Ward’s animation is set to audio from fellow creator Duncan Trussell’s long running podcast, The Duncan Trussell Family Hour. In the “over-world” part of the story that takes place outside of the simulated planets, Clancy is neglecting the basic maintenance of his computer and simulating machine. This episode used a recording Duncan made when his mother was dying of cancer , which I still consider it to be one of the best fucking podcasts ever made. The image of one of the denizens above takes the pose of a multi-armed Hindu god implying that their harmony is the result of an enlightened, spiritual nature. Not even in animations. Doughty’s character represents the “Death” tarot card, one that is generally understood to signify change and not literal death. On that note, if anyone was confused by the “milking crows” in episode four, as well as in the end credits, my understanding is that it is some kind of “in-joke” from the podcast and not anything else in particular from esotericism or the like. The Midnight Gospel is American animated series for adults created by Pendleton Ward and Duncan Trussell, authors of the series Adventure Time. Regardless, episodes three, five, and seven are the most relevant for occult and esoteric studies). The cup (filled with what looks like wine or blood), the wand, the sword (or athame), and pentacle (represented by the pattern on the blue cushion). At that point, the damage is more or less done. I don’t expect one hundred percent accuracy, rather, I look for authenticity. This might lead the viewer to assume this series is nothing more than a modern Yellow Submarine, something to be consumed along with psychedelics, empty of anything more compelling. The computer describes it as the “paradise planet” where everyone lives in harmony and indulges in hedonism. The bright, energetic, and undeniably trippy animation are provided by the renowned Pendleton Ward (creator of Adventure Time). Deneen Fendigwas a minor character who so far onlyappeared in "Mouse of Silver". Occult studies, however, is a living art. Section 107 of the Copyright Act provides the statutory framework for determining whether something is a fair use and identifies certain types of uses-such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research-as examples of activities that may qualify as fair use. Artificially separating the two is detrimental to art and media. In March 2013, comedian and Podcast host Duncan Trussell broadcast one of the most touching episodes of his show, a conversation with his mother, Deneen Fendig, who was close to death after a long battle with cancer. Some of the visuals, like the use of the third eye, are shallower than others. Particularly egregious examples include Mel Gibson’s Braveheart and Apocalypto which both play fast and loose with history to the extent that they are neither accurate nor authentic. It is essentially a culmination of the themes of death and rebirth that the series has consistently used throughout. Deneen Fendig, Self: The Midnight Gospel. There are thematic elements which suggest much deeper understanding of the philosophy on display as well. Protected by Akismet | He literally sees his face superimposed over others’ and this makes him change how he treats them. It is designed around two thematic elements: imagery from the Rider-Waite version of the tarot deck and a traditional journey through the afterlife. Other than it’s not actually his mother– it’s Trussell’s, and if there was any doubt, she calls him Duncan instantly upon hisarrival Trussell’s late mother, Deneen Fendig, taped the audio for Trussell’s podcast in 2013, 3 weeks prior to she passed away. With tears in his eyes, the moon Clancy-Duncan states, “Well, I love you very much, obviously.” His mother, the world, responds: “I love you, too. She’s in my DNA, and she’s in me.”, The 2 continue their discussion about death, mother consoling child about accepting that we, and those we like, are all going to pass away. Other than it’s not actually his mother– it’s Trussell’s, and if there was any doubt, she calls him Duncan instantly upon hisarrival Trussell’s late mother, Deneen Fendig, taped the audio for Trussell’s podcast in 2013, 3 weeks prior to she passed away. More Details. Available on Netflix from April 20, 2020. I am personally not an expert in tarot and the practice is far from standardized. I’ve discussed at length death and rebirth which is the most obvious one and the through line for the entire season. In pursuing the metaphysical conversations with his spacecast guests, Clancy neglects the physical machine that makes those conversations possible. It was three weeks before she died. I would have never expected a project like this to exist outside of independent creators (which are experiencing a renaissance of sorts since the advent of Youtube and the likes of GoFundMe for financial backing). It is on Netflix so hopefully you have an account already or maybe have a friend with an account who is willing to go on this journey with you. Image: Netflix. Trussell informs Polygon the scene is the representation of a cycle he ended up being conscious of after ending up being a moms and dad. It may not take place right at the start of the show or series, however it typically takes place near it, or a minimum of functions as a speeding upevent In Trussell and Ward’s season 1 ending, it’s a numeration, and a reconciliation. It is up to the viewer to