History Main / MonkeyMoralityPose

It is based on the old idea of the Three Wise Monkeys, whose example good people should follow to live their lives: See No Evil, Hear No Evil, Speak No Evil with hands over eyes, ears, and mouth, respectively. [[OneExtraMember A fourth monkey]], Do No Evil, keeps his hands in his lap -- but since that could be interpreted in [[ADateWithRosiePalms at least one]] [[SexIsEvil unfortunate way]], it may explain why the fourth monkey is not so well known. According to [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three_wise_monkeys the Other Wiki]], the saying [[OlderThanFeudalism dates back to Confucius]]. When translated to Japanese, it becomes "Mizaru, kikazaru, iwazaru" (literally, "Don't see, don't hear, don't say"). Since "-zaru" sounds like "saru" (which means "monkey") it became known as the Three Wise Monkeys.

* A [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2lfPZmWkns0 1980's trailer]] for the British Columbian "restricted cougar" logo that aired before adults-only movies featured three monkeys flipping through television channels. They come across a channel with the cougar logo on it, scream in fright, with one monkey covering its eyes, one covering its ears, and the last one covering its mouth.

* Referenced in ''Manga/SaintSeiya'', where Shaka, who seems fixated on monkeys, once faced three enemies ([[spoiler: Camus, Shura and Saga]]) and left one without his senses (with the loss of taste [[TheVoiceless rendering the victim mute]], due to paralizing the tongue) except his sight, one without senses but his hearing, and one without senses except taste. [[ActuallyPrettyFunny They caught the reference and laughed at it]].

* ''Series/WhoseLineIsItAnyway'' has one game called "Animals", where the players attempt to act out a generic drama scene while behaving like predetermined animals - [[RunningGag any game that has them acting like primates will end in this fashion.]]

* Very subtly referenced on the cover of ''Check Your Head'' by the Music/BeastieBoys - Ad-Rock is wearing sunglasses, MCA is covering his mouth, and Mike D is wearing a woolen cap.

* ''Wrestling/{{D|ramaticDreamTeam}}DT Beer Garden Pro Wrestling 2011 - Day 5 - Kenny Omega & Michael Nakazawa Day'' included a three way match to see [[WhoWouldWin which one was superior]]. It was No Hearing Monkey.

** In ''VisualNovel/AceAttorneyInvestigations 2'', Sota [[MeaningfulName Saru]]shiro (Si[[PunnyName mon Keyes]]) is given this motif when upset. This is actually {{Foreshadowing}} [[spoiler: that Simon is a {{Chessmaster}} who have incited several murders, never directly killing anyone until the final case of the game. In other words, a monkey that neither sees, hears, speaks, or does any of the crimes he's responsible for.]]

* ''VideoGame/{{Runescape}}'' does this. The three monkeys are actually found ingame, with the original names. There is a whole quest centered around them, even! A short version of the story is like this: [[spoiler:Monkeys have once lived on the desert. The clash of two gods, Amascut, goddess of destruction, and Apmeken, goddess of friendship and sociability and monkeys, caused Apmeken to lose and lose her three senses - and so did the desert monkeys. Out of the stolen senses, three monsters were forged, and killed off the debilitated monkey population - except for Mizaru, Iwazaru, and Kikazaru, which escaped to a monkey island (no, not that one), by helping each other and filling out for their respective lackings. Also due to Apmeken's loss, people of the desert turned hostile and started wars. In the quest, the player establishes a new monkey colony on the desert and defeats those three monsters, restoring Apmeken's senses, and is spoken to by the goddess... and also does a lot of other funnier things.]] Talking to the three monkeys is a rather comedic routine if one can't talk back and one doesn't hear you.

* ''VideoGame/NeoTheWorldEndsWithYou'' establishes the trope as a motif for the FatalFlaw of each protagonist in the series. Neku was a misanthrope who wore headphones to block out the world around him, while Rindo wears a facemask and stays quiet so he can avoid responsibility and making decisions. Both of them wear clothing from the Jupiter of the Monkey brand. Unintentionally, Neku’s design might follow Rindo’s as well because his first outfit has a big turtle neck that obscured his mouth often and [[spoiler: in this game, his new outfit doesn’t obscure his mouth whatsoever]]. Like Rindo, Neku also didn’t want to speak or be spoken to. Rindo intentionally or unintentionally fulfills the last 1/3 of the pose because of his preoccupation with his phone. Unlike the other characters, Rindo holds his phone all the way up to his face to the point his eyes are nearly obscured. This represents Rindo hiding himself behind social media and viewing the world behind the comfort of his phone for the same reason he covers his face. [[spoiler: The ending has Rindo put away his phone and reach out to his online friend Shoka physically to symbolize his CharacterDevelopment.]]

* ''VideoGame/MarioParty 9'' has a bonus event on the DK board where you try and stop statues of Diddy in this pose to get bananas.

* Franchise/{{Pokemon}}

* In ''VideoGame/GrandTheftAutoV'', the three protagonists do a variation of this trope when the incredibly corrupt government agent tells them [[CaptainObvious some of the government is corrupt]]. Trevor double [[FacePalm facepalms]], Franklin covers his mouth with his fist, and Micheal puts his hands behind his head, covering his ears in the process.

