PrimeJourney

Hey, look! I actually posted something! A Christian gal who likes exploring brand new worlds in video games, literature, and animation! A big fan of all things cute! 💖 📢 Currently charmed by the world of Phonopolis 🎧

[the-great-anteater]

Graphics and costume designs by Ukrainian avant-garde artist Anatol Petrytskyi

I highly recommend to look into it to everyone in the 📢phonopolis🎧 fandom

[primejourney]

OOOOH 👀

I LOVE THIS! This is so cool!!

I can totally see what inspiration they took from these for the game's art style!

These would make some fun outfit inspo for sure. I gotta look more of his art up!

[agcl12334]

My fingertips are on fire

[the-great-anteater]

Thinking about this Felix's outfit...

It may look quite silly for us, but in his society it's what the elites wear, so we should think of it like as Felix is wearing a dashing and expensive costume, real James Bond ass shit 😁 I bet he loved that A LOT

[primejourney]

HAHA okay thanks for that -- that desc of james bond made me laugh XD That's so true though!! He's channeling his inner 007 (for a minute anyway, before he trips on air lol)

I'm sure in universe, that's the case, but I do find it funny how when I first saw it I thought "...hehe cute little clown". 🤡 Like it vaguely resembles a Perriott costume to me

[agcl12334]

I made this I’m so tired😭

[the-great-anteater]

I've recently went through this scene in the game again, and I find it Very, Very Interesting.

The old guys thinking Rachel ran away? I think that could mean she was a rebel, at least in artistic way.

And those photos with the Leader? They definitely were very close some time ago, and I can surely link this fact to the previous one on my board.

What do you think of it?

[primejourney]

All right, so you asked me what I think about all of this. I have a LOT of notes I wrote on this in my personal little Phonopolis braindump doc so...

Prepare thyself for a very large text dump under the cut lol.

OKAY YES I have thought about that one line from the Elder about her "betraying" them – it has a lot to unpack there. It seems to indicate they felt she had enough of some sort of connection to the Leader that she might be swayed to join his side..? This could mean the two had a closer friendship than we thought. Another less-dramatic explanation is that they worried she became brainwashed by him…but it seems to me she is somehow resistant to his loudspeakers, so I’m not sure. To me, their line has more of the sense they were suspicious of where her loyalties lied.

Another interesting thing to note is that they squabble that they somehow bored her enough to leave lol. It gives me the vibes she might’ve felt somewhat constrained by the Elders, hm…I get the vibe she is a free spirit and does not like to feel trapped in any way, physically and psychologically. I don’t think the Elders are bad people, but they seemed to be a little pushy on what they believed she needed to sing (a la what ideological view was “best for the people” or how society should be run?).

And on her being an artistic rebel…she definitely gives me the vibes she runs to the beat of her own drum, and loves to explore new horizons in art. She did what she loved, and it was just a plus that people loved her and her art in return – I think no matter if people liked her work or not, she’d always continue creating art (singing, etc.), because it is what she loves she to do, as natural to her as breathing. Of course, as an artist, I’m sure she hoped to inspire and positively influence others with her art, with her thinking about it and the human soul being quite different from the Leader’s.

Though it might not have always been that way – I think the Leader, before he fell into darkness, showed a lot of qualities and artistic sensibilities she admired and respected. If he represents the avant garde movement, which sought to try new things with art, I think he was willing to experiment and try new things, and she liked that – I have a feeling she might have felt some aspects of the Old Times traditions were stale or needed change (a la corruption in societies that encouraged the rise of communism..?). From the first picture, it looks to me like they are in a bar or a cafe, which brings to my mind how philosophers and thinkers would hang out in cafes to discuss their ideas. It feels like the two often had these deep discussions about art and society, and maybe agreed about a number of things. The second picture…they both look happy, and it looks like they had this mutual, pleasant respect for each other (her hand on his arm, him turned towards her as if he is proudly conveying something to her and the audience in the back..?). 

That second picture also looks like it’s at a concert to me…and he looks as if he had papers in his hand, with a spotlight cast on them. Interestingly, there are some other interesting musical theming regarding him in the game, with him talking about directing orchestras and writing compositions. For example:

“I am the architect of this society! Only thanks to me will Phonopolis play like a perfectly-tuned orchestra!”