recognize and parse how and why a reference occurs in the story. In general, most spiritual teachers and schools advise some amount of attention paid to earthly concerns. This is my personal favorite episode and, in my opinion, the most effective representation of the show’s raison d’être. Their meaning is derived as much from our personal experience and perspective that we bring to the image or symbol as anything that the creator intended. Here is the classic Rider-Waite version for comparison: This won’t be the last time we see this figure represented in the series. While the conversation does veer into the use of psychedelics and other drugs in terms of spiritual development, this episode features little else in terms of relevant occult topics. Only the most extreme ascetics eschew everything up to and including bodily necessities like food and rest. #1) Mouse of Silver (guest star Deneen Fendig, a.k.a. The path outlined by the Major Arcana is wildly different in content as well as function, however, from that of the sephirot. In determining whether the use made of a work in any particular case is a fair use the factors to be considered shall include—. Already a transformative symbol by the nature of the snake shedding its skin, the addition of it swallowing its own tail to create a circle (or rarely an infinity symbol to double down on the imagery) is both elegantly simple and rich in meaning. Powered by CUNY, Chapter 1 – Circular 92 | U.S. This episode is an almost ideal balance superseded only by episode five in my opinion (as an aside, the final episode, number eight, seems to be a standout for most viewers but I didn’t find it as engaging probably due to a lack of personal experience to relate to it. It follows … The episode discovers its lead character, Clancy Gilroy, a spacecaster (thing podcaster, however through video, and in space), going into a simulated world looking for somebody to interview for his spacecast and finding himself, rather, on a spaceship with his mom. The visuals also heavily feature these themes. “Annihilation of Joy” is about the main theme running through the entire series: death and rebirth. Luckily, he falls in with a kindly “Love Barbarian” voiced by Trudy Goodman. While some of the topics I have detailed on this site drift into our current age, my academic focus tends to be on the Medieval and Renaissance eras. Deneen Fendig and Duncan Trussell Talk About Active Dying December 6, 2019 February 21, 2020 Vanessa Able In March 2013, comedian and Podcast host Duncan Trussell broadcast one of the most touching episodes of his show, a conversation with his mother, Deneen Fendig, who was close to death after a long battle with cancer. For those unfamiliar with the distinction, when a film, novel, or other piece of media bases their content on historical figures or time periods, accuracy would refer to making sure every event, line of dialogue, set piece, costume, etc., reflects what actually occurred. “Their bodies are gone, but I still have my mom. While not all Buddhists adhere to the concept, bardo is the place between life and death where the soul has an opportunity to see and learn things before they are reincarnated. The Midnight Gospel follows a spacecaster (video podcaster in space) named Clancy Gilroy who lives in a dimension called "The Chromatic Ribbon", where simulation farmers use powerful bio-computers to simulate universes to harvest technology. I won’t go into every possible interpretation of this episode. The Midnight Gospel asks a lot from its viewer, more than just about any mainstream media I have ever encountered. Animation is an art of astonishing range, however every as soon as in a while, a animation discovers a way to press the limits to the limitation. It was three weeks before she died. Taking a seat among characters spanning the season, he turns to a new face and asks “am I dead?”. Below is an example representation from an ancient amulet: In this episode, Clancy follows a fish in a bowl piloting a biomechanical body and his ship of cats while searching for some ice cream. Drew”) on the idea of “good” vs “bad” drugs. In a lot of episodes, Clancy’s conversational tone with his visitors is a mix of crude however smart joshing and observant unbiased marvel, even when talking about, or dealing with, the possibility ofdeath In fact, in the show’s penultimate episode, the visitor of his spacecast is Death, voiced by the mortician and author Caitlin Doughty, skillfully offering the setup for the episode to follow without exposing its hand. She’s in me. “For me, one of the odd things about losing a mother is that we don’t,” Trussell informs Polygon. The odd creature has a complicated history, one that is debated by archeologists as to its origin and purpose. Duncan’s own mom) which deals about how hurtful it is to say goodbye to those we love the most –even though they never really leave us. There’s a beautiful balance between being able to genuinely enjoy something because it’s fun and colorful but also sit down and research the signs and symbols that really do stand for a wealth of knowledge and history. It breaks down the false dichotomy between the serious, profound parts of our natures and the joyful, indulgent bouts of absurdity. Instead of the hall of the god Osiris, Bob’s soul is in the Buddhist state of bardo. This is a densely packed episode in terms of occult imagery. Deneen Fendig passed away peacefully April 