The Twins by Chipka
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Description
I’m not really into Astrology; I know nothing about the Zodiac and the twelve “Houses.” I couldn’t name all of the Zodiological signs. I’m a Leo, and all I know about Leo is that it’s represented by the Nemean Lion, the very same lion (and stellar constellation) that lends its name to the Nemaean Interstellar Republic. All of this is to say that I don’t know much.
I do know about lions, and in a sense, homo-erotic twin brothers—in this case, Castor and Pollux…one died and the other, in an act of loving devotion, followed his compatriot into the underworld so that they’d never bear being apart. I can’t remember which of the twins died, and which one selflessly followed, but I know that their story lies at the heart of Gemini. I always think of Castor and Pollux when I see two buildings on Chicago’s North Side. They’re apartment towers, and for those who have seen too many episodes of The Brady Bunch, you might think of them as being Mike Brady designs. He was supposed to be a swanky architect, you know…but he lived in a house with a wife, six kids and a housekeeper, but there was only one bathroom…what’s up with that?
The Brady Bunch towers are two of many buildings in Chicago that remind me of the late 1960s and early 1970s. Most are in the same area. They’re modern in that they’re “clean.” They have aged to the point of attaining character. Many of them are white. Eye-searingly so. Two of them—Castor and Pollux—mark the end of Chicago’s annual Gay Pride parade route. If you’re on a float behind extravagant drag queens (think Tussock Moth larvae with snitty attitudes) you’ll see The Twins. They’re markers of…something; the end of the parade, the beginning of the day’s inebriation, if it hasn’t begun already. When you see The Twins, you realize that soon, drag queens and other assorted trannies (as the community-centered slang name defines them) will begin sloughing their makeup and their sequins. By the time night falls, they’re all likely to resemble war-stained refugees from some extravagant battlefront…off-kilter wigs, broken heels, ripped stockings and unpasted pasties. The twins, forever indifferent, loom behind all of this, rather like silent and ancient sentinels marking time as always. Wordlessly so.
As always, thank you for viewing, reading, and commenting...and as always, a particular thank you for those who have marked my previous posts as favorites.
Comments (23)
MagikUnicorn
Great Twin...Really Cool F/X when scroll up and down :)
kgb224
Outstanding capture my friend.
myrrhluz
I am a Gemini, but the only importance I give to that is that my sister Leslie is one as well. I suspect our closeness and similar personalities have more to do with genetics than astrology. I'm familiar with the story of Castor and Pollux, but have no idea of the particulars. It is a very bad or sadistic (or in this case masochistic) architect would design or live in a home with only one bathroom, even without a wife, six kids and a housekeeper. Something was deeply wrong with Mike Brady. I loved the last two lines (not counting your line of thanks,etc) of your narrative. They perfectly painted a picture of extravagance and cold disdain. Excellent image, that compliments well that picture of disdain!
NefariousDrO
Ah, your thoughts are such a fascinating place. It must be grand to sit and watch such a parade with you, swapping stories and insights. Given your thoughts about the twin brothers and their ultimate fate, it does seem strangely appropriate that they would stand as great patrons over the end of the parade-route. (and truly, are they not a pair of ultimate phallic symbols? What could be more fitting, if you'll pardon the pun?)
bmac62
By today's architectual standards these do look a bit plain Jane...but then when these were built they must have been making a giant step away from their predecesors. Like your POV and of course your interwoven storiy telling. First rate as always.
MrsRatbag
Wow, this shot makes me dizzy and plays with my astigmatism! They do seem to be leaning toward each other and sharing secrets...
mbz2662
Cool shot~ smiles
blinkings
I've just scrolled them up and down and now I'm dizzy!
EBSPhotographic
Nice lines in this one and a great angle.
mermaid
to me they are telling about another time, about possibilities of technical means and sad to say so of technical means without a heart levelling out all what makes a human special. This would be the reason for me to get thouroughly depressed if I had to live in an appartment tower like those two...but they are there very present in your shot and reminding me of the truth that even twins looking alike are each an individual
durleybeachbum
I LOATHE the International Style with great intensity and for reasons that I can explain in about 1000 words, and these buildings are no exception. But your words, well, as ever they transport me to be with you! Both of us, actually, as like Lucinda we are a Gemini.
Meisiekind
As with Lucinda and Andrea - I'm a Gemini too... Yikes - you have gathered many of us around your superb image! Unlike Andrea - I find these buildings quite pretty - simplistic and just doing what they are supposed to do! Great work Chip!! :))
helanker
They really look fantastic and you did capture them beautifully.
ladyraven23452
great shot.
auntietk
The associations you make between one thing and another never cease to amaze me! Your description is so colorful, with so much movement ... and then these static towers ... fantastic!!
kwami
great shot, and an happy new year, my love
CoreyBlack
I've seen this so many times in various degrees of festivity. This is so clear. It was so hot that day and you can see it in the sunlight. Great shot!
beachzz
I love your description of the end of the parade---while the buildings look down and perhaps give a faint smile on the crowd. There is a building quite similar to this in San Francisco, all high and square and full of windows. I like the plain old giants like this, they are just THERE.
romanceworks
An interesting contrast of the life of the sequined parade and these lifeless monoliths. CC
kbrog
Great POV and capture!
belasebok
Nice composition!
blondeblurr
This could get very scary, first of all being completely surrounded by Geminis and to add to the confusion, here is another, moi ! (it's getting crowded here...) and almost as scary, as being surrounded by these awful skyscrapers, it seems every major city has a gay parade between big giants like these. Sydney has the Mardi Gras in March, but it's not all doom and gloom, there is also a lot of laughter & fun, for those bystanders watching those crazy and amazing flamboyant parades, a bit of escapism and even, if it's only to forget for a moment, Castor & Pollux, depicted by Arabs as a pair of peacocks, in another references associated with Romulus and Remus, the founders of Rome. Leo on the other hand, is possibly emblematic of the phallic symbol used in ancient Dionysian mysteries. It is certainly an emblem of the sun's fire, heat or creative energy. *** This is what I have been reading, as I am not a big believer, nor a follower of the Zodiac either...but I found all this quite fascinating, what do you think ? Enjoyed reading this, as always... BB
danapommet
As I moved this posting up and down, it felt like the buildings were getting wider and I realize that it is an optical illusion due to your POV. So I applaud your POV. Dana