Game-playing, bull-leaping and laurel wreaths

The-O Ring and The Bull Ring as Spectacular Archetypes (Part #8)

The images and animations above suggest an extraordinary symbolic interplay between integrative significance, associated with the ring and the sphere, and the cognitive modalities from which the feminine is so strangely excluded -- although so intimately present through the problematically participative role of those modalities as spectators of theatre on a global scale.

Game-playing: This follows strangely from the mythical game-playing of the gods, now rehearsed globally through heavy investment in the Olympic Games and their global appreciation. This is echoed strangely by continuing practice of the so-called Great Game, now framed by a new Noopolitik (Playing the Great Game with Intelligence: Authority versus the People, 2013). Curiously many forms of popular games and wars "of the gods" now feature as the central theme of much-appreciated fantasy gaming -- a modern form of imaginal education.

The Olympiad theme is also sustained through a pattern of International Science Olympiads -- of which the oldest is the annual International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO). Highly appropriate to the geometric imagery of the argument above is its logo (on left below). Similarly relevant, with respect to the pattern of interlocking circles (discussed above), are the Borromean rings interlocking in 3D (on right below).

Logo of the International Mathematical Olympiad (reproduced from Wikipedia; see IMO animation)	Logo of International Mathematical Union (see Wolfram Mathematica animation)

Whereas the earliest origins of the Olympic Games in Minoan Crete featured bulls (and bull-leaping), and later variants featured nude athletes, the modern Olympic Games feature surrogates of various kinds -- consistent with a pattern of cognitive avoidance -- exemplified by the separation of male and female, whatever their relative size or strength. The surrogates include track and field sports and gymnastics within a closed stadium, as well as shooting sports. Strangely reminiscent of the skills of bull-leaping -- from which it can be understood to have developed -- the gymnastics include uneven bars, balance beam, vault. pommel horse, still rings, parallel bars, and the high bar. Shooting naturally involves a target -- with the aspiration to score a "bull's eye".

Although there are science olympiads, there are none for the belief systems sustained by theology and theosophy. What would an International Theological Olympiad look like -- and how might it differ from the Parliament of the World's Religions? Curiously in the case of both the sciences and the belief systems, with their explicit recognition of the "fields" of their respective disciplines, a variety of "field sports" could be considered recognizable as the arenas provided by international conferences.

The choice of the logos above is especially intriguing as indicative of a fundamental appreciation of a form of circular interlocking relevant to the cognitive complexity by which the tetrahedron is engendered (as noted above). However, in terms of the cognitive significance of a spectacle and the intimacy of participation in it, as argued above, the complex of circles -- the O-ring -- can be understood as combining the role of an attractor, the form of the vagina (as a target), a game-playing arena, and the fertile potential for renewal through an egg. Beyond framing the tetrahedron, the complex might then be understood as defining a multidimensional global form with which the powerful attraction of an egg is associated (Complexification of globalization and toroidal transformation, 2010). This attraction combines that of a sense of integrity and consummation in the moment.

Bull horns and laurel wreaths: Especially relevant to this argument, through the functional trace back to bull-leaping, is the manner in which the configuration of some gymnastic challenges echoes the cognitive skills required in the past -- and the engagement with risk. The challenge could be said to have been dubiously and unconsciously transmogrified -- even neutered. This is strangely evident in the manner of response to the "horns of dilemma" -- presented as a Wikipedia essay introduced by reference to dilemma, as being Greek for "two premises" and likened to the front end of an angry and charging bull. The essay is illustrated by the following image (on the left).

The current game-playing within various arenas -- O-rings in their own right, with their various targets -- can then be understood as having "de-horned" the dangers of dilemmas in favour of enabling an "o'er leaping" of threat in the present moment -- as suggested by Shakespeare (But here, upon this bank and shoal of time. We'd jump the life to come). This might even be considered a central characteristic of political decision-making (Vigorous Application of Derivative Thinking to Derivative Problems, 2013).