3, 2013, at Elizabeth House Hospice Center near Hendersonville. Through a series of transformations, including Clancy giving birth to his own mother in a role reversal or sorts, the two end as planets (pictured above) with Clancy/Duncan’s mother dissolving into a black hole with a golden ouroboros at its center. I would be hard pressed to name any movie or series that was genuinely authentic with its occult or esoteric content (Aronofsky’s film The Fountain is one of the few, along with As Above, So Below which largely stays true to occult philosophy while being rather dull and unsuccessful as a movie). They prioritized wisdom discovered by the self over the law of the church. The images and content on this page regarding The Midnight Gospel are under “Fair Use” for educational purposes as well as commentary. I work as the Content Writer for Gaming Ideology. The last metaphor I’d like to point out is less overt and it ties into the practical aspects of spiritual practices. Gnostics were labeled as heretics for exactly this reason. Some of the other episodes suffer from the lack of cohesion between their audio and visual components. An insistent popup ad for a “Braxis Avatar” essentially strong arms him into selecting the odd chicken headed, snake limbed creature for his next venture. I’m not aware of spoons having any particular meaning in occult or esoteric traditions but that doesn’t mean they don’t have one. I would certainly love the opportunity to overanalyze new episodes. Clancy joins his mother on an emotional journey through the wondrous cycle of birth, life and death. The shoes that Clancy collects are never mentioned or expounded upon but the most obvious interpretation would be a physical representation of “walking in someone’s shoes” which is essentially what Clancy is doing through his interviews. With Deneen Fendig, Duncan Trussell's late mother. Every year, BoJack Horseman does a showstopper episode, ... Deneen Fendig, recorded three weeks before she passed away in 2013. This is why I feel compelled to include this page despite it being somewhat off topic. This is why I, like I imagine most viewers were, was left struggling to process what was even happening. Bob starts to see himself in the other prisoners and the guards who threaten him or impede his escape. Short of straight up documentaries, Netflix (of which this is a featured, original production) doesn’t have anything else comparable. Help | Contact Us | Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Image Credits | Creative Commons (CC) license unless otherwise noted, Built with WordPress | Clancy meets Death incarnate, voiced by the morbidly delightful Caitlin Doughty. Despite his deep respect for and diligent study of eastern religion and philosophy (to the point of him being ordained in Rinzai Zen) he ultimately got more out of ceremonial magic because of its basis in western culture. Genres. I think the strongest correlation is that both are indicative of a process or journey by which a soul grows and is enlightened. The first episode features an interview with Dr. Drew Pinsky (known for his media personality as “Dr. In her only appearance, Geneen proved to understand and explain concepts such as death, meditation, and the cycle of life very well. In the conversation, they talk about her impending death, grief, attachment, relationships, change, resistance, suffering, personal work, and inner growth. I want to support projects like this, big and small, in what little way I can. It’s an effort practically sure to make all of its audiences sob while also inquiring to find out: that your heart needs to be broken for it to actually be open, that we need to accept that we will pass away however that we do not need to like it, and that even in death no one can really be lost. While it seems as though I went over quite a bit of the series and revealed quite a few of its secrets, I know I’ve missed or didn’t recognize more than a few. There are some references in this show that are just window dressing. You believed a actual discussion with death was a swing, huh? So, to help the uninitiated better understand and appreciate this unlikely gem, here is my analysis. The conversation in the show centers around related topics and how to apply them to your life while Trudy seeks out her lost lover. The closest match I could find to the specific pose (which denotes different things depending on the number and position of the arms) was with the creator god Brahma: Even the name of the planet, a portmanteau of “Mercury” and “Margaritaville”, implies a connection with either the astrological facets of the planet mercury or Mercury’s Roman equivalent Hermes (namesake of Hermes Trismegistus of the hermetic occult traditions). She was born on June 21, 1947, in Brunswick, Ga. to parents Gladys Gowen Fendig and Albert Fendig Sr. Deneen spent her childhood on St. Simons Island and developed her love for nature among the moss covered oaks and the marshes of Glynn. The subject is an ancient Assyrian protective spirit that reinforces the dialogue’s discussion of ceremonial magic having originated in the area of the ancient city of Nippur in modern day Iraq. I would love to know if there is significance behind the name of Clancy’s avatar (Nell Noheem) from episode five. The former has more application to individual lives, both physical and spiritual, whereas the Kabbalah is decidedly focused on G*d’s relation to the