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05 Mar 03 - 11:44 AM (#904034) Subject: BS: Looking at kings From: mack/misophist In the movie 'The Madness of George III' there are one or two scenes where the king shouts 'Don't look at me!'. This confuses me. Since he is doing nothing to be modest about, why does he shout? Was there a law or custom about looking the king in the eye? If so, what were the details, was it English or a German import? A Google search of 'A cat may look at a king.' was unhelpful. This is one of those things that pop into mind every 6 months or so. It finally came to me that there is a place to go for imformation. This place. |
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05 Mar 03 - 12:51 PM (#904070) Subject: RE: BS: Looking at kings From: Cluin Coz `e was mad. |
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05 Mar 03 - 01:04 PM (#904077) Subject: RE: BS: Looking at kings From: MMario something many parents have heard siblings yell at each other - sometimes on frequent occasions. The weight of ones gaze is evidently painfully heavy under certain circumstances. |
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06 Mar 03 - 05:31 AM (#904624) Subject: RE: BS: Looking at kings From: smallpiper Looking someone in the eyes can be very thretening. Especially if the person is unballanced in any way. He was responding agressivly to what he percieved as agression. |
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06 Mar 03 - 06:11 AM (#904641) Subject: RE: BS: Looking at kings From: mooman George III suffered from the condition porphyria which, at times caused him to lose his grip on reality, and eventually killed him. I suspect that the scenes in the film referred to were meant to reflect his increasing paranoia as a result of his medical condition but I stand to be corrected. moo |
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06 Mar 03 - 10:28 AM (#904769) Subject: RE: BS: Looking at kings From: Amos Turning one's gaze away from a leader is required in many cultures -- it's a sign of submission to the Divine Will of the Potentate. Not a good idea, though!! In G3's case, he was probably just being paranoid. A |
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06 Mar 03 - 10:34 AM (#904778) Subject: RE: BS: Looking at kings From: Stilly River Sage
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06 Mar 03 - 11:14 AM (#904812) Subject: RE: BS: Looking at kings From: Rapparee Isn't porphyria one of the diseases thought to be the root of the belief in vampirism? Could it be that G3 was growing fangs or didn't reflect in a mirror? 8-) |
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06 Mar 03 - 06:45 PM (#905176) Subject: RE: BS: Looking at kings From: mack/misophist Porphyria causes extreme sensitivity to light. |
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06 Mar 03 - 07:28 PM (#905208) Subject: RE: BS: Looking at kings From: McGrath of Harlow The concept of "dumb insolance" is common in hierarchical organisations, such as the military. Essentially it consists of looking at people in authority in a way that is interpreted as disrespectful, unimpressed, or contemptuous. Most parents must surely have come up against it as well. |
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06 Mar 03 - 07:45 PM (#905220) Subject: RE: BS: Looking at kings From: katlaughing In many Native American cultures it is considered very bad manners to look one's elders in the eye. This was a real problem for children who were incarcerated in government run schools as the non-Native teachers didn't understand the children not "looking at me when I speak to you" and punished them for it. It is not such a taboo these days that I have heard except among the older folk and traditionalists. kat |
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06 Mar 03 - 07:54 PM (#905228) Subject: RE: BS: Looking at kings From: GUEST, herc Well, thanks for this, I finally have a literary background reference for those peculiar proclamations by Frank in Blue Velvet. |
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07 Mar 03 - 11:20 AM (#905335) Subject: RE: BS: Looking at kings From: Kim C I'm with Amos - I believe I have read somewhere before that in some places, a person isn't supposed to look the monarch in the eye, if at all - which, I think, is why you see people bow down in the streets & such. At least that's how it is in the movies, anyway... |
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07 Mar 03 - 11:46 AM (#905350) Subject: RE: BS: Looking at kings From: *daylia* Well, these days you can look at 'em at least. Sometimes even talk to 'em! But it's not always a very rewarding experience ... King George |
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07 Mar 03 - 01:40 PM (#905419) Subject: RE: BS: Looking at kings From: Rapparee I understand that even today the proper way to approach the King of Thailand (yes, it's a monarchy) is to crawl to the throne. This is because you should not have your head higher than the king's, as well as not looking at him. The last time I looked at kings, I was one short of a good hand.... |
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07 Mar 03 - 11:59 PM (#905590) Subject: RE: BS: Looking at kings From: mack/misophist In classic Japanese culture, an underling who spends much time with the boss will sit at right angles to him so the boss can read his expression but not the reverse. In some primitive groups, the tribe's mana is thought to reside in the chief, and having the hoi polloi gaze too closely at him will damage or dilute it. In the movie, the other characters regarded not looking at the king as normal. Except for his caretaker, who insisted on looking him in the eye to keep tabs on his condition. I posted the question because the movie made it seem an ordinary part of court life. Had it been an American movie, I wouldn't have asked. The Brits are usually pretty accurate, though. |