In 1992 Robert Downey Jr was still an upcoming actor struggling with substance abuse, so he was very familiar with the rascals and scoundrels of the film business. However, when he visited Wall St in NYC for a documentary; he couldn’t stand being around the stock brokers and bankers for more than five minutes.
Robert said: “If money is evil, then that building is hell.
“This the most obnoxious group of money-hungry, low-IQ, high-energy, jack-rabbit, f**kin’ wannabe-bigtime, smalltime s*t-talking, bothersome, irritating, immature motherf**kers I've ever had to endure for more than five minutes.”
Pink Floyd's "Money" uses lyrical and musical irony to critique the corrupting nature of wealth and consumerism, despite its upbeat, celebratory opening lyrics. Written by Roger Waters, the song features sounds of cash registers and coins, and its unusual 7/4 time signature creates a disjointed feel that clashes with its seemingly pro-money message. Ultimately, the song positions the pursuit of money as a problem within the broader anxieties of the human condition explored on The Dark Side of the Moon.
Lyrical Critique of Materialism
Contradiction: The lyrics, such as "Money, it's a gas," initially seem to endorse the allure of wealth, but the verses then express a cynical, detached view.
Individualism vs. Greed: The line "I'm alright Jack, keep your hands off my stack" showcases a selfish, capitalistic attitude, which Waters, as a socialist, ironically expressed through this cynical lens.
Musical Symbolism
Sound Effects: The iconic opening features cash registers, coins, and paper tearing, immediately establishing the song's subject and creating a motif of material wealth.
Odd Time Signature: The use of a 7/4 time signature for most of the song, contrasted with a standard 4/4 time for the guitar solo, disrupts the listener's expectations. This creates a sense of unease, subverting the seemingly simple message of wealth.
Context within The Dark Side of the Moon: Positioned on the album, which explores life's pressures like time, death, and conflict, "Money" serves as another critique of materialism, rather than a celebration of wealth.
Roger Waters' Intent
Waters expressed a keen interest in material wealth and the capitalist system, even as he remained a socialist. "Money" reflects his complex perspective, using irony to convey his critique of greed and the alienating effects of wealth.
Wednesday— Work In Progress Snippet Post a New Fic
I was going to post a snippet but I decided to post a fic instead. Not betaed.
Title: Bankers, Fairies, and Foreclosures, oh my!
Word Count: 1475
Rating: General
Characters: Reader, Dean Winchester, Sam Winchester, Castiel, Faries, Bankers (background)
Relationship: Castiel/Dean Winchester
Summary: This is when the banker begs you to get them to stop and you try but you have no idea how, so you search online and come across the Hunter Network to discover Sam Winchester.
A/N: Not betaed. Had this in my WIP folder forever and was waiting for my beta but it’s fine as is. Enjoy. Thanks for plot development help from @masoena and @winchesterfields67 .
Ch 1
This is when the banker begs you to get them to stop and you try but you have no idea how, so you search online and come across the Hunter Network to discover Sam Winchester. Sam and Dean show up.
At first, they’re like, “You want us to kill them?”
You’re like, “No, no, they’re nice to me but they’re mean to the bank and their employees. I don’t know how to get them to stop.”
Sam looks at Dean with a raised brow. “Dude, doesn’t the Fairy King owe you or something?”
Dean just gives Sam a wide-eyed look between that and says ‘What the fuck are you thinking?’ and ‘Why did you have to bring this up?’
“You know Fairies too?!” You smile and jump up and down like an excited puppy, then realize you’re doing this and stop.
Dean gives you a small smile. “I was kidnapped by them after killing one of them,” he half mumbles.
You’re confused why this guy would have a favor owed to him by a Fairy, let alone the King of them.
“Maybe, you can talk to them?” You offer.
Sam shrugs. They follow you out to where the fairies live on your property and find it this amazingly, beautiful garden. “See, they like me and are nice. I try to find cute things that they can add or make their homes out of.” You start to fidget with your shirt and quietly explain the whole situation, “It’s just that money has been tight and this was my Nana’s house. I’m trying to pay the bank but fell behind. Can’t really pay them if I can’t eat, you know? So, I had to stop paying them for a while when I got laid off from the grocery store going out of business. The fairies must have seen the letters from the bank, and then I got a Notice to Foreclose on the house, so the fairies started being mean to the people at the bank.” You purse your lips to the side, looking at your bare feet, and add, “I didn’t know they could read English.” You watch your friends. “Sometimes, we eat together. I’ll bring them different kinds of honey and milk from the farmer’s market every Saturday.” You smile, brilliantly.
“Hang on a second,” Dean advises and grabs Sam to take a few steps away.
“Is there a limit on the card Charlie gave us?” Dean asks Sam.
“No, she said she made sure it wouldn’t get hit for limits. Why?”
“Why not have us buy the house? That way she and us stay in good with the fairies. The bank should be left alone. Everyone is happy?”
Sam gives Dean one of his classic bitchfaces that turns into a thoughtful expression. “You want to add bees to her garden so Cas can come to visit and hang out with the fairies and insects, don’t you?”
