class and just got out of that.)

[@briennekennedy373]

I know nothing about art, I’m just here for Skittles

[@maxuabo]

God you’re explanations of your analysis is so good

[@AriOrSomething]

Sometimes I come back to this video just to watch Skittles playing with a balloon at 9:38-10:15 when I'm feeling down

[@justabitofamug6989]

🌟No binaries here🌟

[@InfinityBarn]

This post was made by nonbinary gang

[@marshbordeaux4210]

✨✨✨

[@GamerGony97]

enbies rise up

[@picklenunchucks5948]

Watching your other video and I can certainly tell you that you are one of the most informed & researched fellas I've met on the platform. You definitely deserve a sub =)

[@knightmareAlpha]

great twist at the end

[@deadlandplacebo1695]

This reminds me of when I heard black pistol fire's temper temper while I was asleep and my brain created an entire story from the lyrics which are pretty generic but I was interpreting this really on depth meaning in my subconscious (listen to the song it's great)

[@Ms.gnomer]

I really feel that end cover in my soul

[@phangkuanhoong7967]

really LOVED this one. thank you!

[@themi9404]

Fun fact: Robert Fripp actually acknowledged King Crimson from JJBA and even made an explanation of how he thinks King Crimson's ability works

[@m4lice960]

I’m so happy that we go through this in IB English, I think this should just be taught to everyone

[@blep8563]

very good video as always!

[@deltabrassica6650]

copyright really needs to be abolished. its just another stick for the rich to use against the poor

[@AnchoviePossum]

intellectual property only exists to accumulate capital. we should abolish it.

[@anna-ie5lk]

Art would be completely monopolised without copyright though. Id rather art not be stolen from smaller artists without them getting paid..

[@stealthy2375]

Actually, there's a little more nuance to copyright law than that. Imagine, for instance, if we immediately abolished all copyright law. This would further enable large corporations to steal art from independent creators, with no option of recourse granted to the original creator. Large companies would be free to pick and choose art as a one plucks fruit from a bush, and further monopolize art. Instead of abolishing copyright law, we need to instead reform it (At least, under capitalism) in such a way so that it cannot be exploited while allowing creators protections from predatory, intellectually dishonest corporations and individuals.

[@deadzone5389]

@@stealthy2375 exactly. Without copyright the ability to profit becomes a function of who has the capital to produce and market it. That's the real stick for the rich to use against the poor.

[@GlitzPixie]

I feel like we might be better off trying to redraft it in favor of creators rather than owners? I think protecting intellectual labor is a good idea but having a system that allows it to be exploited the same way other forms of labor are is what has turned it into a weapon. Maybe intellectual property rights should be inalienable, less stringent, etc.?

[@ILikeTheThingsIDo]

When the first verse came up on the screen I had a flash like I had heard those lyrics before. The punk band Bad Religion has a song called 21st Century Digital Boy which uses some lines from this King Crimson song I had never heard of before watching this video. It was released in 1990. And it is less concise than the song that inspired it but better adapted for people who lived and grew up in the hollow consumerism of the 80's. 21st Century Schizoid Man was the warning, 21st Century Digital Boy is the reality that became.

[@BatmanLovesRockNRoll]

Bro this fucking ferret needs more screen time

[@SkeledroMan]

Just a little nitpick but Fripp didn't write the lyrics, Pete Sinfield did.

[@KayAndSkittles]

Ha you're completely right. Coulda sworn I double checked that. Woops!

[@trashboat6670]

I would say it's more than a nitpick, it pretty much invalidates the take on Fripp. I don't know to what extent his emphasis on listening to King Crimson "as intended" applies to lyrics, but ultimately he's a composer and a musician. You can't discuss a specific artist's authorial intent based on a piece of art not created by them.

[@Beesativity]

Thank you for this much needed perspective. Great video as always Kay! (and Skittles. I'm sure Skittles did most of the hard work lol)

[@connorhalleck2895]

If you have Spotify, here's the link so you can listen to it in the background of this video: open.spotify.com/track/5yClziwiwTdqRmdPQl3NDz?si=nT4JidDCSRijNNgNxAjcNQ

[@atomostrich6760]

Thank you

[@danielhodkin2120]

Got to love the stringent application of copyright law for a song with the subject matter like this but a remix of it is used to flog perfume here in the uk

[@reitheist]

I love your vids a lot, keep it up :)

[@thetiredscot7821]

Fun Fact: The way I discovered the song was via a brief clip in an Unfinished London episode. Which is what I associate the song with.

