Following my unfruitful attempt at postings pics on the site [via another thread I learned that the pics have to be on the Net already, which is not the case for one of the two that I want to post], I decided to still write a note about this - I’ve been scratching my head about it for too long.

Basically, it’s about the, I assume, coincidental repetition of ideas/concepts in a design project – for lack of a better definition – in this case, the cover of the 3121 album:

earlier this year I saw that the cover of Prince's 2006 album '3121' looks like a perfect copy of one scene in Russian filmmaker Alexander Sokurov's 2003 film 'Father and Son'. Prince and the son character wear the same black shirt, same haircut, both broodingly touch a wall with their left hand, and both with their index finger lowered. Also, they stand exactly at the same angle, facing the wall in the same oblique way. How on planet earth did that happen?! Prince a Russian film buff? Transatlantic artistic telepathy?..

I’m rather puzzled by it. Plus, where does this fit in, if at all, in the whole IP rights issue?...
Any thoughts?...

The 3121 album cover can easily be found on the Net and anyway as fans we all know it, but too bad I can’t post the screen shot. The two pics set side by side are quite a sight…

cool! please try & post!

[img]
[Edited 12/16/07 18:28pm]

A big thank you to lottielooloo1968, everybody! Thanks to him/her it seems I've found a way to post the pics here [via Photobucket links]. I just hope I'm not infringing on any IP rights... and also that they will be accessible/that they will work. It's the first time I'm trying this.
The 3121 album cover is obviously known to most of us here, but I still include the link because it's cool to be able to open both pics together to compare them.


http://i275.photobucket.c...SS400_.jpg

http://i275.photobucket.c...e034-2.jpg

Same haircut?! Hardly.

Sure, there are a few similarities in the photos. But not enough that it couldn't just be a coincidence.

Prince is a ridiculously knowledgeable film buff (with foreign films too.) However, this might be coincidence unless there is some film context that seems relevant...

Do you know what the film was about?

ufoclub said:

Are you sure about that? I know it was stated some years back that he is something of a film buff (whilst he was into making movies himself), but ridiculously knowledgeable?????

Perhaps the photographer is a Russian film buff...

vivid said:

Richard Linklater met him at the premiere of his film "Scanner Darkly" and he and Prince went back to Prince's house and talked about film all night long, till the sun came up. And Linklater knows about film, and was surprised and astonished at Prince's knowledge of many films including foregn. Also Prince himself has made reference to Fellini films in songs. But who knows, I'm just going on personal hearsay.

I love that picture of Prince.

Tame said:

Whitnail said:

i like this pic as well. the hair is looking good & his ear is especially cute.

>Do you know what the film was about?

It's an art film about a very deeply emotional relationship between a father and his son. The feelings between the two are so intense that sometimes it gives the film some sexual overtones and makes it verge on the incestuous, although it never crosses that line.

Anyway, I also think the similarities between the two pics are purely coincidental.


>Perhaps the photographer is a Russian film buff...

Hey, who knows: should be investigated!


>... and was surprised and astonished at Prince's knowledge of many films including foregn.

When on earth does he find the time?..
So maybe he did see that Russian film?!