“You are nothing but a disruptive, false note in my composition. And such a note must be silenced!”

Also, I noticed in the documentary, this poster (sadly, we are only able to see half…):

Lookie there - see what he’s called instead of The Leader.

So I think it’s pretty clear he was indeed a composer and conductor! Which might explain how they met and got to know each other – they worked together, with her perhaps singing some works he composed. Maybe she had supported his musical ideology once, when his mentality hadn’t been so bad at first? (I remember reading somewhere that one of the developers intimated maybe he had been well-intentioned at first. Of course, I cannot find wherever I read this, so now I’m starting to think I hallucinated it… 😐).

However…something changed. Maybe due to bitterness and frustration trying to appeal to people he saw as not listening to his appeals for change, he saw the former forms of music as an “evil” due to it being associated with what he saw as societally corrupt/weak/unfair/etc. (ex. the “bourgeoisie”). 

Yet, also, ultimately, he let himself get twisted by impatience, ego, and maybe even envy (...that is major headcanon territory on my part, but for some reason, I get this vibe he had a cocktail of emotions regarding Rachel, where his admiration turned into jealousy of a sort. She had something he did not, as evident in the fact only she had the component of her voice to complete The Absolute Tone). Maybe he admired some of the beauty of “the old times” once, but he came to hate it, and then ultimately, hate the beauty of the imperfect human soul and individuality, seeing it as a major obstacle to society working harmoniously.

I want to share an excerpt from our conversation I had about this with @agcl12334 the other day. I think it sums up how I think his mentality became, and how Rachel felt about it.

Me:

Though, in the poster speaking with Rachel, his smoldering expression does feel a little...intense

I feel like I see a little of his present self in those eyes

I sort of feel like he had that anger build up in him until it exploded. to me, he looks...frustrated. Frustrated at the world?

Rachel looks like she is trying to explain or help him understand something

I don’t think he understood :,D

Agcl

Could he also be one of those types who thinks, "The old world is terrible; I’m going to create a better new world and lead all of humanity toward a bright future"? 

Me

That's EXACTLY what I'm thinking. "If no one can be unified, I'll MAKE them unified"

I really think Rachel respected him as someone who had new ideas and aspired towards building a better future. But she was horrified at what he became.

With all that said…

It’s mysterious how the Leader got ahold of her. Did she run away from the Elders to just…get away from everything and was captured? Or did she go to the Leader willingly…maybe to try to persuade him to stop? Hmm…

Anyway, I guess I don’t have a conclusion to this long ramble. Just a lot of thoughts I’ve had – as nebulous their pasts can be from the tiny crumbs the game gives us, and although I might’ve hoped it would’ve given us just a teensy bit more about them…I’ve come to really enjoy it’s ambiguity. It has the potential to be interpreted in so many ways by the viewer, and that’s what makes it so fun!!

[the-great-anteater]

OH BOY that was a lot of reading! Thank you SO MUCH for sharing this!!!

Basically I agree on pretty much everything, yet I have something to add

1) speaking of the loudspeakers: do you really think they function like some brainwashing technology? I always assumed their effectiveness was just psychological thing, like propaganda repeated numerous times just stucks with people 🤔

2) I also think the Elders were pushy on her, ideologically - and especially aesthetically. Not in a "what is best for the people" way, but in a "what is best for you and worth your talent". If we go into the headcanon territory: I imagine them feeling like fathers towards her. But we know how deaf and blind even the best-willing fathers can be about their children's desires. Maybe she felt like a bird in a golden cage even before the Leader trapped her.

3) Yeah, I agree, most certainly the Leader was... an okay guy at first. Maybe too much obsessed with perfection and control. Maybe a bit too violent for an artistic circle: but he definitely had a powerful charisma, so that could just pass as a passionate need for change.

I'd actually like to explore how Rachel saw him at that time, hopefully I'll continue my fic to that point...

3) Damn, I actually love "the cocktail of emotions" headcanon 😲 Especially that envy part. Do you mean it like in a Mozart and Salieri situation?? Because it would make so much sense. But it would be even more complicated: envy leads to obsession, and I think he kept her imprisoned later because he somehow knew that he would never have her in any other way. Like he can't possess her in a way that really matters, so he just locks her in cage or whatever. And later he thinks she'd be useful for the Absolute Tone.

