Meaning of "Rational Gaze" by Meshuggah

The lyrics of "Rational Gaze" delve into the concept of distorted perception and the limitations of the rational mind. It begins by urging the listener to squint their eyes to see clearly and blur reality in order to make it real. This suggests that there is a need to go beyond our conventional ways of perceiving the world and challenge the accepted norms. The mention of visual misinformation and systematic denial of the crystalline represents the idea that our understanding of truth is often clouded and manipulated.

The song continues by highlighting the importance of seeing the fine grain and reading the hidden words, which symbolizes the need to look beyond the surface level and discover the deeper truths that are often concealed. This quest for knowledge is described as being devoid of fragmentation, suggesting that it requires a holistic understanding that goes beyond the narrow confines of our fragmented perception.

The lyrics go on to describe our light-induced image of truth, which is filtered blank of its substance. This implies that our understanding of reality is limited and lacks depth, as our eyes refuse to adhere to intuitive lines. The more we try to scrutinize and analyze, the more the truth disintegrates and dissolves. This can be interpreted as a critique of the limitations of scientific rationality and the reductionist mindset that dominates modern society.

The song then shifts its focus to the idea of knowledge being elusive, with the ladder to true understanding being beyond our grasp. The mention of the twin-headed serpent forever hidden alludes to the dual nature of knowledge, which is characterized by both sanity and insanity. The lyrics question the location of true knowledge and suggest that it lies where these opposing forces merge.

Meshuggah criticizes the common sense-infected rational gaze that possesses, owns, and controls our perception of reality. This rational gaze represents the adherence to accepted norms, rules, and beliefs, which restrict our ability to truly understand the world. The lyrics argue that this limited perspective keeps us walking among the ignorant, unable to stray from the common lines.

Overall, "Rational Gaze" conveys a message that challenges the limitations of our rational mind and encourages a deeper, more intuitive understanding of reality. It urges the listener to break free from the constraints of common sense and societal conformity, in order to gain true knowledge, clarity, and unity.