physical world, creation, and the G*dhead itself. Some elements are just there to be enjoyed. Careful, the water is surprisingly deep…). I play Quake like professionally. The human struggle over the momentary nature of life are main to The Midnight Gospel, and this episode is its conclusion. Her clarity, rational, and understanding of death was so complete and perfect that it made me even less afraid. The cards known as the “Major Arcana” or “Trump Cards” in the standard 78 card tarot deck are generally the most recognized. The content of the dialogue doesn’t help to ease the viewer into the experience either. © 2021 Gaming Ideology. And those possibilities do not occur really typically. They are numbered, starting with The Fool as “0” and ending with The World as “21”, and represent a kind of life or spiritual narrative when read one after another in order. The silver item appears to be a bell of some sort which is another common addition to western esoteric altars. It also ends, without losing any of its strangeness, with one of the most detaining representations of considering maternal loss in the history of the medium. Part of the journey through the afterlife, as documented in the Egyptian Book of the Dead, was judgement. Its premise alone is something so unusual I didn’t even catch on until the second episode of its, so far, brief eight episode run. It wasn’t like viewing The Land Prior to Time, where death is a suggestion of how hard the roadway will be ahead, or Neon Genesis Evangelion, which highlights the fear of relying on people in its wake, and even Steven Universe, which discovers its lead character concerning terms with his mother’s tradition, and how it has changes and formed him after she is gone. I’m as certain of that as I am of anything.”. Duncan Trussell and Pendleton Ward’s The Midnight Gospel is one of those animations. To my knowledge there isn’t really a precedent for this combination, animation and podcast. Episode 1 is titled, "Taste of the King" and is directed, Pendelton Ward. If it was heavy with sin, the heart would be fed to the monster Ammit and the soul would be destroyed. With Deneen Fendig, Duncan Trussell's late mother. The series finale is a heartbreaking, emotionally powerful episode that features Trussell's late mother Deneen Fendig. She was a psychologist and mother of Clancy and his two siblings. With its ending, “Mouse of Silver,” The Midnight Gospel matched the almost unmatchable Steven Universe, The Land Prior To Time and Neon Genesis Evangelion at the grim game of depicting sorrow. As Clancy prepares to enter the simulator again, his flippant disregard for basic internet safety has landed him with a distracting virus. What follows below is meant to provide analysis of the content in regards to its occult and esoteric references. The Midnight Gospel is an American adult animated streaming television series created by … Clancy first selects a world from a touch screen, then an avatar to be his temporary body, and inserts his head into an attached pod. According to Polygon, Fendig recorded the audio for his son’s podcast back in 2013. “My guru says everything’s perfect,” Trussell states. The machine then hurls his avatar onto the surface of the simulated world. Except as otherwise provided in this title, as used in this title, the following terms and their variant forms mean the following: An “anonymous work” is a work on the copies or phonorecords of which no natural person is identified as author. You can also watch The Midnight Gospel on demand at Netflix online. The summary above should set you up so you aren’t too lost. Below is copied from copyright.gov with additional links to relevant information: Notwithstanding the provisions of sections 106 and 106A, the fair use of a copyrighted work, including such use by reproduction in copies or phonorecords or by any other means specified by that section, for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching (including multiple copies for classroom use), scholarship, or research, is not an infringement of copyright. Watch offline. There are so many more that are subtle and interpretable signs relating to themes of religion, spirituality, life, death, and enlightenment. The dialogue from this episode is taken from Duncan Trussell Family Hour Podcast, Episode 147 with Drew Pinsky. The final episode I will let speak for itself for the most part. Clancy inquires if the bag is “a metaphor or something” to which the bag responds with a shrug. (4) the effect of the use upon the potential market for or value of the copyrighted work. Why is the character’s ship crewed by equally clever yet adorably distracted felines? Instead of killing his way up the floors to the hole in the roof, Bob works with other escapees and spares the lives of the overwhelmed guards. I also won’t be discussing too much of the parts that don’t relate directly to the occult or esoteric. Generally it is associated with the “Archons” of Gnosticism, though its appearance on protective amulets suggests a more varied use in mystical practice. The way that The Midnight Gospel balances the irreverent and the deeply meaningful tones creates a contrast that not only grabs the audience’s attention but constantly throws a spotlight on the otherwise difficult esoteric concepts by the comparison. The soul’s heart was weighed against the “Feather of Truth”. In my experience, modern mainstream media doesn’t invest in