My brain just made an interesting connection which is probably best expressed visually:
On the one hand, we have Eve in the Garden of Eden about to take a bite out of the Fruit of Knowledge which was given to her by the Serpent. The fruit is typically depicted as an apple.
On the other, we have the modern practice of school children giving their teachers apples. Just kind of an odd coincidence considering that teachers give to children the “fruit” of knowledge. Is there some kind of hidden connection between these two images of apples and knowledge? I can’t find any, but it’s a fun road to speculate on. What about if we pulled in Newton’s Apple, by which he is alleged to have “discovered” gravity? What about the Macintosh computer logo - does it depict the Fruit of Knowledge after a bite (byte) has been taken?
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9 Comments
Interesting speculation.
Still, I’d suggest perhaps its a poison apple… a rather appropriate gift, considering the state of education now-a-days.
I have thought of this one before. It is all Very interesting.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/vaxzine/163822366/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/vaxzine/166461756/
Teachers are supposed to imbue us with knowledge, similiarly I suppose to Jesus as the teacher and master in gnosticism. However if we [children] already have that divine spark within us, then all we really need is someone (Snake, teacher, fruit) to awaken that divine spark, with curiousity, etc. The teacher could actually become the serpent and Jesus himself might have a serpent connotation, and us giving them the fruit might just be a comedic turntable to the age old story. Or perhaps it’s a traditional debt of gratitude that we are never fully explained to as why, when growing up.
“An apple a day keeps the doctor away”? Apples seem to have a lot of power.
And there’s always Persephone and her Pomegranate…
I’ve been pondering Apple’s role in our society lately, in terms of cultural evolution. Obviously Apple’s “founding fathers” are, shall we say, ‘in the know’. What sort of dastardly spiritual schemes have they been concocting for us? With a large chunk of the world being plugged into iPods, Apple has a great position for reaching the masses. Whatever it is, they’re up to something alright…
Speaking of Apple computers, I never understood the necessity of adding that little segment in the movie Forest Gump. He was basically already (I assumed) a millionare from the Bubba Gump thing, and then his stock explodes in this thing called “Apple.” And of course he can’t figure out what Apple is, he just knows that it’s a cool little logo and that just made him more rich. (I wonder if that part was even in the book).
Heh, this one made me laugh. Never made that connection before.
As to Apple Computers, there are three stories about its naming (that I know of). The first, Jobs had spent a summer picking apples in Oregon. He was very nostalgic about this time. The second, both Jobs and Wozniak admired the Beatles, and named their company after the Beatles’ label. This one is ironic considering the lawsuit going on today between the label and the computer company. The last is that Jobs and Wozniak intentionally referenced the Garden of Eden myth, as well as intentionally including the pun for byte/bite out of the apple. The last one is interesting because the Apple I initially cost $666.66. I personally think the last one makes the most sense, mostly because they were rebellious fuckers who loved dropping acid and messing with people’s ideas. But it could also just be my own inclinations which draws me to it.
Love the graphic.
Ronin
very perceptive. it’s just too bad there are so few teachers these days worthy of such an honor.
I like that point: that perhaps it is children who teach their teachers, rather than vice versa…