I'd say I believe Rachel was friends with him at some time, maybe even too excited about his new ideas, and was perpetually dragged into his newly forming circle, and when she realised how bad things were it was already too late.

Also what do you think, was he really a good composer? Or just a charismatic guy with a lot of ambition and a desire to destruct the old ways?

[primejourney]

Of course – thanks so much for reading all my word vomit lol XD Ooh, yay, more questions…!

Okay, then…prepare for more of it haha…

1.) Yes, that is what I’ve assumed, but your take is an interesting one, and now I could see it as a bit of both!

Though, if you’re curious why I think so:

Felix’s need to wear the headphones: I suppose one could say he had a need initially just to have a break from them to think for himself, but if it was just a psychological thing, you could say he wouldn’t have a need for them at some point and could function just fine without wearing them. Yet, the game makes a point to show he really needs to wear them at all times, indicating that without them, he wouldn’t be able to resist the speakers. (This is probably my strongest argument here lol…).

Felix’s (and the citizens’) body language: at the beginning of the story, Felix’s voice after the Speaker blasts at him sounds…a bit eerily automatic and distant. Even his mannerisms look a bit mechanical afterward, but return to looking more like his clumsy, natural self when the effects wear off after a moment or two. If it was merely psychological, I feel like he’d still look and sound like himself and less…hypnotized-like, idk. Also, the way the citizens’ jump up and perform their tasks, often mindlessly without paying much attention to what they’re actually doing (even seeming confused afterward), feels like they were sort of neurologically forced to.

The mentions of ear washing (or “the Earwash”): during the tank puzzle, Felix mentions that disobedient members of society faced “the Earwash”. Another poster encourages citizens to keep their ears clean. This seems to indicate a major threat to the speakers’ effectiveness are hearing obstructions, and the first thing a “disobedient member” would be checked for is unclean ears (lol). (Though, perhaps the Earwash also included a good long sitting of listening to the speakers at full blast, oof…but that I suppose is more headcanon territory). To me, if the speakers’ effects were merely psychological, there would be more risks than just blocked ears; even under psychological influence, wouldn’t there still be more chances or opportunities for someone to disobey? To me, it sounds like active rebellion isn’t the first assumption, but someone doing so “accidentally” due to blocked ears, which indicates the assumption the citizen doesn’t even think to resist due to hypnotic suggestion. BUT I suppose this argument is a bit weak and could still fit within the idea of psychological effect, so…

The fact that the Elders mention the Leader erased the citizens’ memories: I’m sure the Leader did the realistic thing of “editing history” through propaganda and destroying old records…and, hrm, forcibly removing people, but I’d think there were still be people left who remembered the Old Times (the Elders seem to argue they are recent enough that Felix–and the rest of the city–would remember, stating that they all have seen Rachel before. Though, I suppose they do just assume Felix has, saying he “must have” seen her. Though, I think they’re right, since Felix does say she looks familiar and has dreams of her and all). They also say the speakers “dig deep into people’s minds”, which sounds like subliminal hypnotic mumbo jumbo to me. Okay, again, I guess this could fit under psychological influence…but I’m still not sure how that could erase all of people’s memories literally. I guess they could’ve not meant it literally, but it seems so to me, especially since…

The citizens are not able to dream: I love this story aspect – it’s symbolic and thematic on so many levels hrghhh (I might write a post about this sometime idk). This could fit under the psychological thing, like…they live in such a controlled, utilitarian condition, they don’t even have the imagination and artistic, soulful sensibilities to dream, or even “dream” in the sense of aspiring to doing more beyond what is expected of them. That is definitely a major theme there. BUT ALSO I feel like this could also be an effect of the speakers in a neurological way. They already live in a dream, the Leader’s dream…Felix even describes the citizens as “[drifting] out of their waking slumber”. (Though, once more, I guess this could be metaphorical too, so)...

I guess in the end I can see it going both ways XD. Really though, I feel like it’s a mix of both things happening!!

2.) Aww, okay, I like the idea of them being fatherly - I can definitely see what you mean. I guess given the ending I couldn’t help but be suspicious how they treated her and wondered if they were just trying to use her… =.=  But reassessing their dialogue with what you said, I can definitely see them as more paternal, and I definitely like that idea a lot more!! ‘Tis my headcanon now. 🙂‍↕️(And YES that’s how I see it!! And the bird and the cage symbolism is on pointttt).

