BARKING DOGS
We have since the past associated dogs to varied amount of judgement, most of them implying that dogs are lowly species and(or) that dogs are vicious animals with no control. Metaphors like
“THE BARKING DOG”
This metaphor emphasizes the dogs, as well as the propulsive force of them; the dogs, like a river, cannot be contained, nor can they be stopped from fulfilling their task of barking at visitors.
“Every Dog has it’s Day”
Where one can iterate that, a dog here means a person of low or no importance in a hierarchical environment
“Dog Eat Dog World”
This is a very horrible visual and the research done on cannibalism in dogs is limited but I think here it means a quality to step over another in order to rise up a (again!) a hierarchical institution.
“It’s Raining Cats and Dogs”
No, this doesn’t have anything to do with the point I am proving but it’s important to note that the scene of animal carcasses flowing down the drain after a good pour is not really pleasant or present thought, on a different note, people have witnessed raining fishes. Let’s leave it there.
(Based on reliable sources called the Internet)
It is important before I continue that I confess that I am neither obsessed with dogs nor that I hate them, I am just observing the use of dogs as metaphors and also, going to use them in a similar way through this reverie.
Everyone in the world during these trying times has their own opinion and it feels like everyone is making sure they are heard. Everyone’s a barking dog.
Because of how uneasy these times are, there is a constant inflow of information as everyone is trying to be their version of smart and trying to come out of this a winner, as in, everyone is looking towards the latest information on how you can avoid contracting the virus or how you can help others in avoiding it. This is not bad in its essence but, this help should just be to stay in one’s own home but you see, it’s a "dog eat dog world" (Really, I don’t appreciate cannibalism). So, this is not just a reporter giving us the latest development by going to unsafe areas, but also a barking reporter judging the actions of politicians, actors and public figures for not propagating enough corrective measures, another reporter condemning a whole religion due to a group of people who spawned ignorance and didn’t take enough measures to protect themselves or others, WhatsApp messages saying lemon is the answer to everything, our parents who believe they have uncovered the truth, the fake news that spreads faster than the virus making your diligent aunt mix lemon in everything she eats and also you and me who have our very strict opinions on the same. The notion that we know better than anyone else. We are barking dogs.
Keith Haring’s painting Barkjng Dogs is exemplary in conveying this message.
It has become a cesspool of deafening barks where every dog is barking louder than the other, trying to be heard. A miriad of tirades. This deafening noise is slowly filling the world and drowning everyone in it. As I hold my breath to live outside, I am being pushed into this deadly ocean of information. But I should tell you I have no care of what you think, and I know that you too don’t care the least of what I think - you have an opinion on it, doesn’t mean you care.
"I don’t care what you think, but listen to ME!" Is the summation of our world.
No one knows the truth, and everyone fears it. I will clear it off for you,
"You might die"
But, this is really not the truth everyone fears. Even if you are drowning, you know that you don’t fear your mortality.
But the truth is staring right in the face of every barking dog. You just fog your vision from it. You believe that every dog has a day, it’s a fairytale ending to all your misery. But the truth? Here:
"No one wants to listen to you!"
No one wants to listen to anyone, the WhatsApp messages you forward others aren’t your opinions. You yourself don’t care enough of what you are saying to put your own opinion.
No one pays heed to a barking dog, because it’s just like any other barking dog.
WOOF! WOOF!
I am a barking dog, but all these opinions are mine, and please refrain from forwarding your WhatsApp messages to me, we are not cannibals for god’s sake, don’t try to eat my brain off.
