The day is marked by the commission of hoaxes and other practical jokes of varying sophistication on friends, family members, enemies, and neighbors, or sending them on a fool's errand, the aim of which is to embarrass the gullible.
Traditionally, in some countries, such as the UK, Australia and South Africa the jokes only last until noon, and someone who plays a trick after noon is called an "April Fool".
Elsewhere, such as in Canada, France, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Russia, The Netherlands, and the U.S., the jokes last all day.
The earliest recorded association between April 1 and foolishness can be found in Chaucer's Canterbury Tales (1392). Many writers suggest that the restoration of January 1 as New Year's Day the 16th century was responsible for the creation of the holiday, but this theory does not explain earlier references.
On April Fool's Day 1973, John and Yoko introduced the conceptual country of Nutopia at a press conference in New York City.
The Lennons were ambassadors of the country and sought (creatively, though unsuccessfully) diplomatic immunity to end Lennon's ongoing immigration troubles, as he and Ono tried to remain in the United States. (Ono already had a Resident Alien "green card" through her previous husband, Tony Cox. Lennon had been denied permanent residence status.)
John talked about the imaginary country, which would live up to the ideals of his song "IMAGINE", saying this in the "official" declaration:
We announce the birth of a conceptual country, NUTOPIA.
Citizenship of the country can be obtained by declaration of your awareness of NUTOPIA.
NUTOPIA has no land, no boundaries, no passports, only people.
NUTOPIA has no laws other than cosmic.
All people of NUTOPIA are ambassadors of the country.
As two ambassadors of NUTOPIA, we ask for diplomatic immunity and recognition in the United Nations of our country and its people.
The flag of Nutopia has only one colour: white.
Some criticised this association with surrender, but Lennon and Ono defended that association, saying that only through surrender and compromise can peace be achieved.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XX8gfDJRBDs
The seal of Nutopia is a picture of the marine animal of the same name, a seal.
A plaque engraved with the words "NUTOPIAN EMBASSY" was duly installed at their home at the Dakota. Yoko remarked that guests in her home prefer walking through that door instead of the front entrance, saying the kitchen door is the new front door.
In 2006, a Nutopia website was created that forwards to a site about the documentary The U.S. vs. John Lennon, distributed by Lions Gate Entertainment.
Op het album ‘Mind Games’ van John Lennon, staat het nummer “Nutopian International Anthem”.
Het duurt zes seconden. En het is geluidloos…
U2 later adopted the Nutopian flag as a part of their live performance of the political songs from their third album, War, an example of this can be seen on the video version of U2's live album Under a Blood Red Sky, during the famous performance of their song "Sunday Bloody Sunday", which, interestingly, shares the same title as a song from Lennon's album Some Time in New York City.
Geen opmerkingen:
Een reactie posten