The visible illustration related to Kanye West’s album, My Lovely Darkish Twisted Fantasy, is a key factor of the general inventive assertion. This visible part, usually that includes art work by George Rental, serves as an instantaneous introduction to the advanced themes and emotional panorama explored throughout the music. For instance, the assorted depictions of a phoenix or figures in surreal, usually unsettling situations, supply visible cues that complement the album’s lyrical and sonic content material.
Its significance lies in its potential to reinforce the listener’s expertise by offering a visible anchor for the album’s multifaceted narrative. The imagery acts as a robust instrument for conveying the album’s themes of celeb, extra, and interior turmoil. Moreover, it contributes to the album’s lasting cultural influence, changing into immediately recognizable and sparking appreciable dialogue and interpretation throughout the artwork and music communities. The historic context is rooted in Rental’s established fashion of distorted portraiture and psychological cubism, which resonated with West’s want to create one thing each stunning and disturbing.
Due to this fact, additional evaluation will delve into the inventive selections made in its creation, the assorted variations that had been launched, and the crucial reception it acquired. The following sections can even discover how these visuals tie into the broader themes and narratives introduced all through the musical composition.
1. Rental’s Distorted Figures
The quilt artwork for Kanye West’s My Lovely Darkish Twisted Fantasy is inseparable from the distinctive fashion of George Rental. Among the many most hanging components of this visible illustration are Rental’s intentionally distorted figures. These figures aren’t mere aesthetic selections; they’re the very basis upon which the album’s advanced narrative is visually constructed. The impact of those distortions is instant: a way of unease, a delicate suggestion that the sweetness introduced is, in reality, fractured, tainted by one thing darker. These figures, with their exaggerated options and unsettling preparations, function a visible parallel to the album’s thematic exploration of celeb, extra, and the interior struggles that always accompany such extremes. With out Rental’s signature distortion, the duvet would lose a lot of its supposed influence, failing to adequately convey the album’s central themes.
Take into account, for example, the unique cowl that includes the phoenix and the determine beneath. The distorted faces, the just about grotesque exaggeration of sure options, all contribute to a way of unease. These options trace at inner turmoil, maybe a lack of management, or a descent into insanity. The figures mirror the darker elements of human nature. This aesthetic alternative is just not merely ornamental; it instantly contributes to the duvet’s operate as a visible illustration of the album’s sound and lyrical content material. The music explores themes of interior demons and the darkish facet of fame and fortune, all issues that Rental’s distortion manages to visually signify.
In abstract, the distorted figures aren’t merely a component in the art work; they are the art work, and the album cowl wouldn’t achieve success in conveying the album’s themes with out them. They’re the important thing factor in reworking a easy picture right into a window into the darkish, twisted fantasy that Kanye West supposed to convey.
2. Phoenix Symbolism
The imagery adorning My Lovely Darkish Twisted Fantasy is not any accident; every factor chosen was deliberate, supposed to deepen the narrative woven by means of the music. The phoenix, particularly, rises from the art work not simply as an emblem, however as a narrative in itself, intricately linked to the album’s themes of destruction and rebirth.
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Destruction as a Catalyst
The phoenix, legend tells, bursts into flames solely to emerge anew from the ashes. This cyclical nature mirrors Kanye West’s public persona and profession on the time. Beset by controversy and criticism, the album grew to become his technique of rising above the negativity, reworking perceived failures into a robust inventive assertion. The phoenix within the artwork serves as a visible reminder of this course of: that creation usually requires destruction.
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Resilience and Transformation
The phoenix is extra than simply about destruction; it embodies resilience. It is in regards to the potential to face up to intense warmth, to endure hardship, and emerge stronger on the opposite facet. The album explores themes of private struggles and the pressures of fame, thus the phoenix represents the transformation that may happen when dealing with adversity head-on. It symbolizes the potential for renewal and development, even within the darkest of instances.
