During the Olympic closing ceremony, viewers were treated to a variety of stunning performances and spectacles, from K-Pop singers EXO and CL, to another Parade of Nations, to something called "The Axis of New Time," which — to pretty much everyone on Twitter and beyond — looked like something straight out of The Matrix.
NBC reporter and former Olympian Tara Lipinski said The Axis Of New Time was "meant to express the strength to rise above obstacles." But others weren't so sure about what they were seeing. Or what on earth it meant.
According to reporter Nick Miller of The Guardian, the Axis of New Time was "a performance of lighting and modern dance, to signify... well, what I’m not entirely certain, but there’s lots of flashing, which will presumably be pretty heavy for anyone with a hangover."
He went on to note the performance was "visually extremely impressive though. The entire middle, circular bit of the arena is basically being used as a giant screen, onto which is projected various forms of black and white light patterns, from a sort of swirling concentric circles effect to squares which the dancers leap about on, to an elaborate group of dots which seem to make the entire surface undulate."
In case you missed it, Miller's take on the performance was pretty spot on. Dancers, who were all dressed in black and white, danced and leaped and swirled around an ever-changing projection on the floor — a feature that's been a super trippy, super mesmerizing favorite of the Olympic opening and closing ceremonies thus far.
It was dizzying and spectacular. And kind of confusing. But, as it turns out, it did have more meaning than everyone thought. The New York Times reported that the ceremony's guidebook explained it as thus: "When the number becomes zero, the people of the future break free from the existing time and space, and arrive at a world no longer bound by gravity.” Which would explain the clock, and the lights, and the leaping. Right? Maybe?
Whatever The Axis of New Time was meant to mean, it was certainly mind-bending. And Twitter agreed.
And It Was A Little Bit Scary
Some people found it a bit scary, not only due to the intense music that was playing throughout, but also because it looked like something might pop out at any moment. (Maybe it should have been Psy, with a quick rendition of "Gangnam Style"?)
An Alternate Reality
If they did, it may explain where shirtless Tonga guy went. (Just kidding.)
Amazing Indeed
The performance not only told a meaningful story about overcoming obstacles, but it was also quite and impressive feat for the dancers involved. While I'm sure it look much more dizzying to viewers at home, the timing and precision of the dance must have taken a lot of practice. To be able to stay within your specific black or white box? And to do it all so perfectly time to music? Hats off to them.
