Countdown to Christmas
9 - Imagination
- Many creative writers, musicians and artists in particular have allowed themselves to be influenced by illiberal, if not totalitarian, ideologies in the past. Perhaps they believed that a world could be perfectly realized according to the standards of their peculiar imagination. Perhaps they believed that an ideological "pure" regime could allow their artistic imagination to find unhindered fulfillment. They were always wrong.
- The most important of all the foundations of imagination is the freedom of the individual to create his or her own ideas. This freedom is incompatible with a totalitarian society, no matter how much it claims to be the realization of some type of perfect imagination. Only in a free and pluralistic society can imagination really contribute to improving the world. The imaginative artist who gives himself over to totalitarian utopias ultimately becomes a victim of his own ideas or ends up as a mere court jester to the rulers.
Yellow Submarine (1969) is, after A Hard Day's Night (1964) and Help! (1965), considered to be the „third“ movie by the Beatles – and this altough they do not (with the exception of a very short cameo appearance at the end) personally appear in the movie.
The reason: It is a cartoon, and one of the most successful ever. John, Paul, George and RIngo only appear as cartoon characters. Even the voices in the dialogues were spoken by actors. But even as cartoon characters, they always remained the true and genuine Beatles for the audience. This is also due to the great music they composed for the film (such as the title song) or took from previous albums.
The plot is simple. In the wonderful, far away Pepperland, eccentric characters (who seem quite old-fashioned English) live alongside purely fantasy characters. This is matched by the shrill, colorful drawing style that is typical of the late sixties. And music is enjoyed everywhere. A world with lots of imagination! But Pepperland is suddenly invaded by the evil Blue Meanies, who turn this colourful world grey and the inhabitants into immobile statues. And they abolish all music!
Only Old Fred manages to escape in a Yellow Submarine to get the Beatles from Liverpool to fight the Blue Meanies with their outstandingly imaginative music. After many adventures, this actually succeeds, the grey disappears, people start to live again, and even the Blue Meanies become humane.The imagination of the Beatles wins in the end!
The totalitarianism of the Blue Meanies in the movie is reduced to it essentials (without any pretences): The suppression of imagination. The Beatles (and friends), on the other hand are just creative individuals. Thereby they save the freedom and happiness of the people in Pepperland.