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Cycles of Fame and Infamy
The phoenix’s cycle of loss of life and rebirth additionally displays the cyclical nature of fame. To rise to prominence, fall from grace, and try to regain public approval is a typical narrative within the leisure trade. The album itself grapples with these themes, exploring the fleeting nature of fame and the private value of residing within the public eye. The inclusion of the phoenix serves as a commentary on this cycle, suggesting that even within the ashes of a broken repute, the potential of reinvention exists.
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Inventive Expression as Rebirth
In the end, the inventive expression inside My Lovely Darkish Twisted Fantasy itself is a type of rebirth. Via the album, Kanye West not solely addresses his private struggles but additionally redefines his inventive id. The phoenix is an emblem of this inventive course of, representing the flexibility to rework ache and chaos into one thing stunning and significant. It encapsulates the concept that artwork could be a highly effective instrument for self-discovery and renewal.
In conclusion, the phoenix symbolism woven all through the album’s visible id is just not merely ornamental however integral to its narrative. It supplies a robust visible illustration of the themes of destruction, resilience, and transformation that resonate all through the musical work. The phoenix serves as a reminder that even from the ashes of hardship, a brand new starting is feasible, making it a becoming emblem for My Lovely Darkish Twisted Fantasy.
3. Controversial Imagery
The visible panorama accompanying My Lovely Darkish Twisted Fantasy was not designed to be innocuous. As an alternative, the chosen imagery courted controversy, intentionally difficult societal norms and expectations. This provocative strategy served as an important factor in amplifying the album’s thematic exploration of extra, fame, and the darker elements of human nature, inextricably linking the visuals to the overarching narrative.
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The Uncensored Unique
The preliminary cowl artwork, depicting a nude determine with a phoenix-like creature, instantly ignited debate. Main retailers balked, deeming it too express for mass distribution. This act of censorship, or self-censorship, highlighted the facility of images to impress and the lengths to which societal gatekeepers will go to manage visible narratives. The choice to initially current such a provocative picture, solely to have it subsequently altered, bolstered the album’s themes of inventive freedom and the challenges of navigating public notion.
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Sexuality and Energy Dynamics
The imagery usually included themes of sexuality and energy, steadily depicting figures in positions of dominance or submission. These visible selections weren’t merely aesthetic; they served as commentary on the facility imbalances inherent in fame and celeb tradition. They prompted viewers to query the objectification of people within the public eye and the advanced relationship between artist and viewers.
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Difficult Western Artwork Conventions
The deliberate use of grotesque and distorted figures challenged conventional Western artwork conventions, forcing viewers to confront uncomfortable realities. These figures usually defied idealized magnificence requirements, presenting as a substitute a extra uncooked and visceral depiction of human emotion. This rejection of standard magnificence norms aligned with the album’s broader critique of societal values and its exploration of the darker elements of the human psyche.
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The “Runaway” Movie and Prolonged Visible Narrative
Past the album cowl itself, the accompanying quick movie “Runaway” additional prolonged the controversial imagery. Its depictions of racial and sexual themes provoked dialogue and debate, amplifying the album’s total message. The movie served as a visible extension of the album’s narrative, deepening its influence and cementing its standing as a piece that intentionally challenged societal norms.
The controversies sparked by these pictures weren’t unintentional byproducts. They had been, reasonably, fastidiously orchestrated components designed to problem, provoke, and finally, deepen the influence of My Lovely Darkish Twisted Fantasy. The visible illustration grew to become an important part of the album’s total inventive assertion, solidifying its place in cultural historical past as a piece that dared to confront uncomfortable truths and problem standard expectations.
4. A number of Variations
The story of My Lovely Darkish Twisted Fantasy‘s art work is just not considered one of a singular, definitive picture, however reasonably a story informed by means of a number of variations, every providing a subtly totally different lens by means of which to view the album’s advanced themes. The very existence of those various pictures speaks to a deliberate inventive alternative, a multi-faceted strategy to visible illustration that mirrors the album’s personal layered and infrequently contradictory nature. The unique, extra express cowl, deemed too provocative by many retailers, was finally changed. Nevertheless, it wasnt merely erased; it persevered within the digital realm, a ghost within the machine, hinting on the uncooked, unfiltered imaginative and prescient that birthed the undertaking. This preliminary picture, with its unapologetic portrayal of sexuality and mythology, established a boundary, a line within the sand that subsequent variations would subtly shift round, acknowledging its existence whereas tempering its influence for wider consumption.
