Morpho, likely an abbreviation of "Metamorphosis" - is a common element in Poets of the Fall's logos and iconography, consisting of a moth with a pin through it, usually in silhouette and degraded. The term Morpho is also used by the fanbase to refer to the linked hand gesture used by Marko in the music video for Lift.
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Original black design -
Ghostlight gold variation
Symbolism
Moths have distinct characteristics that are often used symbolically in popular culture. They are nocturnal creatures attracted to light and open flames, regularly used as a parallel to the Icarus myth or as an example of dramatic irony. They are considered to be aesthetic creatures that live short lives, following a metamorphosis from a longer lived and perceived-to-be uninteresting creature - commonly used symbolically in a similar way to the phrase "the light that burns twice as bright burns half as long". Much like with the symbolism of butterflies, this transformation can be likened to a Rebirth and bears similarity to Hans Christian Andersen's The Ugly Duckling.
Beyond simply being a moth, Morpho has a pin through it. This used to be a common practice among lepidopterists (moth collectors) as a way of displaying a preserved moth. In the MV for Lift, there is a wall-to-wall collection of moths pinned to display frames while still alive (unlike the real-life practice). One of the pins is shown to inmate Mark as an evidence exhibit, perhaps as an accusation of having removed the pin. This association of the pin as evidence is further used in the artwork for Ultraviolet. Ultraviolet is a thematic progression from Clearview - a range of light frequencies that can not be seen by the naked eye, but can be detected using specialised equipment, as is done to gather forensic evidence at crime scenes. The pin head on the artwork is violet, accordingly. In the MV for Late Goodbye, the moth is pinned to a headlight by speed rather than a literal pin.
The other element of the Morpho icon is its degradation, which can also be seen in the Signs of Life artwork, the entire "rust" part of the Carnival of Rust and the buildings in Late Goodbye, Cradled in Love and My Dark Disquiet.
Usage
- The original Poets of the Fall logo.
- The second Poets of the Fall logo.
- The music video for Late Goodbye.
- The music video for Lift.
- The single artwork for Daze shows morpho on fire, ties in with the following usage...
- Moths are intentionally avoided as a metaphor in the lyrics to Hounds to Hamartia.
Fame draws you like fireflies to the flame.
(the common phrase is moths to the flame) - Hand gesture referenced in the video for False Kings.
- Death's head moth version on the cover of Ultraviolet.
- Referenced in the lyrics to My Dark Disquiet.
It's resin all over me.
(resin is commonly used in taxidermy) - Many items of merchandise.
Trivia
- An early depiction of Morpho can be found in the lyrics booklet for the blue release of Lauri Järvilehto - Twilight Cinema from 1999. Marko Saaresto provided the graphic design for the blue release and guest vocals on the track Millennium of Insight.