[@yanag7020]

hell yEAH i’m early for once

[@richardwilliams2808]

Late to the party, but thanks for this. So many people on this platform, even those who will use other critical lenses (feminist, anti-capitalist, etc.) as contextual and non-contradictory / non-authoritative will suddenly become all-or-nothing when it comes to death of the author, blatantly failing to recognize (or at least address) their own bias as people who make their living off of other people's creative works. Looking beyond authorial intent is necessary to understand a work, but discarding it entirely only serves to erase creative labour and add to the long history of appropriating artistic works and failing to properly compensate or acknowledge it's creators; something which has only gotten worse under Neoliberalism.

[@lilrhia]

That ending, 11/10

[@ShirDeutch]

Prog rock represent!!

[@viniciuscruz796]

keep doing this content bruvvvvv, i luv you

[@frosted3]

Does that wobbly video filter actually work to avoid oopyright detection?

[@KayAndSkittles]

It did this time but sometimes I feel like it's completely random.

[@totallyacat7820]

One of my favorite KZbinrs makes a video about of my favorite bands and one of my favorite albums and my favorite song from that album like 👌😩

[@saddoro4138]

Love this

[@Hatfright]

Another great video. You deserve way more subs tho. Sharing it with everyone I know.

[@GigaliaTheGreat]

Personally, my favorite is a three way tie between Schizoid Man, Court of the Crimson King, and Cat Food

[@GigaliaTheGreat]

@@FatfighterXD1 Dammit.... *my favorite is a four way tie

[@baskervill2680]

Fallen Angel Waiting men Three of a perfect pair Starless There just are so many...

[@Honkadelic64]

I actually have spd and tbh the comparison of the current cultural apathy and alienation under capitalism to how I am is something I never considered before. although for most people its probably more stressful than it is to me.

[@lexisnek5476]

The end of this video makes me think of time when I have said something and wondered where that thought or feeling even came from. "We often have less control on who we become then we would like" I don't remember where I heard that

[@marksalmoneussorcerersupreme]

Is that the Tianjin Explosion 💥 15:27 I just saw that in a video, it's Frikkin terrifying.

[@feelshowdy]

I've always found the "Who's correct about what this piece of art means? Is that audience member right or wrong for feeling that way?" line of inquiry to be misleading. It's like, so what if they're wrong for finding sadness in a happy song? Their sadness is REAL, even as it is irreconcilable with the author's intent or the experience of other listeners. An author can't control your reaction to their work, no more than they can change your past lived experience that caused you to feel that way.

[@Ma_ksi]

hi gamers

[@Dorian_sapiens]

Hello!

[@thermalvision203]

Funny how Kanye West got away with sampling "21st Century Schizoid Man" in his song "Power" (kzbin.info/www/bejne/iYbXl2x3n9GhpZY ) in such a way that completely missed the point of the song, while if anyone else dares use a sample of the song in a way that discusses its ideas, let alone praises its ideas, gets the copyright hammer. Hmm, power dynamics, much, music industry?

[@livchamps9573]

How To Analyse King Crimson: SAID THE STRAIGHT MAN TO THE LATE MAN WHERE HAVE YOU BEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEN

[@Nanook128]

one thing that further complicates the idea of authorial intent is that most works of media these days have multiple people working on them and that those people may have conflicting ideas on what is the actual intent in a work. One of my favorite examples of this is the character Gus from the show breaking bad. Many fans suspect that Gus is gay, but the writer of the show claims this is not the case. however the actor who plays Gus says that he thinks Gus is gay, and shows to play him as such.

[@hyperfixatedd]

Amazing video, thanks a ton!