The sensible significance of understanding these a number of variations lies in recognizing the cautious curation of the album’s picture. The choice covers, whereas much less overtly controversial, nonetheless retained the core aesthetic established by George Rental. The distorted figures, the surreal landscapes, the underlying sense of unease these components remained constant, making certain that the general visible id was preserved. The variations grew to become instruments for navigating the complexities of public notion, permitting the album to achieve a broader viewers with out completely sacrificing its inventive integrity. This act of balancing inventive expression with business viability highlights the challenges confronted by artists working inside a mainstream context, and the methods they make use of to keep up management over their work. For instance, the alternate cowl that includes a ballerina underscores a unique facet of the album, considered one of grace and fragility amidst the chaos, providing a softer, extra accessible entry level for some listeners.
In conclusion, the story of My Lovely Darkish Twisted Fantasy‘s a number of cowl variations isn’t just a footnote within the album’s historical past; it is an integral a part of its narrative. It demonstrates the facility of visible illustration to form notion, the complexities of navigating inventive freedom inside a business panorama, and the deliberate selections artists make to speak their imaginative and prescient to the world. The existence of those variations gives a deeper understanding of the album’s themes and the artist’s intent, revealing a nuanced strategy to visible storytelling that goes past a single, static picture. The challenges of balancing inventive integrity with business viability stay, however the strategic deployment of a number of variations gives a compelling case examine in how artists can navigate these complexities.
5. Oil Portray Type
The deliberate option to emulate an oil portray fashion for the art work related to My Lovely Darkish Twisted Fantasy transcended mere aesthetic choice. It grew to become a aware resolution to imbue the album’s visible id with weight, historical past, and a way of timelessness, connecting it to a lineage of inventive expression that stretches again centuries.
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Elevated Inventive Standing
Oil portray, historically related to excessive artwork, inherently elevates the standing of the album art work. By using this medium, the visuals aren’t merely business packaging however reasonably deliberate inventive statements, inviting viewers to have interaction with them on a deeper, extra mental stage. The medium conveys permanence and significance, suggesting that the album itself is a critical inventive endeavor worthy of cautious consideration.
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Textural Depth and Emotional Resonance
The inherent texture of oil paint the seen brushstrokes, the layering of colours contributes to the art work’s emotional depth. These visible cues recommend a strategy of creation, of deliberate development, mirroring the advanced layers of that means embedded throughout the music itself. The feel provides a tactile high quality, virtually inviting the viewer to achieve out and contact the art work, additional enhancing its emotional influence.
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Evocation of Artwork Historic Precedents
The oil portray fashion consciously evokes artwork historic precedents, linking the album’s visuals to a wealthy tapestry of inventive custom. This connection not solely provides depth and complexity to the art work but additionally positions the album inside a broader cultural context, suggesting that it’s a part of an ongoing dialog about artwork, magnificence, and the human situation. The visible fashion nods to masters of the previous, making a dialogue between up to date music and classical artwork.
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Blurring the Strains Between Music and Superb Artwork
In the end, the oil portray fashion blurs the strains between music and nice artwork, elevating the album to the realm of excessive tradition. It means that music, like portray, could be a highly effective type of inventive expression, able to conveying advanced feelings and concepts. This blurring of boundaries challenges standard notions of what constitutes artwork, increasing the definition to incorporate well-liked music and its accompanying visuals.
The selection of oil portray as a medium for the album’s visuals was a strategic resolution, supposed to imbue the art work with a way of depth, historical past, and inventive significance. By connecting the album to a lineage of inventive custom, the visuals transcended mere business packaging, changing into an integral a part of the album’s total inventive assertion. The oil portray fashion serves as a robust visible metaphor for the complexity and depth of the music itself, inviting viewers to have interaction with the album on a deeper, extra significant stage.