the authenticity of occultism despite the low bar of admission. FLAT ROCK - Deneen Fendig passed away peacefully April 3, 2013, at Elizabeth House Hospice Center near Hendersonville. Upon blowing the horn, a third eye opens on his avatar’s forehead and he is thrust out of the machine and back to reality. The thing that I don’t understand, but that is real, and that we were trying to get across in that episode is that it is perfect. I would love to hear from anyone with thoughts via email or the site’s forum (also linked at the top of the page). The fact that a work is unpublished shall not itself bar a finding of fair use if such finding is made upon consideration of all the above factors. That’s the other reason I think that this format and mixed tone is so successful is that not everything has to mean something. It’s a chance to accept the excellence, agonizing as it might be, of the cycle of life, and of the love that makes it manageable and excruciating at the really exact same time. “And it’s one of the great teachings that maybe takes lifetimes to understand. Clancy’s journey through the afterlife begins after he falls into his own satchel, a TARDIS-like space which contains not only piles of items but an entire populated world. For Trussell, the opportunity to collaborate with Ward was a no-brainer. When Clancy is finished interviewing someone for his “spacecast”, he reaches into his bag for a horn. Copyright Office, Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International. And this opens them.” Because minute, the 2 are launched together into space, Clancy-Duncan’s born-again mother changing into a sentient world and he into an orbiting moon, both pulled faster and much faster through space towards a growing black hole. (Note: While I don’t think this is the kind of experience you can necessarily “spoil”, I recommend you go watch the full series now if you haven’t already. Episode 7 - Turtles of the Eclipse. She was a psychologist. The Midnight Gospel is a truly unique experience in so many ways. The final episode I will let speak for itself for the most part. I realized about halfway through the season, that I found the nonchalant delivery easy and fun to listen to. An Online Resource for Magic, Mysticism, Metaphysics, and More. Behind them, as they roam about the ship, a personnel of sentient teddy bears carry out a series of clinical research studies in social connection and the inevitability ofdeath About a 3rd of the way into the episode, Clancy-Duncan, having actually aged years in the brief period of the discussion, tucks his now-elderly mother down into a bed, where she passes away. Most blockbusters aren’t concerned with accuracy because they value spectacle and story over intricate details the majority of moviegoers wouldn’t even notice. Clancy finally comes to a stop in the cell of the mute prisoner Bob, who bit off his own tongue in a fit of anger, and Bob’s “Soul Bird” voiced by Jason Louv (author and practitioner). He lives again, he dies again, he is judged, he fails, and the cycle repeats. Episodes The Midnight Gospel. My biological mother passed away in front of my eyes prior to I was 5 years of ages– the age, as Clancy-Duncan’s mother states in the episode, at which she thinks the individual somebody will be as they grow is essentially set– and I have actually been viewing animations that handle maternal loss practically fanatically considering that. Special guests include Phil Hendrie, Stephen Root, Drew Pinsky, Damien Echols, Trudy Goodman, Jason Louv, Caitlin Doughty, Michael Marcanio, Maria Bamford, Joey Diaz, David Nichtern, and Deneen Fendig. Trussell’s own late mother, Deneen Fendig, is the episode’s interviewee, discussing life, the universe, and everything. ... Clancy joins his mother on an emotional journey through the wondrous cycle of birth, life and death. Duncan Trussell - Net Worth, Wife, Girlfriend, Quotes, Cancer ... Trudy Goodman and Dr. Drew, each episode features conversations between Clancy and a being from a distant planet, touching on such themes as meditation, hope and death. Aside from episode five’s title, “Annihilation of Joy”, the rest of the episode titles don’t have a clear meaning or correlation to me. Everyone is connected in this way, but few realize it. The only other things to note is how the visuals, based on the world being overrun with zombies, relates to the season’s overarching theme of death and rebirth (zombies arguably being a perversion of the natural order). Together they discuss the miracle of life, the suffering that existence brings to the human life and the detestable pain that death brings with it. You have entered an incorrect email address! I haven’t reviewed his entire guest list as far as the podcast goes, but for The Midnight Gospel all of them do approach esoteric, occult, and spiritual themes from their own individual experience and viewpoints. The meaning of the spoons and the devilish looking man who plays them is also a mystery to me. They don’t match the corresponding podcast episode title and only a few have words even tangentially related to the episode’s content. After taking the (mostly) classical form of death as a black robed reaper, Doughty discusses how modern American sensibilities and misinformation about death evolved from the Civil War era and how it has impacted our relationship to our own and others’ deaths.

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