Atlas Shrugged

[justynius]

I posted this in response to a message on the MyGNR forum, but since it required some critical thought and reflection I thought it might be worthy of the attention of the superior board. Feel free to rip away if you think I was wrong. If not, I think it would be good for people to read this.....

By nunchuck on Jun 16 2006, 08:42 PM:

Fuckin hell, 'Atlas Shrugged'?!. Like, what the fuck is that supposed to mean?!
Where do people get this shit? i mean, really?!

It's from Greek mythology. Atlas was on the side of the Titans, so when the Olympians took over they punished him by making him hold up the heavens on his shoulders so they wouldn't touch the earth. He's a victim accepting of an unfair punishment, but even worse is the fact that his suffering only works to reinforce the world of those punishing him. If he stopped holding up the heavens, the Olympians could fall. Atlas shrugging would signify a revolt against the oppressor's command and a refusal to be a slave, pretty much the central idea behind everything 'Chinese Democracy' is about.

The analogous situation would be musicians who prostitute out their talents to the record companies. The record companies are absolutely nothing without the musicians who make the music they sell. Yet, far too often today, it is the musicians who submit to what kind of music the record companies tell them they have to make and how much time they have to create it. So an 'Atlas Shrugged' in this example might be someone who takes 14 years to make the record they want, as opposed to other musicians who meet the record companies' demands of about 8 months.

I think I figured out 'Patience' and it is suggestive of the same idea. Figuratively, the girl is representative of the record company eager to cash in, while the speaker in the song is the artist who needs patience in order to be able to create something original and lasting (not 'stuck in the crowd' of ordinary, transitory songs). And if you're willing to accept that interpretation, then the whistling at the beginning becomes a pretty funny inside joke - because it is sort of like suggesting GN'R was so rushed to produce the song that they didn't even have time to write lyrics for the first verse. Axl needing to read the words in the music video would be the same idea.

[johnnythunders24]

also a kick ass book by ayn rand 

[bucketman]

excellent interpretation. that is one this board needs is more sophisitcation. there are far too many "what are axls favorite clothes" threads here, as well as too many fucking retards who don't bother to read intelligent theories about content and context of relevent thoughts and are quick to bash. you will probably get bashed for putting more than two minutes of thought into explaining Greek mythology. I salute you.

[Gunner80]

Great post.

[Layne Staley's Sunglasses]

That's deep man, real deep.

[Catt]

This conspiracy thing always attracted Axl...it's an aquarius thing...and  moon in pisces thing

[Gordi]

Very nice work   I think it's great to have these kinds of discussion and analysis on the board. Well done. Very interesting read, that's the great thing about music, it's all about how the individual interprets it, and what it means to them, as opposed to having a meaning spelt out in black and white.

[ShotgunBlues1978]

There's actually a simpler explanation.  "Atlas Shrugged" is the title of a famous book by Ayn Rand.  The is known for being highly political and philosophical.  If there is a song entitled Atlas Shrugged that GnR recorded, it probably has something in common with some of the thematic content in the book

[GunnerOne 84]

There's actually a simpler explanation.  "Atlas Shrugged" is the title of a famous book by Ayn Rand.  The is known for being highly political and philosophical.  If there is a song entitled Atlas Shrugged that GnR recorded, it probably has something in common with some of the thematic content in the book

The 2nd poster already mentioned the book, and the book's title directly references the Greek Titan Atlas, who in fact was sentanced to hold up the world. The book relates to this myth by having the thinkers and great minds effectivly go on strike. The correlation between the two is if Atlas had shrugged when holding up the world, it would have been thrown into chaos, just as it would be if all the intellectual thinkers in the world suddenly stopped their work. They in fact stop their work as a result of the government becoming a dictatorship, and the strike is done in protest of the strictness of the government.

[Scabbie]

There's actually a simpler explanation.? "Atlas Shrugged" is the title of a famous book by Ayn Rand.? The is known for being highly political and philosophical.? If there is a song entitled Atlas Shrugged that GnR recorded, it probably has something in common with some of the thematic content in the book

Just finished the book. Its quite a read, great in some parts, a little tiring in others. Based upon the theories of objectivism (very pro-capitalism). A good conspiracy novel.