3.) Mmm yesss I definitely see the Leader as a horrific perfectionist and micromanager!! (I feel like said villains usually appeal to me because I see that as a major flaw of mine…perfectionism stinks 🥲 I can certainly see it as a trait, if mixed with other things, turn into a monster of a thing). And yeah, definitely had a bad temper that at first people handwaved as him just being a passionate, eccentric artist (like, I could see him, when trying to compose a piece, start throwing things out of frustration and yelling at any hapless fool who walked in on him at the time lol). That trait got worse and worse as he gave himself over more to his ego and went on a powertrip.

Ooh, I can’t wait to read it…!!

OH MY GOODNESS I LOVE that comparison to Amadeus!!! YES OKAY EXACTLY I think that sums up how I see it pretty well!!!

Ooooh, yes, golly…yea I could see it that way for sure. I think she represented something he wished he could have, wished he could be, with art and music…. And maybe even in his evil some sort of hunger for this ineffable, spiritual sort of…goodness I guess (??? I don’t know how else to say it, hrm…) he just couldn’t, ironically, because of his own evil. 🤷‍♀️ IDK…I think perhaps even he was confused by his own longings and emotions himself. So…

Though, when you say possess her in a way that really matters…what do you mean by that..? >O>

Yeah…I think that’s how it went. Poor Rachel. 😢

HRM good question!! Funny at first I had the idea he was actually…bad, or at least, mediocre at it. A la how Hitler’s past painting work isn’t considered to be very good (at least, beyond a technical level). But seeing the picture of him with Rachel looking happy, most likely surrounded by an audience, showed people did like his work enough to see him; I also thought about his affection for the avant garde, and made me think he was a major proponent of it. And so I have kind of changed my mind about it, that he wasn’t bad at composing, maybe considered good, or at least intriguing. (though, going with the Amadeus idea, I could also see maybe he was considered good but paled in comparison to the genius of Rachel, etc.).

Either way, I think he was someone who sought to explore new horizons in music, especially with heralding new ideas about society (at first). Humans and society’s relationship with music intrigued him, especially with how the human mind responded to sound, which he sought to explore in his music. I think he liked the idea of his music helping shape a “better” society. He also enjoyed innovative machinery, and liked to tinker at making things in his free time…

As he started on his path to darkness, with his ideology becoming more and more extreme, he soon veered into a sort of mad science, which led to the creation of the speakers… 😬 (I think his inspiration came from him using a megaphone to speak to crowds about his ideology…which became his very first prototype. I believe he was charismatic to some degree to get people to follow him of their own accord at first. Maybe that even helped him build more speakers. But then, at that point, he could depend more on them, along with normal propagandistic methods).

IDK if that answers your question. I wound up rambling about something else lol.

[agcl12334]

The architect of the society

[bellabs-dream-lab]

Just remembered I had this screenshot on my phone somewhere and had to post it here because it really speaks to me

[primejourney]

I LOVE this haha. I kind of feel like it has been like my Phono fandom experience so far a little XD

To jump off what you said @the-great-anteater , I might have succeeded in getting an IRL friend to be interested in it (sadly they don't have a computer : ,D)

[pyromaniacblujay]

[the-great-anteater]

hey phonopolis nation 👋 I survived so have some silly doodles

Also Rachel in character of Cossack Mamay, just imagine if she took part in a musical play like that...

[the-great-anteater]

"Their first meeting was at a private gallery"

(The painting on the wall is my interpretation of a real work of a Ukrainian artist Petro Kholodny)

[primejourney]

Okay Phonopolis people: I have a very important question. For a little project.

What do you think the Leader thinks of puns

What does The Leader think of puns?

He finds them hilarious and will laugh loudly and openly at one

He DESPISES them. All puns are outlawed.

He acts like he doesn't care but inside he's laughing hysterically

Truly doesn't care. Indifferent.

Voting ended onJul 8

[primejourney]

S'more work doodles of Felix (+ a Rachel)

[primejourney]

Cute little detail I noticed on replaying Phonopolis: if you send a pudding out with a cherry on top at any point during the cooking machine puzzle, I think this guy appears in the canteen lol

"...I didn't order this."

