It’s no Coincidence that a Group of Lions is called a Pride

The Oxford Dictionary defines the word ‘pride’ as follows:

“1. a feeling of deep pleasure or satisfaction derived from one’s own achievements, the achievements of those with whom one is closely associated, or from qualities or possessions that are widely admired.

2. consciousness of one’s own dignity.

3. be especially proud of (a particular quality or skill).”

The Oxford Dictionary, found at https://languages.oup.com/google-dictionary-en/

Historically, the word has come to be used in several contexts, not always meaning a good thing. Pride is listed as one of the seven deadly sins, that’s no mistake either.

We believe at Kingdom that pride can be a very good, or very bad thing, and it all starts with where the source of the pride sits.

I remember asking my wise grandfather this question. Perplexed about the notion of pride and whether it was good to have it or not. His explanation startled me (as they often do):

The reason pride is listed as a deadly sin is because of its propensity to generate corruption of character, to elicit a sense of arrogance or hubris in someone or something. This type of pride is destructive because it emanates from the outside in. It says “look at me, how great I am, what I’ve done or what I am a part of.” It’s a posture of false superiority that screams and insists that others acknowledge the subject of pride. This is the pride that radiates condescension, that lacks empathy and drains joy from others, it is a narcissistic trait that in the long run, can be dangerous for those who possess it. One casts their mind to the forgotten words of the forgotten Ozymandias in the poem by Percy Bysshe Shelley:

I met a traveller from an antique land,
Who said—“Two vast and trunkless legs of stone
Stand in the desert. . . . Near them, on the sand,
Half sunk a shattered visage lies, whose frown,
And wrinkled lip, and sneer of cold command,
Tell that its sculptor well those passions read
Which yet survive, stamped on these lifeless things,
The hand that mocked them, and the heart that fed;
And on the pedestal, these words appear:
My name is Ozymandias, King of Kings;
Look on my Works, ye Mighty, and despair!
Nothing beside remains. Round the decay
Of that colossal Wreck, boundless and bare
The lone and level sands stretch far away.”

However, pride can be a beautiful quality, good quality, a strong quality when it is generated from the inside out. When it is soft, when it is felt. It’s the teary eyed parent watching their child overcome a fear or achieve something they’ve worked hard towards. It’s the the team that pats their friends on the back and whisper “Well done. We did it.” It’s the audience silently rising to their feet in applause to bestow an accolade upon a performance. This type of pride emanates from the inside out. It says “I am proud of you.” Because the truth is. Whether the crowd is there or not, weather the team wins or looses, if the child gets second, third or even last place. Good pride is given. It is a sign of empathy, of connection. And most importantly, it requires more than one subject. It is a sharing experience and should be accepted and worn ‘proudly’ yes, but with humility and a keen sense of responsibility that it is not by your own strength. That’s why it’s a pride of lions, because one lion, is still a lion yes, but it has no reason to be proud.

Thus ended my grandfathers lesson on pride.

We at Kingdom Kome can truly say that we are incredibly proud of every member of our team. A particular treat has been our first project, The Ring of Beasts pilot. Thus we say to you all publically:

“We are proud to have done work with you.”

Cam, KG and Orr

To show what we mean, we’re posting a set of photos that were taken on 35mm by our talented DIT, Richard Muller, one of many whose hard work, skill and commitment played a part in bringing what we can soon share with the world. Seeing these, we’re proud.

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Thank you. Let’s keep building!

Yours

Kingdom Kome

For more updates on The Ring of Beasts and our other projects. Stay up to date on our social platforms @KingdoomKome_offical. Follow @ringofbeasts on Instagram.

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