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Artist & filmmaker Marco Brambilla was brought in by Kanye West to direct the video for Kanye’s new single “Power.”The video director spoke with the New York Times about the symbolism in the video, presumably in an attempt to dead all the Illuminati talk that will certainly be found in the comments section of this here website once it premieres.

The New York Times describes the video, which is set to premiere on Kanye’s website next week, as follows:

Mr. West is seen standing imposingly with a heavy chain around his neck. As Mr. West raps the camera slowly zooms out in one continuous, unedited take to reveal him in a classical structure, surrounded by female attendants who are partly or entirely nude; some kneel before him on all fours, others wear devil horns and still others are suspended upside down from the ceiling. The Sword of Damocles hangs precariously over Mr. West’s head, and behind him an unseen executioner is preparing to strike him with a blade.

Damocles was a figure in Greek legend that was more or less a member of Dionysus II of Syracuse’s entourage. Damocles remarked to Dionysus, a fourth century BC tyrant, how fortunate he was to have so much power and fortune.  Dionysus then offered to switch places with Damocles for a day so that he could experience the life for himself.  That evening, a banquet was held and Damocles was treated like royalty.  However, at the end of the meal, Damocles noticed a sword hanging over his head by a single strand of horse hair.  Damocles immediately lost all interest in the life that he had experienced that day – the food, the beautiful women.  Dionysus had successfully allowed Damocles to experience the constant danger that comes with the power and fortune he has.

A 19th century painting by Richard Westall depicts Damocles noticing the sword over his head, and was posted by Kanye on his Twitter account yesterday:

All of this begs one to take another look at the single artwork for “Power” which is a painting of a beheaded Kanye West, wearing a crown, with a sword in the side of his head.

Makes way more sense now, doesn’t it?

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