“Just tell me what you want!” – The Naturals by Sam Lipsyte
4 thoughts on “Just tell me what you want!”
Nice photograph.
Nice quote, too.
It makes me think about the neon letters of the marquee of what looks like an old movie theatre – the ‘REX’. And Rex of course means ‘King’, so by extension, if we apply your Sam Lipsyte quote (“Just tell me what you want”) –
Then whoever built the Rex wanted to be King!
Or maybe the unknown builder or entrepreneur wanted those who entered his palace of dreams to feel that, for a few hours, they could forget their quotidien cares….and be Kings (or Queens) themselves.
But what does it really mean….to want to be King? The best words that come to mind are from a song from the animated film, The Lion King – “I just can’t wait to be King!”.
Some of whose lyrics go —
YOUNG SIMBA (singing):
I’m gonna be a mighty king, so enemies beware!
ZAZU (speaking:
Well, I’ve never seen a king of beasts
With quite so little hair
YOUNG SIMBA (singing):
I’m gonna be the mane event
Like no king was before
I’m brushing up on looking down
I’m working on my roar
ZAZU (speaking):
Thus far, a rather uninspiring thing
YOUNG SIMBA (singing):
Oh, I just can’t wait to be king!
And if young Simba can do it….then maybe the rest of us – those who enter the Rex’s portals – and those who, like myself, can only visit it through your photoraphs – maybe each of us can find our own way of telling the universe….what we want.
Thx! It’s an old movie theatre, indeed :-). And of course it’s derelict.
I have never thought about why movie theatres are named REX, but I like your suggestion:
“Or maybe the unknown builder or entrepreneur wanted those who entered his palace of dreams to feel that, for a few hours, they could forget their quotidien cares….and be Kings (or Queens) themselves.”
I like it very much.
Nice photograph.
Nice quote, too.
It makes me think about the neon letters of the marquee of what looks like an old movie theatre – the ‘REX’. And Rex of course means ‘King’, so by extension, if we apply your Sam Lipsyte quote (“Just tell me what you want”) –
Then whoever built the Rex wanted to be King!
Or maybe the unknown builder or entrepreneur wanted those who entered his palace of dreams to feel that, for a few hours, they could forget their quotidien cares….and be Kings (or Queens) themselves.
But what does it really mean….to want to be King? The best words that come to mind are from a song from the animated film, The Lion King – “I just can’t wait to be King!”.
Some of whose lyrics go —
YOUNG SIMBA (singing):
I’m gonna be a mighty king, so enemies beware!
ZAZU (speaking:
Well, I’ve never seen a king of beasts
With quite so little hair
YOUNG SIMBA (singing):
I’m gonna be the mane event
Like no king was before
I’m brushing up on looking down
I’m working on my roar
ZAZU (speaking):
Thus far, a rather uninspiring thing
YOUNG SIMBA (singing):
Oh, I just can’t wait to be king!
And if young Simba can do it….then maybe the rest of us – those who enter the Rex’s portals – and those who, like myself, can only visit it through your photoraphs – maybe each of us can find our own way of telling the universe….what we want.
:-)
Thx! It’s an old movie theatre, indeed :-). And of course it’s derelict.
I have never thought about why movie theatres are named REX, but I like your suggestion:
“Or maybe the unknown builder or entrepreneur wanted those who entered his palace of dreams to feel that, for a few hours, they could forget their quotidien cares….and be Kings (or Queens) themselves.”
I like it very much.
To quote Mel Brooks, “It’s good to be the king!” Like the classic look of your photo.
Thank you.