** In the [[Series/AmericanIdol Far Far Away Idol]] special, when the Three Blind Mice sang [[{{Irony}} "I Can See Clearly Now"]], they tripped over each other, causing Shrek, Fiona, and Creator/{{Simon|Cowell}} [[http://iskonno.ru/three_monkeys/i/shrek_2_far_away_idol_jury.jpg (in that order) to assume these poses]]. Specifically, Shrek covered his eyes, Fiona covered her mouth, and Simon, [[TheMeanBrit being Simon]], put his fingers in his ears.

* Music/{{Genesis}} indulges in this in their music video for ''Keep It Dark''.

* In ''WesternAnimation/{{Rio}}'', three of the marmosets [[http://iskonno.ru/three_monkeys/i/rio_three_marmosets.jpg do this]] after Nigel tosses their boss up and then catches him after he [[NotTheFallThatKillsYou falls for a long distance]].

[[folder:Tabletop Game]]

It is based on the old idea of the Three Wise Monkeys, whose example good people should follow to live their lives: See No Evil, Hear No Evil, Speak No Evil with hands over eyes, ears, and mouth, respectively. [[OneExtraMember A fourth monkey]], Do No Evil, keeps his hands in his lap -- but since that could be interpreted [[ADateWithRosiePalms in at least one unfortunate way]], it may explain why the fourth monkey is not so well known. According to [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three_wise_monkeys the Other Wiki]], the saying [[OlderThanFeudalism dates back to Confucius]]. When translated to Japanese, it becomes "Mizaru, kikazaru, iwazaru" (literally, "Don't see, don't hear, don't say"). Since "-zaru" sounds like "saru" (which means "monkey") it became known as the Three Wise Monkeys.

[[quoteright:297:[[Franchise/StarWars https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/monkeymoralitypose1_4619.png]]]]
[[caption-width-right:297:An EvilEmpire? Where?]]

* The second season of ''WesternAnimation/{{Ninjago}}'' has a moment where Zane tells the ninja about a dream involving the Green Ninja during training, and when Sensei We turns around, he sees Cole covering his ears, Jay covering his mouth and Kai covering his eyes. And his response is worth a few chuckles.

It is based on the old idea of the Three Wise Monkeys, whose example good people should follow to live their lives: See No Evil, Hear No Evil, Speak No Evil with hands over eyes, ears, and mouth, respectively. A fourth monkey, Do No Evil, keeps his hands in his lap -- but since that could be interpreted [[ADateWithRosiePalms in at least one unfortunate way]], it may explain why the fourth monkey is not so well known. According to [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three_wise_monkeys the Other Wiki]], the saying [[OlderThanFeudalism dates back to Confucius]]. When translated to Japanese, it becomes "Mizaru, kikazaru, iwazaru" (literally, "Don't see, don't hear, don't say"). Since "-zaru" sounds like "saru" (which means "monkey") it became known as the Three Wise Monkeys.

* In ''Film/{{Ultraviolet}}'', three vampiric goons receive wounds causing them to [[http://iskonno.ru/three_monkeys/i/ultraviolet_three_monkeys_2.jpg adopt this pose]] before they collapse.

* ''VideoGame/NeoTheWorldEndsWithYou'' establishes the trope as a motif for the FatalFlaw of each protagonist in the series. Neku was a misanthrope who wore headphones to block out the world around him, while Rindo wears a facemask and stays quiet so he can avoid responsibility and making decisions. Both of them wear clothing from the Jupiter of the Monkey brand. Unintentionally, Neku’s design might follow Rindo’s as well because his first outfit has a big turtle neck that obscured his mouth often and [[spoiler: in this game, his new outfit doesn’t obscure his mouth whatsoever]]. Like Rindo, Neku also didn’t want to speak or be spoken to too. Rindo intentionally or unintentionally fulfills the last 1/3 of the pose because of his preoccupation with his phone. Unlike the other characters, Rindo holds his phone all the way up to his face to the point his eyes are nearly obscured. This represents Rindo hiding himself behind social media and viewing the world behind the comfort of his phone for the same reason he covers his face. [[spoiler: The ending has Rindo put away his phone and reaching out to his online friend Shoka physically to symbolize his CharacterDevelopment.]]

* ''VideoGame/NeoTheWorldEndsWithYou'' establishes the trope as a motif for the FatalFlaw of each protagonist in the series. Neku was a misanthrope who wore headphones to block out the world around him, while Rindo wears a facemask and stays quiet so he can avoid responsibility and making decisions. Both of them wear clothing from the Jupiter of the Monkey brand. Unintentionally, Neku’s design might follow Rindo’s as well because his first outfit has a big turtle neck that obscured his mouth often and [[spoiler: in this game, his new outfit doesn’t obscure his mouth whatsoever]].

* ''VideoGame/NeoTheWorldEndsWithYou'' establishes the trope as a motif for the FatalFlaw of each protagonist in the series. Neku was a misanthrope who wore headphones to block out the world around him, while Rindo wears a facemask and stays quiet so he can avoid responsibility. Both of them wear clothing from the Jupiter of the Monkey brand.

Not to be confused with SeeNoEvilHearNoEvil. May turn up in shows with {{Silly Simian}}s.

Not to be confused with SeeNoEvilHearNoEvil. May turn up in shows wherein EverythingsBetterWithMonkeys.

* The ads for Bill Maher's documentary ''Film/{{Religulous}}'' [[http://iskonno.ru/three_monkeys/i/religulous.gif showed]] the three monkeys dressed as a rabbi, a priest, and an imam.