posted on September 21, 2001 02:44:40 PM new
The following images appeared in newspapers across the country last week. The first one, the color shot, is a still frame from CNN footage. The black-and-white is an Associated Press photo. The third image is from the Saginaw Daily News.
The images caused quite a stir. Hundreds of people phoned newspapers swearing that the images showed the face of Satan -- eyes, nose, mouth, horns, etc. -- in the smoke cloud.
I don't put much stock in this sort of thing myself. But you have to admit, it's interesting. I remember when I was a kid there was an image of clouds that was passed around in school and other kids warned that if you couldn't see the face of Christ in the cloud formation it meant you weren't a Christian. (I suspect that particular myth was created by my fourth grade teacher Sister Mary Rose.)
Phenomena of this sort are called "simulacra" or "simulacrum" (singular), which Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines: "an insubstantial form or semblance of something."
Also from the realm of coincidence:
What you see below was the planned cover art for an upcoming album by hip-hop artists The Coup. The image was created in July of 2001. According to snopes.com, a website that reported on this and other odd coincidences and fallacies surrounding the terrorist attacks:
"The cover depicts The Coup with an exploding World Trade Center in the background; group member DJ Pam the Funktress waves two sticks held between thumbs and forefingers (as if "conducting" the proceedings with two batons) while "Boots" Riley displays what looks like a detonator (but is actually just a guitar tuner).
Needless to say, the group is now looking for a new image to use on their cover.
For more peculiar coincidences and rumors about last week's terrorist attacks, check out this url:
posted on September 21, 2001 03:09:39 PM new
There was to be an Arnold movie release in which the plot(?) centered around the exact scenario which took place. They've given it up and are writing off the millions it took to make.
posted on September 21, 2001 03:17:39 PM new
I would recommend a visit to snopes.com, anyway. It's an interesting site, and contains other stories related to the terrorist attack, such as the man who reportedly survived by "riding" the collapsing debris from the 86th floor to street level, and the list of songs "banned" from the radio airwaves in the wake of the attack. It also contains a lot of non-Trade-Center-attack urban legends.
