VHS Tape Imagery - Deconstruction, Analysis, and Discussion

[Tom]

I thought I'd start this thread because I don't see an existing equivalent and the dialogue transcription one (https://www.twoism.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=15965) seems distinct enough to warrant a separate post here for deconstruction, analysis, and discussion of the imagery contained in the VHS tape—a compilation of sorts.

I like what u/Matoseb did for the Tomorrow's Harvest imagery (see first link in comments): https://www.reddit.com/r/boardsofcanada/comments/7cfndq/how_they_made_the_cover_of_tomorrows_harvest/

Perhaps this thread could be a way to centralize or consolidate a bit of the discussion on the imagery, themes, motifs, hauntology, etc.

I saw on the Reddit or Facebook fan page that someone found a video for the "mycelium growth" snippet: https://youtu.be/UHrkr_VzYyo?si=e-mR3pDk7HL3kvw_

This seems like a metaphor for the "diffusion" of information, ideas, and knowledge—analogous to the chatter and buzz undulating across the different BOC communities and social media channels right now. Some morphic resonance!

FWIW, I received a tape on Monday and upon noticing the logo, was immediately reminded of the promo shenanigans for Tomorrow's Harvest in 2013. I texted my people three photos and a video, then posted the photos to Reddit (https://www.reddit.com/r/boardsofcanada/comments/1seftbt/another_mysterious_transmission_artifact) and Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/groups/2204595322/?multi_permalinks=10174831131940323).

My buddy YELLOW shared a YouTube link for the video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ys-nScEuYHQ) in several places (WATMM, Reddit, etc.) shortly thereafter.

[Glen_Glog]

pin

[mikeleus]

u/Kid_Self on Reddit figured out the people in one of the images:

https://www.reddit.com/r/boardsofcanada/s/6CCB6Moo03

[Tom]

I had a feeling that one was going to be identified quickly. The sweater is pretty striking and unmistakable.

A few of the other images of faces—one looks like Harry Caul from 'The Conversation' (played by Gene Hackman) on a walkie-talkie, but I don't think it is; another looks looks like Jarlath Conroy's character from 'Day of the Dead.'

[Tom]

In the tape, there are at least three different images of "operative-like" or "ATF-like" agents with submachine guns/walkie-talkies (source: https://www.reddit.com/r/boardsofcanada/comments/1sgj4g5/9_singledoubleframe_insertions_in_the_final_45).

Knowing about all of the connections and references to Waco and the Branch Davidians—particularly from Geogaddi, but also the "remember waco" BOCHF transmission noted on BoC Pages here: https://bocpages.org/wiki/BOCHF—the Waco siege has been suggested.

I found this image while Googling for "waco siege atf sunglasses," though the shape/frame of the sunglasses is different from the image in the top left of the 3x3 grid of images from the VHS tape: https://www.alamy.com/waco-texas-usa-april-1993-female-agent-in-the-bureau-of-alcohol-tobacco-and-firearms-atf-wears-a-bulletproof-vest-and-a-communications-earpiece-is-ready-for-action-during-the-standoff-between-law-enforcement-agencies-and-the-branch-davidian-religions-group-bob-daemmrich-image544213822.html

[qualia]

Looks like this spreadsheet is also attempting to track the imagery, broken down by frame: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/ ... i_06I/edit

Also, the reddit user SYROBONKERS, who is also the person who posted the source of the slime mold growth on reddit, claims to have identified another part ("white hooded figures moving in unison? small white shape moves quickly upward") as "Ardah: Saudi traditional sword dance":

[Cupz]

Is that a photo of m&m in there?

[2020k]

Alex Jones confirmed to be a guy on the tape. He was discussing Waco.

https://www.reddit.com/r/boardsofcanada/s/XGKizXrVAS

[zeoevil]

Wild how after all these years, Alex was proven right about so many things.

[babylulu]

Wild how after all these years, Alex was proven right about so many things.

was he though????

[zeoevil]

Wild how after all these years, Alex was proven right about so many things.

was he though????

Yes.

[babylulu]

Wild how after all these years, Alex was proven right about so many things.

was he though????

Yes.

mmm. agree to disagree about the whackjob conspiracist bigot

[747Music]

So check out this video. It uses the same Copyright Warning. It also feels very connected to the VHS tapes with it's odd content. The copyright warning comes in after the weird video plays.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pp8xYZ9EA6I

[2020k]

Wild how after all these years, Alex was proven right about so many things.

was he though????

Yes.

Ooh, I can’t wait until a journalist asks them how they feel about Alex Jones and their response completely eviscerates you.

[ParticleGhost]

What's the saying? Take what you need and leave the rest? I personally don't see anything wrong with agreeing with a person's ideas (not all, mind you) while disregarding and or disavowing the rest of their actions. That's life, nobody is a 100% perfect faultless person cradle to grave. Though this is a nuanced conversation more suited to a real life conversation than text on a webpage that removes perceived intent and tone, i think

[rzz]

Alex Jones confirmed to be a guy on the tape. He was discussing Waco.

https://www.reddit.com/r/boardsofcanada/s/XGKizXrVAS

incorrect. no one who looks even vaguely like Jones from '99 or any time is in that video.

[rzz]

Wild how after all these years, Alex was proven right about so many things.

was he though????

Yes.

why don't you go ahead and list the things he's been 'proven right' about it, publicly.

[Tom]

So check out this video. It uses the same Copyright Warning. It also feels very connected to the VHS tapes with it's odd content. The copyright warning comes in after the weird video plays.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pp8xYZ9EA6I

That is fascinating! Such a stark juxtaposition with the "we exist and encourage, promote" vs "we warn you to not share information—prohibited" title screens at the end. The imagery of the main part of the video is like "new millennium Encarta hauntology."

[zeoevil]

Ooh, I can’t wait until a journalist asks them how they feel about Alex Jones and their response completely eviscerates you.

Don't take what I said as some kind of endorsement. There is a big difference between some and all. That's about all that needs to be said.

[Redd Panderson]

Glad to find this thread. I was thinking about the BOC tape yesterday and, easy as it is to overlook, the disclaimer is one of the most interesting parts.

Diffusion is an unusual word to pick. But beyond that, there's an irony in how this echoes what happened to their Old Tunes Tapes, how they only shared those tapes with a few people they trusted, but they were leaked anyway. So they release a tape on analog media and expressly asked it not to be distributed--and what happens? It is digitized and diffused online for all to pick apart, frame by frame. Everyone can see it and everyone knows a new BOC release is likely on the horizon.

So not only does it feel self-referential in that way, but it also reflects a surrender to how things that are released are truly let go of by the creator, and also how they are consumed, distributed at scale, and digested by not just the fanbase but today's consumer technology. Of course there's also the ongoing issue of genAI and the crumbling meaning of copyright.

BOC didn't need to do anything more than send out this tape: the machine did the rest!