6. Visible Metaphor
The art work for My Lovely Darkish Twisted Fantasy operates not as a easy commercial, however as a classy visible metaphor, every factor fastidiously chosen to mirror and amplify the advanced themes throughout the music. The album, a uncooked and infrequently uncomfortable exploration of fame, extra, and private demons, demanded a visible illustration that went past surface-level imagery. George Rental’s contribution offered exactly that: a collection of symbolic scenes designed to impress thought and interpretation, not simply passive viewing. Take into account, for example, the usage of the phoenix. It isn’t merely a hen, however a visible shorthand for the harmful cycles of West’s public life, his tendency to self-immolate after which rise once more from the ashes of controversy. This cycle of destruction and rebirth finds a direct parallel within the album’s lyrical content material and sonic exploration, thus reworking the duvet right into a concentrated visible abstract of the whole inventive undertaking.
The deliberate distortions of human figures in Rental’s fashion function one other essential layer of visible metaphor. These aren’t idealized portraits, however reasonably fragmented and unsettling representations of the human psyche. They mirror the interior struggles and anxieties expressed within the album’s lyrics, the sense of unease and instability that underlies the bravado and extra. This alternative is critical as a result of it acknowledges the inherent contradictions throughout the album’s themes. The music celebrates the heights of fame and fortune, whereas concurrently grappling with the isolation and alienation that accompany such success. The distorted figures visually embody this stress, presenting a world the place magnificence is all the time tinged with darkness, and triumph is inextricably linked to a way of interior turmoil. The usage of a ballerina, in one of many different covers, gives an identical metaphorical studying. Whereas seemingly delicate and swish, the ballerina exists inside a world of intense bodily self-discipline and relentless self-criticism, mirroring the pressures and sacrifices inherent within the pursuit of inventive perfection.
In essence, the visible metaphor is just not merely an aesthetic alternative, however a crucial part of My Lovely Darkish Twisted Fantasy‘s total inventive success. It supplies a framework for understanding the album’s advanced themes, reworking the duvet artwork into a robust and evocative image. The persistence and continued relevance of the art work lie in its potential to resonate on a number of ranges, providing a visible language that enhances and enhances the listening expertise. It prompts consideration of the album as a holistic murals, reasonably than merely a group of particular person songs. The album cowl serves as a visible gateway, inviting the listener to delve into the darkish and twisted, however finally stunning, world that lies inside.
7. Expressionistic Aesthetic
The Expressionistic aesthetic, marked by its intense subjectivity and deliberate distortion of actuality, finds a potent embodiment in My Lovely Darkish Twisted Fantasy cowl artwork. This aesthetic is not merely a stylistic alternative, however a calculated resolution to visually echo the album’s uncooked, unfiltered exploration of human emotion and the darker elements of fame. It alerts to the viewer that they’re getting into a realm the place interior turmoil takes priority over goal illustration, the place emotions are amplified and projected onto the exterior world.
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Distortion as Emotional Amplification
Expressionism rejects photorealistic accuracy in favor of conveying the artist’s interior state. Within the context of My Lovely Darkish Twisted Fantasy cowl artwork, George Rental’s distorted figures embody this precept. Faces are stretched, options are exaggerated, and views are skewed, all to amplify the underlying sense of unease and psychological fragmentation. The visible distortion mirrors the emotional distortion skilled by the artist, translating private anxieties right into a tangible kind. Think about a scream rendered in paint: the open mouth, the contorted face these aren’t literal depictions, however emotional expressions pushed to their excessive.
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Colour as a Conduit for Feeling
Expressionistic artwork usually employs daring, jarring colour palettes to evoke particular feelings. The colours aren’t essentially sensible representations of the scene, however reasonably symbolic indicators of the artist’s temper. The usage of darkish, saturated hues in some variations of the My Lovely Darkish Twisted Fantasy cowl artwork creates a way of foreboding and unease. Conversely, the usage of vibrant, virtually garish colours in different variations can recommend a manic power, reflecting the album’s themes of extra and hedonism. Every colour turns into a conduit, channeling the emotional depth of the music into the visible realm.