Dean sighs heavily at having gotten caught, his cheeks reddening. “Cas was just telling me that fairies get along with them and thought it’d be a win-win, okay?”
Sam smirks at his happy older brother wanting to do sweet things for his Angel. He pats Dean’s shoulder and squeezes. “Yeah, Dean. We can do that but you have to talk to her.”
Dean grumbles then walks over to you, pouting his lips in thought.
You’re distracted, kneeling in front of the flowers and mushrooms that separate the fairies’ area from your own, talking to them.
Dean stands there behind you watching.
Sam comes over when he doesn’t hear anything after a few seconds and Dean stops him, pointing. They both watch you as you converse and laugh.
“You understand them?” Sam asks, eyes wide, mouth relaxed, and eyebrows near his hairline.
Turning around, you look at Sam. “Doesn’t everyone?” You ask.
Both boys shake their heads, their faces now matching.
“All I ever heard was chimes and bell noises,” Dean admits.
You stand up and walk over to Dean, your head is tilted, brow furrowed, and slightly frowning. “My Nana could understand them too. It’s why they’re here. I don’t know what happened other than she saved one once. Ever since they’ve always been around.”
Dean turns his head back and exclaims loudly, “Ca-a-a-s.”
Ch 2
The air around you changes pressure, making your ears feel weird and then seem to pop. Suddenly there is a tall man in a khaki trench coat and an ill-fitted navy blue suit. It matches his eyes. “Your eyes are beautiful,” you tell him without thinking.
Castiel smiles. “Thank you.” He looks to Dean, expectantly.
“She can talk to fairies,” Dean tells him.
Castiel’s brow furrows and he looks into your eyes. He leans closer, eyes suddenly aglow as they skim you from head to toe and back.
It feels like he did a scan or something. You shiver and take a step back. Three fairies appear around you and, to Dean and Sam, tinkle like bells.
To Castiel and you, the blue fairy asks, “Are you alright, sweetheart?”
The yellow fairy nearly growls, “Are they being mean?”
The red fairy asks, grumpily, “Should we make them go away?”
“I apologize,” responds the angel. “I did not mean to make you uncomfortable. It seems you are descended from fairies. You’re very sensitive to changes in energy. I did not realize. Please forgive my intrusion.”
“You can be descended from fairies?” Squeaks Sam.
“How does that even work?” Asks Dean, mouth agape and eyes squinting looking at the fairies.
Castiel glances at Dean and rolls his eyes before returning to you. “That is why you can understand them so easily and probably your parents and before them.”
You chew on your lower lip as you listen and shake your head. “I don’t know if my parents did. I was raised by my Nana. She could though.”
Castiel smiles and nods. “Is there something I can do to be of assistance?”
“Oh, Sam and Dean I think had a solution to the fairies being mean to the bank and their employees because they won’t stop even when I asked.”
“Fairies love trading and having favors owed. Perhaps if you trade them something of great value, they will stop.” He turns to the brothers. “Have you tried that?”
“We just got here, Sunshine.m,” Dean explains.
Sam nods.
Castiel turns back to you and takes a step next to Dean. “What’s the plan?”
“Well,” the freckled hunter begins. “We were—“
“Eh uh. This was your idea, Dean.” Sam argues.
Dean huffs and starts again. “I was thinking of buying the house from the bank and seeing if she’d be cool to have beehives…for you, so you could…you know,” Dean pauses and fiddles with his shirt. “So, you could hang out with the bees and fairies like you were talking about a few weeks ago.” Dean’s cheeks were turning a nice dark shade of pink which made his freckles pop out on his face.
Castiel rubbed his thumb along the blush and nodded, sweetly at him.
Your mouth is open, your eyes are wide as plates, and your heart is racing. You’re trying to gather yourself but all that comes out before true thought forms is “I like bees.”
Dean looks up with a smile that could eclipse the sun. Castiel takes his hand, interlacing it in his.
You turn to the fairies. “Is that okay? Would y’all be ok having a bee colony here?”
They gather together and discuss among themselves before the red fairies reply, “We’d love that. We need a bigger garden though.”
“That’s fine. Just let me know what to get, and then we can plant them together.”
Dean inquires, “What do they need?”
“They want to make the garden bigger to accommodate the bees and maintain their own area,” you explain.
“Get us a list and we will buy them. Castiel has a large garden back at the bun—back at home,” Sam explains. “Maybe Dean and Cas can help plant them with you?”
“That would be wonderful.”
The fairies all chime and tinkle excitedly.
“Guess they like the plan.”
You have a sudden thought. “Will you be owning my house or would I?”
“You will,” Sam instantly says. “That way the fairies and you should be good.”
You grin wide and toothy at their help. Glad nothing bad happened with their assistance. You were worried the bank would try to hurt the fairies or force you to leave but now you don’t. That’s wonderful.
You and the fairies are excited to expand the garden. You can’t wait for the bees to arrive. You’re hoping Castiel or Dean know how to manage bees because you have no idea. At least you get to keep your home and the fairies are happy again. So excited to hang out with your new friends too.