[@natangweiitula]

Oh my god. Stopped paying attention cause this is the first time I have EVER heard my mental Condition being spoken about in a video. Wow, this has made my day. Is this how it feels when people are happy to get representation/acknowledgement. 😂😂 so strange. Anyway i really enjoy what i am and have and id like to have a Schizoid personality disorder for the rest of my days. I love it, i never feel alone cause spending the day alone in my apartment is what i always feel like doing. Which should not make sense, disorders in terms of the word are not supposed to be what one should hope for, or what i grew up to feel i should think. I do have a girlfriend whom i am lucky and happy to love. It is just not terrible when she’s not with me. Okay, back to what this video was about 😂😂😂

[@natangweiitula]

I have finally found something i disagree with you on 😂 i dont feel that i am mentally ill or in a way thats bad if i am. I probably disagree with the artist as well cause I am not screaming in agony because of the condition like the “schizoid man on the cover is. But ill watch the video again maybe i am not understanding your intention. But solitude and apathy in my view is not negative and does not negatively affect my existence. I still have people, or maybe i am just not at the extreme of dissociation to feel that its bad and so i would probably not enjoy being in a social community. My tribe (the Owambo - Namibian tribe) is communal and the sense of togetherness and mutually beneficial living is very strong. But i never did feel happy in it even before i left the village and other forms of social relation became visible to me. Was always a loner even when being alone had no internet to entertain me. So yeah. 1 disagreement with your videos is great for my sense of agency

[@TheDeadmanTT]

Heya'll is Mauler in the alt right pipeline?

[@katbrooks6570]

Skittles is the one true lense

[@FrozenSpector]

Could you do a follow up including other art media? Eg: Robert Frost’s “The Road Not Taken”; this mis-represented poem is seen to praise the thing it is criticizing, but has become the iconic mass-interpretation (pun intended - mis/mass) of the work to the general public.

[@jackgude3969]

More like 21st century Skittles man amirite

[@JonathanRossignol]

#LFLR "Value Begins Within"

[@jordanthompson5696]

I generally agree with your analysis here. I was wondering, however, do you view your analysis as invalidating of Fripp's approach? I personally still find it to be a valuable way to manage your own art, as it can provide a new lens or context through which to receive it, even if the artist's efforts toward a 'pure reception' are destined for failure.

[@extrasavoirfaire2882]

With respect to the interpretation of a piece of music, shouldn't one also consider the composition of the song itself, especially in a conversation about authorial intent? While I find this to be a good analysis of the subject matter, I don't think one can really go further into discussion of what the song means without looking into what makes it. I for one find the section between verses 2 and 3, as well as the outro, to be integral parts of how one looks at the song, or at least what kind of feelings are trying to be evoked and I feel your analysis would have benefited from that. Anyway, cool video, can't wait for you to do Larks' Tongues in Aspic.

[@Brisarious]

but how does one read a text through the Skittles lens?

[@ThatOneGuy7550]

This video is so good

[@a1t3rmusic]

great video

[@Doornenstroom]

Nice to know one of my favourite youtubers is a big prog nerd. I was first introduced to the schizoid man by the cover the Norwegian band Shining made of the song. It's a pretty apocalyptic sounding version, or at the very least a loud as hell version. Have you ever heard this cover, and if so, what are your thoughts on it?

[@scrustle]

I'm sure Fripp loves what Kanye West did to change the context of his song.

[@baskervill2680]

Yeah, so much that he sued him as far as i know

[@andilehlubi8017]

This make jojo part 5's villain a little bit more interesting.

[@drix_6927]

In the court of the crimson kiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiing

[@anchoDePulso]

ahhhhhhh

[@BobLogical]

I liked the part where King Crimson made us skip forward in time.

[@nostopit179]

There is something about hearing you say “hella based” that just hits different

[@ErrorGaming64]

Another example is Tool's reluctance to move to online platforms

[@korinamassicott5044]

I was wondering why it took so long for them to be on Spotify

[@Cream12345Ice]

Thank you daddy

[@ryanmitchell5614]

I got into your videos fairly recently and they have made me entirely start reconsidering what my stance on politics is. So I’m wondering, what are your and skittles’ views on Andrew Yang and his ideas of universal basic income and human centered capitalism?

[@mohammadaminfatemi6219]

W