[Doc Emmett Brown]

If there's also a song titled 'We the Living', then we know uncle Axl has definitely been reading Ayn Rand    I enjoyed The Fountainhead the most though. 

I hope we get some long interviews with Axl talking about the lyrics, once the album is out...

[Shirell]

OMG I've got a brain ache!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Eternal Flaming Sword of Death...]

not sure, but I read that there's a musician in Atlas Shruugged that makes great music that is not accepted by the public, and he just goes away. He keeps making music that is great, but is never publicly released.

I have not read the book, so I cannot say if this is true or not, but it seems interesting.....

[Thorne]

It's posts like this (and peoples positive response to said posts) that makes HTGTH a superior message board to be a part of!

Your theory seems to make alot of sense and probably holds true.....

If so then my admiration for Axl just increased a couple of points!

[Olorin]

Nice post.

But what is the story behind the Atlas Shrugged song title? Where did it originate?

[EFISH]

cool post! glad you got to share that...




'Atlas Shrugged'...

i never heard of that as a roumored song title.. is it one?

[Thorne]

Yeah...apparanty it was leaked on a message board but the link was taken down soon after by the poster....so only a handful of people have heard it.....well that's the impression I got anyway!

[ROSE22]

I posted this in response to a message on the MyGNR forum, but since it required some critical thought and reflection I thought it might be worthy of the attention of the superior board. Feel free to rip away if you think I was wrong. If not, I think it would be good for people to read this.....

By nunchuck on Jun 16 2006, 08:42 PM:

Fuckin hell, 'Atlas Shrugged'?!. Like, what the fuck is that supposed to mean?!
Where do people get this shit? i mean, really?!

It's from Greek mythology. Atlas was on the side of the Titans, so when the Olympians took over they punished him by making him hold up the heavens on his shoulders so they wouldn't touch the earth. He's a victim accepting of an unfair punishment, but even worse is the fact that his suffering only works to reinforce the world of those punishing him. If he stopped holding up the heavens, the Olympians could fall. Atlas shrugging would signify a revolt against the oppressor's command and a refusal to be a slave, pretty much the central idea behind everything 'Chinese Democracy' is about.

The analogous situation would be musicians who prostitute out their talents to the record companies. The record companies are absolutely nothing without the musicians who make the music they sell. Yet, far too often today, it is the musicians who submit to what kind of music the record companies tell them they have to make and how much time they have to create it. So an 'Atlas Shrugged' in this example might be someone who takes 14 years to make the record they want, as opposed to other musicians who meet the record companies' demands of about 8 months.

I think I figured out 'Patience' and it is suggestive of the same idea. Figuratively, the girl is representative of the record company eager to cash in, while the speaker in the song is the artist who needs patience in order to be able to create something original and lasting (not 'stuck in the crowd' of ordinary, transitory songs). And if you're willing to accept that interpretation, then the whistling at the beginning becomes a pretty funny inside joke - because it is sort of like suggesting GN'R was so rushed to produce the song that they didn't even have time to write lyrics for the first verse. Axl needing to read the words in the music video would be the same idea.

fuckin' awesome dude............i actually have goosebumps. incredible. great interpretation and i believe it to be right on. ?

[ppbebe]

It's from Greek mythology. Atlas was on the side of the Titans, so when the Olympians took over they punished him by making him hold up the heavens on his shoulders so they wouldn't touch the earth. He's a victim accepting of an unfair punishment, but even worse is the fact that his suffering only works to reinforce the world of those punishing him. If he stopped holding up the heavens, the Olympians could fall. Atlas shrugging would signify a revolt against the oppressor's command and a refusal to be a slave, pretty much the central idea behind everything 'Chinese Democracy' is about.

I'm uncertain of the central idea behind everything 'Chinese Democracy' is about Till it comes out.
But your point of view is intriguing all the same.

Mythologies are interesting.
There's another heroic figure called Prometheus who got punished by Zeus for giving human beings fire. His penalty is more appalling than Atlas's.
He's chained to a precipice where numerous eagles come to eat his organs alive everyday forever, as he's an immortal Titan.
Doesn't this whole Titans v Olympians story remind you of Lucifer/Satan v Heaven?

[Nighteyes]

Great post
I think it might be right
and I love mythology