Brokeback Mountain: Our Community's Common Bond > Brokeback Mountain Open Forum
Black Hats, White Hats
starboardlight:
--- Quote from: atz75 on May 12, 2006, 09:53:07 pm ---I know this has been discussed either on a board long ago and far, far way or maybe even here (sorry, I haven't re-read this whole thread tonight) that Jack's sudden transition into purples and muted red colors after the post-divorce fiasco may have something to do with the metaphor of a bruise. I know it's been discussed that these are the colors of blood (both wet and dry) and indicate not only his somewhat brokenheart from this point on, but also his hidden secret about the blood soaked shirts in his closet. Kind of a lovely thought actually.
--- End quote ---
actually the blood color showed up even earlier than that. we first see it on Jack when he goes back to Aguirre's trailer. We see it on him, even as he shows up for the reunion. Although both times, they weren't shirts. The first was a sweater, and the second was a vest. Still they did really stand out as color shifts.
Brown Eyes:
Good point starlightboard. Maybe the bruise colors have their root in Jack's actual bruise... The big bruise from Ennis's punch before their parting on Brokeback. I don't think it matters what kind of clothing the bruise color is on... it just becomes associated with Jack generally. The dark blue of the parka is also a sort of bruise color when you think about it. So, it relates to both of his metaphors... bruised/ love (if blue is thought of as the color of love in the movie).
These colors (black, blue, purple, muted red, etc.) are associated with Jack like the bright red and clear white start out as Lureen's colors. Many people have noted that her reds and whites become more muted and subtle as time passes and then finally in the phone-call scene her shirt is black and white (with red on her fingers). She's like a fire that has been reduced to ashes and smoldering cinders.
Brown Eyes:
OK, so a conversation in another thread got me thinking about black and white hats again. So, I thought I'd come here and post on-topic. Last night I noticed a new, great black-hat moment in the background behind Ennis. Forgive me if this was mentioned here somewhere before (I haven't re-read this thread all the way through tonight). But, in the scene where he first meets Cassie and they're sitting in chairs opposite one another to introduce themselves (and Cassie tries to get a foot rub)... there's a guy in a black hat smack in between them but in the background of the bar. There are a number of black-hatted guys in the bar in that scene. More visualization of what's on Ennis mind.
:D
Brown Eyes:
In the Double Meanings thread there's a discussion going on about the significance of the bus station scene with Ennis and Cassie. As we've all discussed there's quite a lot of interesting black hat/ white hat action going on in the background of this scene. Most noticeably with the two guys (one in a black hat and one in a white hat) who buy bus tickets together in the background and leave. But, at this point I'd like to discuss another black hatted figure that appears briefly towards the beginning of this scene. Through the window we see a figure in a black jacket and a black hat walk quickly from left to right passed the bus station. This figure does not seem to enter the bus station, only walks by. I've been seeing that figure as more and more of an ominous sign that Jack really has already died by this point in the movie. That figure seems like a little sign that "Jack has left the movie..." so to speak. That black hatted figure reminds me of the white hatted figure that walks behind Ennis as he has his last conversation with Jack next to Jack's truck at the end of the Brokeback summer. That white hatted figure has always seemed like a sign that Ennis is trying to find some way to disconnect with Jack and return to his conventional plans. Of course we all know that this is very much against what his heart is telling him (hence the dry heaves and the crying).
serious crayons:
Thanks for reinvigorating this thread, Amanda, because there's something I've been thinking about and wanted to mention. Unfortunately, it's not about hats, though.
Back to clothes: in the swingset scene, Ennis is wearing a tan vest with a red lining -- he's back with Alma, but keeping his love (symbolized by the red) hidden and close under his regular tan. And if I'm not mistaken, Jack is wearing a vest like that in the reunion kiss scene. Not sure -- I am going to try to watch it one more time tomorrow, so I'll check.
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