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Rejection of Conventional Magnificence Requirements
Expressionism usually rejects conventional notions of magnificence in favor of portraying the uncooked, unvarnished fact. The My Lovely Darkish Twisted Fantasy cowl artwork embodies this precept by depicting figures which are usually unsettling or grotesque. The objective is to not create an aesthetically pleasing picture, however reasonably to impress a response, to drive the viewer to confront uncomfortable realities. The rejection of standard magnificence requirements turns into a deliberate act of subversion, difficult societal norms and forcing a re-evaluation of what’s thought-about visually interesting.
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Subjectivity because the Guiding Precept
In the end, the guideline of Expressionism is subjectivity. The artist’s private expertise and emotional state take priority over goal illustration. Within the context of My Lovely Darkish Twisted Fantasy cowl artwork, which means that the visuals aren’t supposed to be a literal depiction of the album’s themes, however reasonably an emotional interpretation. The artist is just not merely illustrating the music, however providing a subjective response to it. This subjectivity is what offers the art work its energy, permitting it to resonate with viewers on a deeply private stage.
The Expressionistic aesthetic, as manifested in My Lovely Darkish Twisted Fantasy cowl artwork, serves as a robust instrument for speaking the album’s advanced themes and emotional panorama. The distortion, the colour, the rejection of conventional magnificence requirements, and the unwavering subjectivity all contribute to a visible expertise that’s each unsettling and deeply compelling. The art work turns into a mirror, reflecting the interior turmoil and anxieties of the artist, and welcoming the viewer to confront their very own demons within the course of. In a world of fastidiously curated pictures and manufactured realities, the Expressionistic aesthetic gives a welcome dose of uncooked, unfiltered fact.
Incessantly Requested Questions About My Lovely Darkish Twisted Fantasy Cowl Artwork
The visible illustration accompanying Kanye West’s My Lovely Darkish Twisted Fantasy has sparked appreciable dialogue and debate since its launch. What follows addresses among the most typical inquiries relating to its creation, interpretation, and significance.
Query 1: Why had been there a number of variations of the album’s visible presentation?
The preliminary picture chosen, a provocative depiction by George Rental, confronted resistance from retailers citing its express nature. The following discourse resulted in different covers being commissioned, diluting the unique’s influence whereas sustaining a cohesive aesthetic. This serves as a case examine within the tensions between inventive imaginative and prescient and business viability; the story of its visible id is considered one of negotiation and compromise.
Query 2: How does the fashion of oil portray used within the album artwork improve its that means?
The adoption of strategies harking back to oil portray bestowed upon the album art work a way of timelessness and elevated inventive benefit. The medium invokes established inventive traditions, distancing the visuals from mere business packaging and welcoming viewers to have interaction on a deeper stage. It’s a deliberate technique supposed to lend weight and significance to the general inventive assertion.
Query 3: What’s the symbolic significance of the phoenix as introduced?
The phoenix, a legendary creature reborn from ashes, serves as a potent metaphor throughout the visuals. It mirrors West’s private narrative of navigating controversy and rising anew. The inclusion of the phoenix visualizes the harmful cycle of fame and the potential for reinvention; it operates as a visible illustration of resilience within the face of adversity.
Query 4: What made the imagery of the album controversial upon launch?
The unique design challenged societal conventions, significantly relating to depictions of nudity and sexuality. Such challenges triggered responses and underscored the facility of images to impress and disrupt entrenched norms. The controversies sparked served to amplify the album’s themes of extra and revolt.
Query 5: How does George Rental’s signature fashion of distorted figures contribute to the album’s total message?
Rental’s intentionally distorted figures aren’t merely aesthetic prospers; they embody the album’s exploration of interior turmoil and the darker aspects of human nature. These grotesque portraits visually signify the anxieties and inner conflicts that always accompany fame, serving as a constant reminder of the instability that underpins the outside of success.
Query 6: Is the visible presentation merely ornamental, or is it supposed as a real metaphor for the album’s content material?