[the-great-anteater]

[primejourney]

[the-great-anteater]

digging up my folder with retro fashion references

[primejourney]

OHHHHHH

I LOVE THIS

Yes more retro fashion!!! Rachel looks GORGEOUS

and the both of them are so cute oh my goodness 😭

[the-great-anteater]

I've recently went through this scene in the game again, and I find it Very, Very Interesting.

The old guys thinking Rachel ran away? I think that could mean she was a rebel, at least in artistic way.

And those photos with the Leader? They definitely were very close some time ago, and I can surely link this fact to the previous one on my board.

What do you think of it?

[primejourney]

All right, so you asked me what I think about all of this. I have a LOT of notes I wrote on this in my personal little Phonopolis braindump doc so...

Prepare thyself for a very large text dump under the cut lol.

OKAY YES I have thought about that one line from the Elder about her "betraying" them – it has a lot to unpack there. It seems to indicate they felt she had enough of some sort of connection to the Leader that she might be swayed to join his side..? This could mean the two had a closer friendship than we thought. Another less-dramatic explanation is that they worried she became brainwashed by him…but it seems to me she is somehow resistant to his loudspeakers, so I’m not sure. To me, their line has more of the sense they were suspicious of where her loyalties lied.

Another interesting thing to note is that they squabble that they somehow bored her enough to leave lol. It gives me the vibes she might’ve felt somewhat constrained by the Elders, hm…I get the vibe she is a free spirit and does not like to feel trapped in any way, physically and psychologically. I don’t think the Elders are bad people, but they seemed to be a little pushy on what they believed she needed to sing (a la what ideological view was “best for the people” or how society should be run?).

And on her being an artistic rebel…she definitely gives me the vibes she runs to the beat of her own drum, and loves to explore new horizons in art. She did what she loved, and it was just a plus that people loved her and her art in return – I think no matter if people liked her work or not, she’d always continue creating art (singing, etc.), because it is what she loves she to do, as natural to her as breathing. Of course, as an artist, I’m sure she hoped to inspire and positively influence others with her art, with her thinking about it and the human soul being quite different from the Leader’s.

Though it might not have always been that way – I think the Leader, before he fell into darkness, showed a lot of qualities and artistic sensibilities she admired and respected. If he represents the avant garde movement, which sought to try new things with art, I think he was willing to experiment and try new things, and she liked that – I have a feeling she might have felt some aspects of the Old Times traditions were stale or needed change (a la corruption in societies that encouraged the rise of communism..?). From the first picture, it looks to me like they are in a bar or a cafe, which brings to my mind how philosophers and thinkers would hang out in cafes to discuss their ideas. It feels like the two often had these deep discussions about art and society, and maybe agreed about a number of things. The second picture…they both look happy, and it looks like they had this mutual, pleasant respect for each other (her hand on his arm, him turned towards her as if he is proudly conveying something to her and the audience in the back..?). 

That second picture also looks like it’s at a concert to me…and he looks as if he had papers in his hand, with a spotlight cast on them. Interestingly, there are some other interesting musical theming regarding him in the game, with him talking about directing orchestras and writing compositions. For example:

“I am the architect of this society! Only thanks to me will Phonopolis play like a perfectly-tuned orchestra!”

“You are nothing but a disruptive, false note in my composition. And such a note must be silenced!”

Also, I noticed in the documentary, this poster (sadly, we are only able to see half…):

Lookie there - see what he’s called instead of The Leader.

So I think it’s pretty clear he was indeed a composer and conductor! Which might explain how they met and got to know each other – they worked together, with her perhaps singing some works he composed. Maybe she had supported his musical ideology once, when his mentality hadn’t been so bad at first? (I remember reading somewhere that one of the developers intimated maybe he had been well-intentioned at first. Of course, I cannot find wherever I read this, so now I’m starting to think I hallucinated it… 😐).

However…something changed. Maybe due to bitterness and frustration trying to appeal to people he saw as not listening to his appeals for change, he saw the former forms of music as an “evil” due to it being associated with what he saw as societally corrupt/weak/unfair/etc. (ex. the “bourgeoisie”). 

