BoC + Illuminatus Trilogy & Discordianism

[SamuraiDrifter]

It's been mentioned before that Boards of Canada are fans of postmodern science fiction author Robert Anton Wilson (see the 1998 interview "Age of Aquarius") and have made reference to elements that appear in his Illuminatus Trilogy (as well as the satirical religion Discordianism, with which Wilson was heavily involved). But I've been reading Illuminatus Trilogy lately and thought it'd be worth discussing this connection in more depth, as it goes a bit further than I initially realized.

So, first of all, what is the Illuminatus Trilogy? Without giving too much away, it's a bizarre, darkly comedic, heavily philosophical and political series of novels in which a cast of colorful characters stumble through basically every conspiracy imaginable, from Illuminati assassinations to Satanic rituals.

To start with, here's a list of references I've caught so far:

-Fnord

In the books "Fnord" is a word that makes people feel a sense of fear and unease, but which they are programmed to subconsciously ignore. Newspapers, books, etc. are filled with fnords to prevent people from thinking critically, while advertisements have none, encouraging a consumerist culture.

As mentioned on BOCpages, Magic Window was listed on the old BoC website as "Magic Window Fnord," implying that there was perhaps a track there that we have been subliminally programmed to not hear.

Another fnord shows up on Newcleardawn.com: "Frontline Net Observation Research and Development," or "F.N.O.R.D."

-The 23 Enigma

23 repeatedly shows up as a sacred number to Discordians in Illuminatus, with characters minutely analyzing how everything ties back to 23. Geogaddi has 23 tracks and the final number mentioned in Aquarius is 23, with Version 3 making a point to repeat 23 five times (The Law of Fives is another important element in Discordianism; indeed, 23 is considered to be significant because 2+3=5).

-The Eye in the Pyramid

The first book in Illuminatus is titled "The Eye in the Pyramid" and the symbol repeatedly shows up throughout the story. This symbol appears prominently on newcleardawn.com

On top of that though, there are other, minor connections. A crucial scene in the first book takes place in a bar called "The Friendly Stranger." Many events of the book (the first one at least, which I'm at the end of) occur in 1969.

For the most part, I think these are tongue in cheek references to a book series they enjoy, but I do think there's a (particularly funny) element that hints at what they're going for artistically: BoC's references to the book's numerology.

Illuminatus, which is as much a satire of conspiracy theories as a philosophical novel in its own right, is heavily sarcastic in its use of numerology, and Robert Anton Wilson himself said that the 23 enigma represents nothing but the human brain's ability to find order and patterns in randomness. To me this suggests that BoC's reference to it is a put on, a subtle acknowledgement that they're not believers in mystical properties of numbers so much as interested in how our minds interpret the world. The fact that they have their fans meticulously analyzing dates and times to find clues about their next release means we've played right into their hands. With just a couple of satirical numerological references we've built a whole mythos and model for making predictions- an interpretation of the facts.

Has anyone else read Illuminatus? How do you think it relates to BoC's work? Are there other references I've missed?

[arvy]

Sorry for hijacking your thread, SamuraiDrifter. It isas all cool and that, but I more curious what BOC think of letting a 7 year kid to wear an anti corona mask...If after this 23 and illuminati are not real, you can shoot me in my butcheek.

[SamuraiDrifter]

...are you implying that people, including children, wearing facemasks to reduce the spread of a respiratory illness is an Illuminati conspiracy?

First of all, yeah that's totally not what this is about, it's a fictional book series, secondly I don't really appreciate you hijacking a thread to bring in this garbage, especially when I have relatives in the hospital with COVID-19 right now. Not cool.

[arvy]

...are you implying that people, including children, wearing facemasks to reduce the spread of a respiratory illness is an Illuminati conspiracy?

First of all, yeah that's totally not what this is about, it's a fictional book series, secondly I don't really appreciate you hijacking a thread to bring in this garbage, especially when I have relatives in the hospital with COVID-19 right now. Not cool.

Yes, I do. I think this is a barbaric enforcment on people, which mostly do it, just to get along with society norms. And I also wish your relatives getting well soon. But I guess we are living in a different worlds now

[Closing_Logo]

I read the Illuminatus! Trilogy about ten years back - good stuff. Lots of 23's. (No masks.)

[Kure]

...are you implying that people, including children, wearing facemasks to reduce the spread of a respiratory illness is an Illuminati conspiracy?

First of all, yeah that's totally not what this is about, it's a fictional book series, secondly I don't really appreciate you hijacking a thread to bring in this garbage, especially when I have relatives in the hospital with COVID-19 right now. Not cool.

Yes, I do. I think this is a barbaric enforcment on people, which mostly do it, just to get along with society norms. And I also wish your relatives getting well soon. But I guess we are living in a different worlds now

Bro... come one, stop believing and promoting the anti-mask nonsense. It's like saying you shouldn't wear clothes outside because it's a society norm or wear a seatbelt because the government has enforced you to wear one when in a car. It's literally just a piece of fabric covering your nose and mouth to protect you, as well as, others from getting sick. Why do you think doctors and hospital staff wear one almost at all times? Hint, it's not because of a society norm.

Even BoC would be ashamed to hear this.

[SamuraiDrifter]

Yeah I'm pretty bummed this brought out anti-masker shit, especially because it has nothing at all to do with the topic. I was looking forward to a good discussion about how a book I'm enjoying right now connects to my favorite band but I kinda regret starting this thread now.

[Navaru]

Think I’m going to pick that up and give it a read! I’ll report back eventually lol.

