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Loonaverse Theory: part 1 / part 2 / part 3 / part 4 / part 5 | part 6
Before we enter into the second third of the loonaverse, here is a recap of main ideas from previous theories in case you are feeling tl;dr
- In "ViViD," Heejin brought art and expression into a dead world. Possibly, she created a new world. However, her morality is questionable. Why did she do it?
- The solos, duets and unit songs released after Heejin's serve to define this side of the loonaverse. The culture of this world values brightness, goodness, friendship and innocence. It seems like a regular utopia.
- Yeojin is the youngest member who is not yet ready to accept adventure, so she ignores the call to action. Understandably, she needs to mature first.
- Vivi creates an unexpected wave in LOONA 1/3's utopian society. Is being perfect too boring? Suddenly, the girls feel the loss of their other two thirds and call for help.
- Exploring Vivi's past memories teaches us the importance of narrative control, as well as foreshadows our next group...
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| Our universe of words eclipses! A word map made from my previous loonaverse articles, sans prepositions and proper nouns and such. |
Eclipse
In "Eclipse," Kim Lip does a really odd thing. She finds a big concrete amphitheater, drops her backpack in a mud puddle and starts dancing in the center. Certainly, this is a strange thing to do, but it illustrates our newest girl of the month's character: Kim Lip is certain and determined. (And chic.)
Her straight-forwardness also extends into the lyrics: "Hey baby, without anyone knowing / do you want to meet under the lights?", (sc) she sings as she playfully chases her male backup dancer across the stage. This trait is not just indicative of her personality, but also underlines her role in the loonaverse:
In the fairy tale, there is no "right" and "wrong," there is a different standard, which is perhaps best called "appropriateness." Under no circumstances can we say that it is morally right and ethically virtuous to push an old lady into a baking oven. But, under the conditions of the fairy tale [...], we can say with perfect conviction that it is appropriate to do so.
[...]
The hero or heroine is the one who sees what is appropriate to be done, because he or she sees the whole, which is greater than either good or evil. Their heroism is, in fact, their certainty, They do not act by rules; they simply know the way to go."The Child and the Shadow"
LOONA 1/3 could see the goodness in the world. But, as Vivi's story suggests, being perfect in a perfect world is not everything. There is badness, there are breakdowns, and there are limits to humanity.
And Kim Lip can see both, hence her association with the wholeness of circles and the knowledge of owls.
Owls are a common symbol for wisdom, despite the fact that owls are probably actually really dumb. It is hard to say exactly what caused owls to have this association, but it might have something to do with their nocturnal habits: when one has knowledge of light and darkness, of both good and bad, life and death, etc. they finally have true wisdom.
Additionally, owls are known to be excellent, silent hunters. And like an owl, while hunting, Kim Lip prefers subtly to bluntness: during a "quiet early morning (hold me with your arms around me), like a fog blooming (must bloom silently), I will let myself bloom in your heart [like that] so that it won't disappear." She sings these lines dreamily, covered in fog, with fancy, mysterious hand flails. Unlike LOONA 1/3, who ran into our hearts at full speed on a race track, Kim Lip is quiet but deadly. She can be this way because she is confident.
Kim Lip can present herself this way because of her confidence. Unlike LOONA 1/3 in "Sonatine," she knows the hidden "secret within a secret" of when the worlds will align. As the planetary term "eclipse" suggests, the timing of fate can be calculated by Kim Lip. According to BBC, LOONA 1/3 was filled with "pain and worries;" they were reactionary and passion. But, Kim Lip is a hero; she takes control. She confidently begins the eclipse by asserting, "It's destiny." The halo around her reminds us of an angel, beautiful and otherworldly.
Above him were seraphim, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. And they were calling to one another:
“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty;
the whole earth is full of his glory.”
At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke.Isaiah 6:2-4
But also terrifying.
Looking at "Eclipse" sans our loonaverse lens, it seems to be about a school girl who wishes to be an idol. She finds a hidden stage after school to let out her true passion, performing. "This is our fantasy." This is her cathartic release, allowing her to dance to her heart's desire in private. She conjures up images of dancers behind her and with herself in the spotlight she can be whatever or whoever she wants to be.
LOONA 1/3 songs revolve around innocent love. "Eclipse" is about unbridled passion.
In "Let Me In," Haseul realizes her true self after going through a dark period, an inward journey in which she explored her dual self. Kim Lip also seems to have this higher knowledge, which is symbolized by the wise owl. Her higher, serene knowledge, allows her to be her wholly mature self. She has realized her personal passions and is ready to actualize them, which is also illustrated in her color, red. Red is sensuality, energy, fire and blood.
But also the red of warning, and the red of something oncoming. Kim Lip talks of a "hidden" place, the darkness of the "continuous eclipse" where someone is meeting. This place is her unconscious, what she is not aware of yet.
Kim Lip knows when it will happen, but does she know what will happen? And can she react to it with the same certainty that she started it with? Or, like Vivi, will she miss the call?
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