DESCRIPTION:
Listen to 'Bashed Out' if you haven't already 👉 📲 🎶 https://thisisthekit.lnk.to/bashedout

THIS IS THE KIT's KATE STABLES WRITES OF THIS VIDEO:
Often in life we're struck by the struggle.
Our own struggles and also witnessing the struggles of others.
Making this video was kind of a performance/personal process/nod to anyone who has ever had to carry a canoe across land and through the amazon jungle, literally or metaphorically.
The song itself is about the toll that gets taken on someone whose life and work takes them away from home/family and then throws them back again and then tugs them away again and throws them a few canoes to carry in with the bargain.

Sometimes we need a rest and a swim.


LONG VERSION
Often in life we're struck by the struggle.
our own struggles and also witnessing the struggles of others.
​Maybe especially in a modern city society context.
And in relation to this, i also sometimes find myself thinking about the chapter in 'The continuum Concept' by Jean Liedloff, where she talks about the concept of work and the occasions during her time spent living among indigenous amazon tribes when it would be necessary to carry the canoes over land. they're big and unwieldy and it's often quite dangerous and people regularly get injured in the process.
The visitors who were staying with the tribes​ would always dreadit and complain.
But the tribes people would never complain and would even carry out the task cheerfully and getting on with it and even laughing through injury and mishap.

this is an image/scenario that struck me and has stuck with me ever since.
people just getting on with what needs to be done and cheerfully/amicably/positively. even if it's a heavy load.
i often find myself pondering about things like strength of mind and body and spirit and heart.
to me all of these things seem relevant in the canoe carrying scenario.

making this video was kind of a performance/personal process/nod to anyone who has ever had to carry a canoe across land and through the amazon jungle, literally or metaphorically.
i wanted to go through the process myself of carrying a canoe on my own up and over a hill.
i admit it's not a heavy amazon forest solid dugout wood canoe.
merely a fibre glass scout kayak.
but it still felt good (and difficult!) to do.
since making the video people have also made links between the canoe carrying project and the Werner Herzog film "Fitzcarraldo".
Another boat across land through the amazon jungle story. They just keep on coming! 
It seems that carrying boats over land is what humans do. Portage. The human condition.
The song itself is about the toll that gets taken on someone whose life and work takes them away from home/family and then throws them back again and then tugs them away again and throws them a few canoes to carry in with the bargain.
Sometimes we need a rest and a swim.
In the video i'm wearing my Swallows and Amazons hat out of respect to the tribes of the Amazon but also because i'm a big Arthur Ransome fan ; )