Your instructor's choice--out of all of the self-proclaimed "santanic" heavy meal music bands--is interesting. Why the 1999 album cover to make his point; certainly there are tons more graphic album/CD covers that blatantly exhibit satanic ritual. If the album said "666" o.k., but 1999 upside down...thats a stretch.

I think sometimes the concept of Rock N Roll, satanic ritual, drugs, sex, etc., get stuffed into one bag. Back in the day when the Beatles and Stones came onto the scene they were the anti-establishment bands; anything that looked like them or sounded like them challenged the status quo - so, the "majority" mindset was to demonize them and their lifestyles.

In this day, however, Prince seems tame considering some of the bands of today. That's why your instructor's reference is kinda of silly. Reminds me of an English teacher I had once, he tried to convince us of how "ugly" the human body was -- then he got REALLY mad when the class didn't agree with him -- he got so RED and he was sputtering he was sooooo full of himself.

I was studying yesterday when the subject of Satan and music came up. The teacher started 2 point out how Rock music was 2 some degree a front for passing along satanic messages 2 the masses. During the conversation he mentioned Prince and the album cover of 1999. If u turn the album cover upside down, u can see the 666 (mark of the beast) and the word evil. That sort of took me by surprise but I could clearly see the point the teacher was trying 2 make about the 1999 album cover. Any thoughts on this?

If this has been discussed before, my apologies.

About the album cover, that's a steaming pile of bullshit. Turn three 9 upside down in any format and you will get three 6's. The word evil is implied not clearly spelled. One would have to look carefully (especially after reading posts like yours) to find it. The letters aren't even in sequence.

By the way, 666 isn't the mark of the beast, it is the mark of a man (Nero Ceaser) who was killing Christians left and right during his crazy rein of Rome and was the one who imprisoned John the author of the book of revelations. His book was about the end of the world as they knew it (The Roman Empire) not the literal end of the world. Go back and school your teacher please.
[Edited 9/30/08 11:37am]

I dig your point and it's basically what I thought as well. The point he was trying 2 make was the subtle nature in which these things can sometimes be presented. At least that is what I took away from from his 1999 album cover example.

So tell me ... did you slap the teacher? Huh?

I laughed.....I welcome all points of view. It's not about agreement. It's about THINKING.

Admittingly the class does sound like a cheap foray into the subject. Plenty of evidence of the occult in music exist other than Prince. This is why school can be an utter joke. All education is self-education.

However, it should be noted there were REAL dabblings into the occult world by the Beatles and Rolling Stones.

More info: http://prince.org/msg/7/232204?&pg=7

Occult refers to Supernatural, Such as GOD. GOD is not LIFE, GOD is LOVE and could be referred to as being of the Supernatural because Supernatural means above LIFE. GOD is above LIFE he is LOVE. So the Occult deals with things that are better than life and above life.

Thats what bothers me about some teachers, they start imposing their own interpretations or i should say misinterpretations into others people's artistic works. And they are wrong to do so. If the Artist/Author is not present to personally verify someone's elses interpretations or opinions, then i don't believe the person doing the interpreting, because i have my own mind and my own senses to makeup my own mind. Besides anyone who turns the number NINE upsidedown will see a six, and vise versa, thats just the intrinsic nature of those 2 numbers. i think that teacher was looking for ways to unfairly criticize Prince. Because in no way is the word Evil seen on that Album cover. That Professor should hear from God and Jesus.
Further more, i studuied literature in College and wrote my own Poetry. So i had some experiences where Profs try to push their own opinions or other's opinions on the students. Wrong and unfair. SOme of those Profs. used to make me so angry because they say that their interpretation is the only right one, that some other critic is right, or some other Professor who has a Master's in Literature.Why, just because they have a degree, and how do i know that they aren't acting out of Jealousy and or wrongful thought. One of my prof's argued with me over my own Poem and what i meant in it. Thats not fair. Or they have told me how i should say it. Art is personal and yet for the public to experience if the artist so chooses. But others should not twist someone else's artistic works into something negitive when it isn't. i could go on.and on and on. i wish i had a way to change wrongful doing immediately, but i don't so i hve to rely on Karma's wisdom of everything when its time and the right way. The good way.
Not every Professor does the above. And i do understand that there has to be discussion and grading criteria. And i know there are many Fair Professors, Teachers and so called Critics. i am speaking specifically of unjust interpretations and/ or not allowing room to dismantle wrongful interpretations.
i think changes should be made in the Artistic parts of Educational Institutes.
Unless the Author can speak for himself i'm not going to believe some critic. AND another thing to consider especially in Archaic times, what if an Artist was under threat of himself or his family and wasn't able to defend himself and his works were there unable to be defended correctly.
[Edited 9/29/08 9:48am]

Occult refers to Supernatural, Such as GOD. GOD is not LIFE, GOD is LOVE and could be referred to as being of the Supernatural because Supernatural means above LIFE. GOD is above LIFE he is LOVE. So the Occult deals with things that are better than life and above life.

you didn't answer my questions... and no, you're wrong.. occult and what we're talking about (witchcraft) has nothing to do with God.. but it is the opposite..

Please look up the word occult in the dictionary, there is no mention of anthing evil or anti God.

thank you for your informed post!

the teacher was obviously an idiot, but then in my opinion most are.

this has been discussed in great detail before, but the album cover deserves greater depth of discussion than the obvious upside down thing.

christians have been pedalling the idea that the occult is evil and anti-christ and forced on the young and innocent through 'rock' for years! even presley was the devil himself for a while due to his undulating hips and was filmed from the waist up.

as for the teacher discussing 666, i doubt if anyone takes any of that seriously, since the omen and damian with his dodgy tattoo on his head. hardly a musicians greatest plan to convert the youth.

He had obviously seen too many films. the mark of the devil is 6 and that of man is 7, and of god is 8, you should tell him to go read his bible and become more informed, he also should have discussed the phallic imagery and the complex details drawn within the lettering on that cover, if he was discussing subliminal images.

there is very little subliminal about princes music or imagery, its all quite out there and in yer face.

the teacher was obviously an idiot, but then in my opinion most are.

.

Lol.....of a 3 hour discussion, the man spoke on Prince for 30 seconds. Idiot? Not hardly.

define occult! Not Christian religion? Let me tell you - a lot of Christian notions are BASED on other religious practices. I know those of "faith only" won't go for that . But if you look at world history you can certainly draw parallels. As far as occult goes- look at televangelists and tell me what that is all about.

define occult! Not Christian religion? Let me tell you - a lot of Christian notions are BASED on other religious practices. I know those of "faith only" won't go for that . But if you look at world history you can certainly draw parallels. As far as occult goes- look at televangelists and tell me what that is all about.

Admittingly the class does sound like a cheap foray into the subject. Plenty of evidence of the occult in music exist other than Prince. This is why school can be an utter joke. All education is self-education.

However, it should be noted there were REAL dabblings into the occult world by the Beatles and Rolling Stones.

More info: http://prince.org/msg/7/232204?&pg=7

you didn't answer my questions... and no, you're wrong.. occult and what we're talking about (witchcraft) has nothing to do with God.. but it is the opposite..