I once played Miles in a touring production of the Britten Turn of the screw - yep it’s a horror opera. I loved the ambiguities and possibilities. There’s a very touching song that Miles sings about wanting to be in an apple tree rather than a naughty boy ( I think it’s all a play on the Latin malo/malus, but I’m no Latin scholar). I was still quite young looking but I was 14 when we hit the last performance, in London, and my soprano voice finally broke in the last tumultuous scene. That was it for me, but it all played into the ambiguity of boy/young man. Great opera, give it a listen….
Is the word "corruption" really so mysterious, or am I missing the subtext here? In the legal world, "corruption" refers to an adult inducing a child into sexual relations. It's pretty explicit.
Doesn't 'corruption' today mostly relate to crimes like bribery and embezzlement, a catch-all for 'abuse of power'? I don't think there was a legal term for child abuse in Victorian England, when the novel is set, it would have been acts like rape or sodomy that were illegal. In the novel itself the governess uses 'corrupt' as a synonym for 'contaminate' because Mrs. Grose doesn't know the latter 'big' word, and she uses it to describe Miles' behaviour towards other children not just adults abusing children. I think it's clear that it's a euphemism for 'bad influence' which could include, but is not limited to, sexual abuse.
I thought that the term (as in "corruption of a minor") was older than it is. It is apparently a pretty recent usage, late nineteenth or early twentieth century. Goes to show you how much I know! So maybe in use in Victorian England and maybe not. Not necessarily with the same overtones as we see now.
"Watching the film again, I found the governess herself to be an increasingly dislikeable presence. If you admit the possibility of a dark subtext, her repressed sexuality, her fixation with the children’s purity, and her adoration of Miles become a lot more sinister." - Same! Great piece.
This is a very thought provoking analysis of the song and the movie that inspired it that touches on the horror underlying James's tale and how that horror echoes in the lyrics.
One of the deepest horrors is when those who are supposed to protect us instead manipulate and harm us and that horror is increased when the victims are the most vulnerable.
Absolutely. I've always been affected by horror films where things that are supposed to be for children become sinister, I find them far more effective than scary children stories (although they can be great fun). Thanks Christian!
As I was wondering this week if I'd guessed right, I thought about the parallels with The Man With The Child In His Eyes. This is kind of a criss-cross moment. The adult in the child, the child in the adult. An enduring idea.
I remember hearing Kate interviewed on the radio about the time that Never For Ever was released. She was choosing a top ten list of favourite tunes. One was the theme tune for The Innocents. I taped the interview and replayed it many times and thus I came to know the theme tune well. It's nicely eerie. Somehow I missed the fact that it was connected with An Infant Kiss.
And nice to see that old, old interview from ZigZag. I never saw that at the time. Isn't it lovely that we can now track these things down?
Now I have to try and guess what your next track is. I have a few ideas...
I knew you'd got it, Roz! Next week's was one that I debated including but it links quite nicely to a project I'm involved with so I thought I'd add it in. To be honest I could have gone to 15 or 20, there are so many KB songs inflected with horror.
I hadn't heard that interview, I'm not sure if it exists online - how lovely to hear that extra connection! Now I'm going to have to go and listen to the soundtrack of the Innocents...
I once played Miles in a touring production of the Britten Turn of the screw - yep it’s a horror opera. I loved the ambiguities and possibilities. There’s a very touching song that Miles sings about wanting to be in an apple tree rather than a naughty boy ( I think it’s all a play on the Latin malo/malus, but I’m no Latin scholar). I was still quite young looking but I was 14 when we hit the last performance, in London, and my soprano voice finally broke in the last tumultuous scene. That was it for me, but it all played into the ambiguity of boy/young man. Great opera, give it a listen….
I've already written an article that mentions the opera as part of an upcoming series! What a fascinating role to have played so young.
Is the word "corruption" really so mysterious, or am I missing the subtext here? In the legal world, "corruption" refers to an adult inducing a child into sexual relations. It's pretty explicit.
Doesn't 'corruption' today mostly relate to crimes like bribery and embezzlement, a catch-all for 'abuse of power'? I don't think there was a legal term for child abuse in Victorian England, when the novel is set, it would have been acts like rape or sodomy that were illegal. In the novel itself the governess uses 'corrupt' as a synonym for 'contaminate' because Mrs. Grose doesn't know the latter 'big' word, and she uses it to describe Miles' behaviour towards other children not just adults abusing children. I think it's clear that it's a euphemism for 'bad influence' which could include, but is not limited to, sexual abuse.
I thought that the term (as in "corruption of a minor") was older than it is. It is apparently a pretty recent usage, late nineteenth or early twentieth century. Goes to show you how much I know! So maybe in use in Victorian England and maybe not. Not necessarily with the same overtones as we see now.
"Watching the film again, I found the governess herself to be an increasingly dislikeable presence. If you admit the possibility of a dark subtext, her repressed sexuality, her fixation with the children’s purity, and her adoration of Miles become a lot more sinister." - Same! Great piece.
Thanks so much, Sean!
oooooh I love this movie
What a great analysis of this song!
Thanks so much, Kerry!
This is a very thought provoking analysis of the song and the movie that inspired it that touches on the horror underlying James's tale and how that horror echoes in the lyrics.
One of the deepest horrors is when those who are supposed to protect us instead manipulate and harm us and that horror is increased when the victims are the most vulnerable.
Absolutely. I've always been affected by horror films where things that are supposed to be for children become sinister, I find them far more effective than scary children stories (although they can be great fun). Thanks Christian!
(Sharing this as a note. One for Kate Bush fans.)
I knew, knew, knew it would be this one!
So much fun to see you discuss it.
As I was wondering this week if I'd guessed right, I thought about the parallels with The Man With The Child In His Eyes. This is kind of a criss-cross moment. The adult in the child, the child in the adult. An enduring idea.
I remember hearing Kate interviewed on the radio about the time that Never For Ever was released. She was choosing a top ten list of favourite tunes. One was the theme tune for The Innocents. I taped the interview and replayed it many times and thus I came to know the theme tune well. It's nicely eerie. Somehow I missed the fact that it was connected with An Infant Kiss.
And nice to see that old, old interview from ZigZag. I never saw that at the time. Isn't it lovely that we can now track these things down?
Now I have to try and guess what your next track is. I have a few ideas...
I knew you'd got it, Roz! Next week's was one that I debated including but it links quite nicely to a project I'm involved with so I thought I'd add it in. To be honest I could have gone to 15 or 20, there are so many KB songs inflected with horror.
I hadn't heard that interview, I'm not sure if it exists online - how lovely to hear that extra connection! Now I'm going to have to go and listen to the soundtrack of the Innocents...
Here it is https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=muz-0gY5RtM
And this is a version that was released as a single, with orchestration. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GIjZ7zKFzXQ
This is so cool... the opening reminds me a bit of the lullaby from Rosemary's Baby
Oh yes I remember it now! So creepy and beautiful…thanks, Roz