Stray Kids have released the first unveil for their upcoming mini album “Oddinary”. With a deep bassline and an adrenaline pumping EDM, hip-hop feel, we are introduced to the track “Venom,” named likely in reference to not only the Sony Pictures production by the same title, but also to the venomous arachnid that makes an appearance in the last few seconds of the unveil.
Watch the Unveil track here:
The video starts off with four of the members (Seungmin, Bang Chan, I.N, and Lee Know) running along a hallway that is slowly rotating. Many STAYs have noticed the similarity this scene has with the movie “Inception,” directed by Christopher Nolan. This is only the first of the many references found by STAYs throughout the video.
Lee Know and I.N running alongside the wall at the start of the unveil for "거미줄" (Venom)
Arthur (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) running alongside the wall in the movie “Inception”
Later on in the video, I.N and Bang Chan stand across from each other, Chan holding a bow while I.N draws back an arrow aimed at Chan’s heart. Although a single shot within the unveil, STAYs were quick to recognize its resemblance to “Rest Energy,” a performative piece about trust by Marina Abramovic. She, too, is holding the bow while her partner, Ulay, draws back the arrow aimed directly at her heart. The idea behind this work of hers is that her life is entirely in someone else’s hands – it’s an act of trust.
(Left) I.N and Bang Chan in the unveil, recreating (Right) Abramovic’s performance piece “Rest Energy” with her partner, Ulay
Yet another reference within the unveil is a shot where Stray Kids is seated at a long table, similar to the set up for the “19” music video. All the members are shown with their heads down, save for Lee Know, who stands at the center behind I.N looking straight at the camera. It’s a chilling image and one that greatly resembles DaVinci’s painting “The Last Supper” which depicts Jesus and his 12 disciples. In the Bible, this is where they find out one of them will betray him. In some versions of this famous biblical scene, Judas, the one who betrays Jesus, is the only disciple to look towards the viewer as opposed to elsewhere in the scene. This is one of the most well-known acts of betrayal throughout history, and Stray Kids’ recreation of it has clear implications of a betrayal amongst the group.
(Top) Lee Know stands over all the members at a dinner scene, almost a carbon copy of (Bottom) Leonardo da Vinci’s Last Supper, where Jesus sits with his 12 disciples as he announces that one will betray him
All of these references to external media have something to do with trust and, going even farther than that, betrayal. These are not the only scenes that portray this theme. One shot shows Felix and I.N playing chess, both playing as white. Traditionally in chess, this is the player that goes first and is inherently put at an advantage within the game. Hyunjin and Lee Know are seen boxing, although it’s no ordinary match. Both have spikes attached to their boxing gloves, likely with the intention to cause more damage. Right before a shot of Han holding a baseball bat, we are shown Seungmin as he pulls the pin to a grenade. The implications are clear, meant to show Seungmin as the pitcher with Han as his target. In each of these scenes, the members are trying to get the upper hand in their respective competition, giving themselves unfair advantages. It’s not just “cheating”; the extreme measures they take to make the game infinitely harder for their opponent are betrayals of the mutual agreement to a fair game - it's a breach of trust.
What are your thoughts on the first unveil for the album? Were there any other references you may have noticed while watching the video? Feel free to leave them down below as we continue to anticipate the full version of “거미줄” (Venom) and the rest of the Oddinary album, to be released on March 18th, 2022.
Written by: Mingo Bread
Edited by: Malo
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