Yet, also, ultimately, he let himself get twisted by impatience, ego, and maybe even envy (...that is major headcanon territory on my part, but for some reason, I get this vibe he had a cocktail of emotions regarding Rachel, where his admiration turned into jealousy of a sort. She had something he did not, as evident in the fact only she had the component of her voice to complete The Absolute Tone). Maybe he admired some of the beauty of “the old times” once, but he came to hate it, and then ultimately, hate the beauty of the imperfect human soul and individuality, seeing it as a major obstacle to society working harmoniously.

I want to share an excerpt from our conversation I had about this with @agcl12334 the other day. I think it sums up how I think his mentality became, and how Rachel felt about it.

Me:

Though, in the poster speaking with Rachel, his smoldering expression does feel a little...intense

I feel like I see a little of his present self in those eyes

I sort of feel like he had that anger build up in him until it exploded. to me, he looks...frustrated. Frustrated at the world?

Rachel looks like she is trying to explain or help him understand something

I don’t think he understood :,D

Agcl

Could he also be one of those types who thinks, "The old world is terrible; I’m going to create a better new world and lead all of humanity toward a bright future"? 

Me

That's EXACTLY what I'm thinking. "If no one can be unified, I'll MAKE them unified"

I really think Rachel respected him as someone who had new ideas and aspired towards building a better future. But she was horrified at what he became.

With all that said…

It’s mysterious how the Leader got ahold of her. Did she run away from the Elders to just…get away from everything and was captured? Or did she go to the Leader willingly…maybe to try to persuade him to stop? Hmm…

Anyway, I guess I don’t have a conclusion to this long ramble. Just a lot of thoughts I’ve had – as nebulous their pasts can be from the tiny crumbs the game gives us, and although I might’ve hoped it would’ve given us just a teensy bit more about them…I’ve come to really enjoy it’s ambiguity. It has the potential to be interpreted in so many ways by the viewer, and that’s what makes it so fun!!

[primejourney]

I have been curious on what distant memories of the USSR and communist rule in the Czech Republic the creators might have drawn upon for inspiration. I am in no way a historian, and have only a fuzzy recollection of world history from school (honestly, I don’t remember really delving into that period very much in class...). Phonopolis has done well to pique my interest in learning more about this strange time in history. On a whim, I was trying to see if the few foods shown in the game corresponded to any cultural foods. I did a deep dive into Czech sausage (lol look—they looked sorta tasty in game ok…before they get blackened to crisp anyway). And then I fell into the rabbit hole of researching what kind of meals they had during the Soviet Era. And holy moly the Leader’s Cookbook is not just a cheeky joke about the extent of the Leader’s control as I thought!!* There actually was a bonafide cookbook Czechs were forced to use to make meals!

Learned all of this from this Atlas Obscura article, if you want to read more

*(I mean, I had a vague assumption that communism had influence on what food people ate, but didn’t know it was to this degree!) 

Apparently, it was made in response to food shortages (there wasn’t a lot of ingredients at hand due to a variety of factors, but one being the way the government poorly managed/diverted resources from the people…) as well as in an effort to create the best nutrition possible to make strong workers. (Seriously, they advised certain foods depending on your profession). On one hand, the concept of keeping track of nutritional numbers was pretty modern, but on the other…dang. You were not allowed to deviate from the recipes at all (you could request to do so but uh, often denied. Probably more there to look like you had some free will in the situation). How controlling could you get?? (I can see how many of the in-game food propaganda posters harkened to this mentality of “eat well to work well for the glory of our country”).

(That meat poster is so threatening lol)

The whole article here talking about how it severely impacted Czech cuisine’s development and creativity is pretty sad…can’t help but think on the game’s exploration of the suppression of artistry and the human spirit by authoritarian control. (Really happy to hear though how they’ve been developing their cuisine once more).

Also fun fact: amongst many of the food shortages, was—get this— imported fruits. Like BANANAS.

So the choice of fruit for the little grocery store wasn’t just random haha.

(...oughh. Thinkin' about Felix getting a little bow-adorned banana for Christmas 🥲)

Man I love it when a game or piece of media teaches me about historyyyyy Like seriously I never found myself interested more about the old eras of communism and the Soviet Union?? Or even about the Czech Republic…it wasn’t that I was opposed to it. I just…never thought about it!

It’s also pretty surreal to think this wasn’t that long ago…