CLUB DE LA FAYE: 06/09

Club de la Faye in cooperation with YourSpace,

Roskilde Festival 2009

The myth of the sirens

The sirens, who lived in a meadow on an island off the coast of Sicily, were irresistible and lured sailors to their deaths. Those who listened to their songs could never leave and would therefore die on the banks of the island. So said the myth.

No ship had ever passed the isle, not until the day Odysseus succeeded in tricking the sirens. Following Circe's advice, Odysseus plugged the ears of his crew with wax, so they could not hear anything. Odysseus had the men tie him to the mast of the ship and instructed them not to untie him until they had passed the isle. And so they did. The crew only knew 'the song's danger but nothing of its beauty'. This allowed them to row 'with all their strength' moving the ship away from the Sirens.

Critical theory

It was in fact the task of Odysseus' crew: 'The laborers must be fresh and concentrate as they look ahead, and must ignore whatever lies to one side' thereby fulfilling themselves through work, wrote Adorno and Horkheimer. Odysseus instead is able to listen to the song remaining 'bound impotently to the mast' of the ship. The bonds prevent him from being seduced and the danger presented by the Sirens is subsequently neutralized. As a result of this the song of the Sirens is completely perverted: it 'becomes a mere object of contemplation – becomes art.

Recreation of the isle of the Sirens

Club de la Faye will manifest them selves as the weakened sirens, who now seek vengeance over Odysseus, the man who got away. The Sirens will regain their power, if they succeed in seducing the festival guests into participating in a ritual, where they will be asked to sacrifice a piece of the life, that stands in the way of giving in to the world of music.

Debate

This critical performance manifestation, will serve as a platform for a debate about what it means to give you self to the experience in the world of music.

Sunday the 28. of July:

'The Call of Sirens and Deserters'

Thursday the 2. of July:

'The Drowning'

Sunday the 5. of July:

'The Act of Sacrifice'