Bull horns indicative of the horns of a dilemma (reproduced from Wikipedia)	Laurel wreath (reproduced from Wikipedia)

More curious is the manner in which victorious Olympic athletes were originally rewarded with laurel wreaths for their gymnastic achievements. This followed from depictions of the head gear of deities. In Imperial Rome they were symbols of martial victory, crowning a successful commander during his triumph. Their depiction in ancient times was a horseshoe shape, whereas modern versions are usually complete rings -- and, with respect to success in any field, are only awarded metaphorically. Such an award is currently evident in the form of the laureates of Nobel Prizes and Gandhi Peace Awards -- perhaps to be understood as recognition of excellence in "cognitive gymnastics". Many now hope to "rest upon their laurels".

It could be considered remarkable that the original laurel wreath echoed the visual form of the bull's horns -- and the existential challenge they represented. Their form and symbolism also frames the male target of sexual intercourse within a typical "missionary configuration" of female legs during that process -- as explicitly described by the French phrase: une partie de jambes en l'air. The question is even asked: Pourquoi les hommes sont prêt a tout pour une partie de jambes en l'air?.

Sexual intercourse in the missionary position
(depicted by édouard-Henri Avril, reproduced from Wikipedia)

The laurel wreath, in its horseshoe form, is central to the logos of many international organizations, most notably the United Nations and its agencies. Strangely relevant to this argument, it frames a circle, symbolizing the planetary globe. This offers a complex of associations through bull-fighting, intercourse, targetting the quest for an "egg" through which humanity can be sustained -- together with "development", and the "structural adjustment" for which the IMF is renowned (as noted above). Are UN processes to be understood in terms of une partie de jambes en l'air?

This "story" can be explored through a set of images, as undertaken separately (Transformation of Global Governance through Bullfighting: visual symbols and geometric metaphors, 2009). Some of these are presented and commented below. As indicated by the first, it is within this ring that the matador confronts the bull, as with any confrontation with otherness or between polar opposites (right/wrong, positive/negative, female/male, etc). Contrasting colours are used to indicate such incommensurable differences.

Schematic relationships between Bull and Matador

As a result of a simplifying "executive" decision, the emergent order on its own, readily lends itself to the simplistic representation of other panels -- with a consequent difficulty in encompassing the "excised" complexity implicit in the representation.

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Schematic relationships between Bull and Matador

The challenge of any "other" (epitomized by the bull) having been overcome, the victor (the matador) now "rests on the laurels" -- emblematic of that victory. Differences have been eliminated, or can be ignored, as a result of that achievement -- or so it may be assumed. Harmony is implied.	From a global perspective, the laurel branches now frame an understanding of globality and integrity. Global differences are assumed to have been indistinguishably harmonized in an ordered world of higher values. Underlying discordant dynamics can be ignored -- having been cut out as a disassociation from the Dionysian -- identifying Zeus with Apollonian values.	The ends of the laurel branches are opened to "release" global understanding in both its planetary and integrative senses. It can now be understood as finite but unbounded rather than constrained by a grid. As such it is now associated symbolically with a range of Sun god symbolism.

The images above raise the provocative question as to whether the break in the laurel wreath implies an inability to recognize any complex cycle and to address strategic issues which take cyclic form (Web resources on "breaking the cycle", 2002). Is the use of the laurel wreath in UN logos an indication of the extent to which a process of "resting upon laurels" has been institutionalized?

Reverting to strategic dilemma, as implied by the form of the bull's horns (as echoed by the laurel wreath), is there a fundamental inability to "grasp the bull by the horns" -- as suggested, for example, by David Alexander (Grasp this Bull by the Horns! Making our energy and environment plans, Planet Thoughts)?

Transgender spectacle? In the period in which this text was written, the world has been exposed to a striking confrontation of images disseminated globally by the media. On the the one hand this has taken the form of enhanced exposure to declarations of politicians variously imbued by the theo modalities -- notably in anticipation of a critical European election. On the other, and improbably, the 2014 European Song Contest engendered and crowned Conchita Wurst, a transgender person, dressed as a female and with a substantial beard.

Commentary makes it abundantly clear that the declarations of politicians are uninteresting and unmemorable -- especially to the young, expected to exacerbate the democratic deficit. By contrast, approval of the singer reflects recognition of interestingness, suggestiveness and memorability -- especially for the young.

It remains to be discovered what insights emerge from this development -- most notably with respect to the binary thinking so characteristic of the theo modalities (Transcending Simplistic Binary Contractual Relationships, 2012; Marrying an Other whatever the Form: reframing and extending the understanding of marriage, 2013).

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Game-playing, bull-leaping and laurel wreaths