The following is from "The Devil and Miss Prym" - Paulo Coelho, and is a popular myth about the painting. I guess the point is that we all are capable of good and bad. The question now is what is stopping us from the evil that we can do? (I'm still reading the book la) Just sharing...
"When Leonardo Da Vinci was creating The Last Supper, he encountered a serious problem: he had to depict Good - in the person of Jesus - and Evil - in the figure of Judas, the friend who resolves to betray him during the meal. He stopped work on the painting until he could find his ideal models.
'One day, when he was listening to a choir, he saw in one of the boys the perfect image of Christ. He invited him to his studio and made sketches and studies of his face.
'Three years went by. The last supper was almost complete, but Leonardo had still not found the perfect model for Judas. The Cardinal responsible for the church started to put pressure on him to finish the mural.
'After many days spent vainly searching, the artist came across a prematurely aged youth, in rags and lying drunk in the gutter. With some difficulty, he persuaded his assistants to bring the fellow directly to the church, since there was no time left to make preliminary sketches.
'The beggar was taken there, not quite understanding what was going on. He was propped up by Leonardo's assistants, while Leonardo copied the lines of impiety and egotism so clearly etched on his features.
'When he finished, the beggar, who had sobered up slightly, opened his eyes and saw the picture before him. With a mixture of horror and sadness he said:
"I've seen that picture before!"
"When?" asked an astonished Leonardo.
"Three years ago, before I lost everything I had, at a time when I used to sing in a choir and my life was full of dreams. The artist asked me to pose as the model for the face of Jesus"'.
That was a description of Joker in the book. For those of you who don't know where the hell Arkham Asylum is, it is actually a fictional psychiatric hospital in DC Universe (universe where Superman & Batman exists). It is located near Gotham City, so it is rather closely related to Batman's stories. In any case, I never quite liked Batman since young. I guess the cartoon pretty much sucked. The movies were nice when you are young I guess. After reading Arkham Asylum (focus is on Batman entering the asylum), I found that the movies have not done any justice to the comics. The darkness of Gotham were taken over of green lights from riddles n stuff. I don't know about the latest film that was out like yrs ago.
In any case, I found the quote about a madman (Joker) rather interesting. Looking it from another perspective, don't you just want to be this person? To exhibit the charisma and confidence to be a new him everyday, not fearing any dislikes and daring to break all the laws and bonds. I guess I could become a criminal one day just to break free of all the constraints.
On a separate note, I guess the one month away from everything was great. I guess I never really got over the issue beginning of last sem. My semester suffered. There were moments of desperations. (Not exactly the right word but watever) I THINK it is over now I hope.
I guess a year ago I would have welcomed such a conversation as I was making an attempt (small but still an attempt) to find a religion. I guess the result of my search was an answer rather than a religion. I believe in the existence of a god but essentially it doesn't matter whether this being or these beings exist at all. I do not need verification for it either. Agnosticism? Further to this, I also feel that all religions are essentially true to as close as they can get to the truth. This explains my inability to commit to a religion. I still pray in temples but only for the peace of mind that years of superstitions have got me.
Here is an article in Times magazine. I have not completed it.. "Is God Dead?"
Btw, I caught sight of a rescue mission at Clementi MRT station earlier. Somebody went under the train. I guess it is natural to stay and see how the person is doing or how the mission turns out. However, it is kind of weird to see people whipping out their cameras/handphones to take photos of it.
We are but narrow-minded fools.
On a separate note, the most attitude line of the month, "Ya la... Good for you lo."
On a separate note, the most racist line I have heard thus far was, 'Ten of them is only 1 of us.' I guess we are all a little racist but THAT is just too much. Especially when the same amount of conviction was placed when the teller was questioned for the line. Talking bad about people in their faces too but in our language. We are not exactly the best people around.
Photos from Paris will be left for later.