“Ethan, Ethan,” the girl beside me screams, her arms outstretched to the distant stage.
Elsewhere in the crowd, fans cry out for their favourites, but those nearby catch the call. “Ethan, Ethan.”
Call and refrain: a bubble rising from the deep, a colour washing through the palette. Green, let’s name our colour green. Our green spreads and ripples through the roiling host. Now it’s half the stadium, pulsing and merging with the wash of yellow from the other wall.
I belong. It’s us—we are the living thing, we are the spectacle and the glory. Here we manufacture gods.
.
Friday fictioneers is a weekly challenge set by Rochelle Wisoff Fields to write a 100-word story in response to a photo prompt. You can find other stories here
No crowd underwear for Ethan? 😀
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Poor Ethan is only a means to an end
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It is interesting how you describe the crowd becoming one mass, (like a swarm of bees), as they take up the adoration cry.
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Thanks so much, James
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Manufactured gods, indeed. Totally insane! I went to only one concert in my life… just for the experience. See no point in spending that much for insanity. Ahhh, but I got a front row seat on the stage so who am I to argue.
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We manufacture and summon our gods in many ways
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That we do. Begs the old question of what’s an icon and what’s an idol.
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Dear Neil,
We do indeed manufacture gods. Perfect last line.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Thanks so much, Rochelle
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We also have a habit of tearing them down too. Captured the concert crowd atmosphere.
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Thanks so much, Iain
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As Joni Mitchell calls it, “the star-maker machinery.” Good story, Neil.
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Thanks so much, Jade
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You’re welcome.
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That moshpit of humanity gives me hives. You captured the idea of creating our own gods perfectly.
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Thanks so much, Alicia
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So I wasn’t alone in using gods as a theme in my story. I have never, ever, wanted to be part of such a huge mass of emotional people. Same kind of feeling I get when I see old films of massive crowds praising Hitler.
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The rapture, yes
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You captured very uniquely, the energy and mind of a mob of fans.
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Thanks so much
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Very atmospheric. I soaked this in.
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Thanks so much, Dawn
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Wow. I feel the pulse of life in every scream.
I don’t think it really matters who is up there. Only the weird anonymous sense of belonging in a crowd chanting the same name.
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Exactly. Except, of course, it’s important that it’s our team up there
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What vivid imagery. I love how you used color to show the spread of the call. Great post!
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Thanks so much, Molly
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A perfect depiction of crowd dynamics – or hysteria.
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Thanks so much, Liz
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Brilliant Neil – ‘Here we manufacture gods’ such a great line 🙌
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Thanks so much
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How true. Well done.
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Thanks so much
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Great last line.
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Thanks so much
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A great representation of the mania of live shows. That last line – is very true!
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Thanks so much Fleur
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You’re welcome 😊
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