There is a hero culture at the NYPD.  Lots of references to Superman, Batman, Avengers, Punisher, Wonder Woman, Spartans.  My first captain loved wearing superhero shirts – he was over 50.

At a civilian propaganda training (titled Blue Courage – people come up with names like this, don’t get me started on the acronym game) at the Academy, there was a quote in the training materials.  I can’t remember the exact words, but it went something like this – “A hero treads the line between the sacred and profane, good and evil, light and darkness, order and chaos.”  This quote stood out to me because it reminded me of the principles being the Yin Yang concept.

I’ll leave the in-depth explanations to better minds, but I thought Zhang Yimou’s movie Shadow illustrates the concept in a visually stunning way.

Shot almost entirely without color (technically not black and white, has grey in it).  Stunning choreography, visuals.  Thought provoking themes of the interplay of the masculine-feminine in conflict (physical and interpersonal), the relationship between truth and deception, the titular shadow and his double.  The steel umbrellas by themselves are worth the price of admission.

I’m no master of the concept, but I appreciate its relevance and presence.  In darkness light, in light darkness.