A mystery or a memory

August 23, 2013 7:09 PM

The Mystery of Flying Kicks.
posted by cashman (6 comments total)

This film is well made, but it's subject matter is just one more example of an explosion of self-prepossessing pap that gets more attention than it deserves.
posted by Vibrissae at 7:34 PM on August 23, 2013

Very cool documentary. I remember seeing shoes up on power lines outside some of the dorms around campus and assuming that those shoes were from suckers who took their shoes off before going in their room. There's an interesting parallel between the shoes on wires and the flying of kites (for example) that indicates gang activity or some other kind of message being sent. I love hearing about new ways that people communicate within subcultures, and this is definitely a unique look at that. Great post.
posted by antonymous at 7:52 PM on August 23, 2013 [1 favorite]

The motive to put stuff on power lines is the same as the one to write dumb stuff on message boards; the reason it's shoes specifically is because they are the only physically convenient object for this purpose. A cord with a weight on each end isn't something most people have occasion to seek out, so you get these improvised tools.

Nb. Hanging nunchaku from powerlines would be tres dope tho.
posted by LogicalDash at 8:13 PM on August 23, 2013

Those guys trying to take the shoes down could save themselves a lot of trouble if they'd invest in a pole pruner. And rubber gloves.
posted by Kirth Gerson at 4:28 AM on August 24, 2013

I thought this vid was very "meh". All it did was say over and over again "People keep doing this thing." Thanks, video. I knew that already.
posted by rebent at 4:35 AM on August 24, 2013

The first explanation (that it signifies losing ones virginity) is the one I first knew and have heard the most. But I guess it's much more than that now.
posted by bonefish at 10:52 PM on August 24, 2013