[mechanismj]

Yeah I'm pretty bummed this brought out anti-masker shit, especially because it has nothing at all to do with the topic. I was looking forward to a good discussion about how a book I'm enjoying right now connects to my favorite band but I kinda regret starting this thread now.

I'd like to RERAIL your thread by saying I read the entire Illuminatus trilogy several years ago and thoroughly enjoyed it! The sarcasm and wit in the trilogy is fantastic, and I also feel that BoC's 'mysticism' stems mostly from a place of humor and interest in how humans operate on a psychological level. Just having a listen to any of their early tapes or even Societas X should make that plainly obvious.

[arvy]

...are you implying that people, including children, wearing facemasks to reduce the spread of a respiratory illness is an Illuminati conspiracy?

First of all, yeah that's totally not what this is about, it's a fictional book series, secondly I don't really appreciate you hijacking a thread to bring in this garbage, especially when I have relatives in the hospital with COVID-19 right now. Not cool.

Yes, I do. I think this is a barbaric enforcment on people, which mostly do it, just to get along with society norms. And I also wish your relatives getting well soon. But I guess we are living in a different worlds now

Why do you think doctors and hospital staff wear one almost at all times? Hint, it's not because of a society norm.

Even BoC would be ashamed to hear this.

because, probably, in hospital you can interact with some really dangerous infections, like tuberculosis.

[Navaru]

Here’s your sign

[Kure]

because, probably, in hospital you can interact with some really dangerous infections, like tuberculosis.

But Covid-19 isn't a dangerous virus you can interact with outside of a hospital? They literally also wear masks at hospitals as to not projectile their bacterias and what not at patients and between staff - that's kinda also why during an operation the doctors and staff wear masks as to not infect patients with their possibly dangerous bacteria.

It's literally common sense as to why you should wear a mask during a worldwide pandemic. People did in 1920 with the Spanish Flu and effectively brought it to an end, so I don't see any reason at all as to why we shouldn't wear a mask today - especially when living in a such enlightened society compared to 1920. Masks aren't here to stay forever, when it's all back to normal, we won't have to wear masks anymore. So I don't see what the misinformed and dangerous fuss is about when the primary concern is about saving lives and preventing unnecessary deaths.

I know this may derail this interesting thread, but I simply can't stand by and watch someone on here promote an extremely dangerous behavior in these times. This will literally kill people.

[Skyraider]

Yes, I do. I think this is a barbaric enforcment on people, which mostly do it, just to get along with society norms. And I also wish your relatives getting well soon. But I guess we are living in a different worlds now

I would say that using evidence-based measures to prevent harm to others is civilization at its finest. Clearly you have a different definition of “barbaric”.

[Closing_Logo]

Hijacking this thread is barbaric when there's a whole 'nother subforum (The Playground) suitable for such topics.

[mechanismj]

Yes, I do. I think this is a barbaric enforcment on people, which mostly do it, just to get along with society norms. And I also wish your relatives getting well soon. But I guess we are living in a different worlds now

I would say that using evidence-based measures to prevent harm to others is civilization at its finest. Clearly you have a different definition of “barbaric”.

Agreed. Some evidence would be nice here. All I have heard from people with this opinion are emotionally charged political and religious claims about 'muh freedums'.

FNORD

[SamuraiDrifter]

Think I’m going to pick that up and give it a read! I’ll report back eventually lol.

Highly recommended! I have a hard time imagining a BoC fan wouldn't enjoy it.

I'd like to RERAIL your thread by saying I read the entire Illuminatus trilogy several years ago and thoroughly enjoyed it! The sarcasm and wit in the trilogy is fantastic, and I also feel that BoC's 'mysticism' stems mostly from a place of humor and interest in how humans operate on a psychological level. Just having a listen to any of their early tapes or even Societas X should make that plainly obvious.

Definitely! It just struck me, after reading the passages where the characters are really reaching to connect 23 to everything in any way possible, how the sort of thing we're seeing in the New Release Speculation Thread is absolutely part of their game and their artistic mission. They WANT us to take their tongue-in-cheek numerology references and run with them. It's a clever way of using music to affect their audience and investigate the pattern-making capabilities of the mind at the same time.

After all, even as far back as 1998, BoC stated in interviews that a major artistic interest of Hexagon Sun was "the psychological power of sounds and images."

[mechanismj]

Thinking about some of the bizarre shit some people hold as truth these days, one cannot help but wonder if Operation Mindfuck was indeed a success.

[bungler666]

'Muhrica

[arvy]

because, probably, in hospital you can interact with some really dangerous infections, like tuberculosis.

But Covid-19 isn't a dangerous virus you can interact with outside of a hospital? They literally also wear masks at hospitals as to not projectile their bacterias and what not at patients and between staff - that's kinda also why during an operation the doctors and staff wear masks as to not infect patients with their possibly dangerous bacteria.

It's literally common sense as to why you should wear a mask during a worldwide pandemic. People did in 1920 with the Spanish Flu and effectively brought it to an end, so I don't see any reason at all as to why we shouldn't wear a mask today - especially when living in a such enlightened society compared to 1920. Masks aren't here to stay forever, when it's all back to normal, we won't have to wear masks anymore. So I don't see what the misinformed and dangerous fuss is about when the primary concern is about saving lives and preventing unnecessary deaths.

I know this may derail this interesting thread, but I simply can't stand by and watch someone on here promote an extremely dangerous behavior in these times. This will literally kill people.

Last post and I'm gone from this thread. I would ask you to go and look in to the mirror, and ask yourself: Is this really one of the most dangerous disseases humanity saw for the last 100 years? You don't have to report back, imagine this like a mental gymnastic which you can repeat every morning. Bye

[Navaru]

Uffda