The visible selections are greater than superficial elaborations; they operate as a classy metaphor. Every factor, from the phoenix to the distorted figures, resonates with the sonic and lyrical narratives of the album, making a cohesive inventive expertise. It encourages interpretation and invitations deeper engagement with the undertaking as a unified entire.
The visible surrounding My Lovely Darkish Twisted Fantasy serves as a testomony to the facility of images to amplify and enrich inventive narratives. Its enduring legacy resides in its potential to impress thought and encourage dialog in regards to the advanced themes at its core.
The next part will discover its influence on artwork and music tradition.
Decoding the Visible Symphony
The art work adorning Kanye West’s My Lovely Darkish Twisted Fantasy is greater than mere album packaging; it’s a meticulously crafted visible narrative, a narrative informed in colour, distortion, and symbolism. To dissect this visible symphony is to unearth invaluable classes relevant far past the realm of music promotion.
Tip 1: Embrace Calculated Provocation: The preliminary, uncensored cowl examined boundaries, sparking debate and amplifying the album’s themes of extra and revolt. The lesson is evident: controversy, when strategically deployed, can generate immense consideration and solidify a creative assertion. Nevertheless, perceive the dangers concerned, and put together for potential backlash.
Tip 2: Layer Which means Via Symbolism: The phoenix, a recurring motif, represents resilience and transformation. Such fastidiously chosen symbols resonate deeply with audiences, including depth and complexity to the art work. Each factor ought to contribute to the general narrative, enriching the viewer’s expertise and fostering deeper engagement.
Tip 3: Prioritize Inventive Cohesion: Regardless of the existence of a number of variations, a constant aesthetic, characterised by Rental’s signature fashion, remained. The message is that whereas adaptation could also be essential, sustaining inventive integrity is paramount. All visible iterations ought to really feel a part of the identical world, reinforcing the core message.
Tip 4: Leverage the Energy of Medium: The evocation of oil portray, a medium with a wealthy inventive historical past, elevated the art work past typical album artwork. Collection of a medium inherently communicates a message. Select properly to align the visible illustration with the supposed inventive message.
Tip 5: Have interaction in a Dialog with Artwork Historical past: The affect of expressionism, and maybe extra, connects the album to a broader cultural context. Perceive inventive actions and borrow strategies. This provides layers of that means and supplies a richer expertise for the viewer, fostering respect and appreciation.
Tip 6: Subvert Expectations Via Distortion: Rental’s intentional use of distorted figures, challenges standard requirements of magnificence, and provides a sense of unrest. Use distortion to problem the viewer and to create a extra highly effective connection.
Tip 7: Combine Artwork with the Core Message: The visuals aren’t simply adornments. They signify the thematic content material of the album. The mixing of the artwork with the album content material is a transparent technique. Be sure that the visible factor is totally built-in into the themes being explored within the music.
The My Lovely Darkish Twisted Fantasy cowl artwork is just not merely a fairly image. It’s a masterclass in visible storytelling, a testomony to the facility of intentional inventive selections. These classes, gleaned from its creation, function a blueprint for creating impactful visible narratives that transcend mere aesthetics.
The next sections will study the album’s lasting affect.
A Lasting Impression
The journey by means of My Lovely Darkish Twisted Fantasy cowl artwork has revealed a multifaceted narrative, a visible tapestry woven with intention and daring inventive selections. The exploration encompassed the controversies sparked, the symbolic language employed, and the deliberate embrace of established inventive traditions. Every facet underscores a basic fact: the visible part of a creative work is just not merely an afterthought, however an important extension of its soul.
The distorted figures, the fiery phoenix, the echoes of oil portray masters these components converge to kind an enduring impression, a testomony to the facility of artwork to impress, to problem, and finally, to endure. The legacy of My Lovely Darkish Twisted Fantasy cowl artwork is that it compels reflection on the connection between picture and that means, between artist and viewers. Might this examination encourage a deeper appreciation for the tales informed past the lyrics, for the visible echoes that linger lengthy after the ultimate notice has pale. It urges all to think about what tales their chosen pictures are telling.
