Brokeback Mountain: Our Community's Common Bond > Brokeback Mountain Open Forum
Got What They Deserved?
Mikaela:
--- Quote from: dly64 on June 26, 2006, 07:34:53 pm ---I think all of these quotes support what I am saying. Let me know your thoughts!
--- End quote ---
I know this was not written in response to me, but I am of a mind with Latjoreme so in a way I felt it applies to my post as well.
I would think that Ang Lee, Ossana/McMurtry, Ledger, Gyllenhaal and everyone else involved in making the movie would first and foremost want me to interpret the film for myself, form my own views and consider my own emotions when experiencing this unique work of art they've collectively presented to me. They've gone out of their way to make many scenes and lines in the film as ambiguous as possible - they've avoided including any "Messages"; - they did not want to hit people over the head with their "one correct interpretation". I'm sure they'd be thrilled if I didn't read exactly the same into it that they outline in any interviews they give.
I have my firm interpretation now that I feel the film very clearly conveys to me - and I don't mind sharing that. I enjoy going on the internet to read others' differing opinions and interpretations .I've had many an illuminating read that way in terms of examining the character development, the film symbolism etc. But interpretation of the main issues of the film and the main character development and motivation in the film is so intimately connected with each viewer's personal viewpoints and life experiences that I don't think we'll ever reach a concensus. Nor do I want us to. Nor do I think the filmmakers want us to.
dly64:
--- Quote from: Mikaela on June 26, 2006, 08:06:27 pm ---I know this was not written in response to me, but I am of a mind with Latjoreme so in a way I felt it applies to my post as well.
I would think that Ang Lee, Ossana/McMurtry, Ledger, Gyllenhaal and everyone else involved in making the movie would first and foremost want me to interpret the film for myself, form my own views and consider my own emotions when experiencing this unique work of art they've collectively presented to me. They've gone out of their way to make many scenes and lines in the film as ambiguous as possible - they've avoided including any "Messages"; - they did not want to hit people over the head with their "one correct interpretation". I'm sure they'd be thrilled if I didn't read exactly the same into it that they outline in any interviews they give.
I have my firm interpretation now that I feel the film very clearly conveys to me - and I don't mind sharing that. I enjoy going on the internet to read others' differing opinions and interpretations .I've had many an illuminating read that way in terms of examining the character development, the film symbolism etc. But interpretation of the main issues of the film and the main character development and motivation in the film is so intimately connected with each viewer's personal viewpoints and life experiences that I don't think we'll ever reach a concensus. Nor do I want us to. Nor do I think the filmmakers want us to.
--- End quote ---
Mikaela - I had added an edit while you were writing your response, because I did feel that what I write also applies to you.
I do enjoy discussing the film because I think there is a lot of ambiguity. And you are right that each individual is going to have his/her own point of view. Personally, I don't want to reach a concensus .... it is too much fun to debate. (I was on the debate team in college, so I could go on and on. That is why, however, I like to find quotes or "proof" to back up my theories. It's a habit .... don't hate me for it! :-\)
Jeff Wrangler:
--- Quote from: latjoreme on June 26, 2006, 04:51:35 pm ---So what kind of partner DOES he want?
--- End quote ---
Thinking of Ennis's actions with Alma suggests a very vulgar response to this question, but I will not say it! :laugh:
(Sorry, folks. Tell you what, sometimes I just can't resist an opportunity like that!)
Edit: OK, now that I've had my little joke, let me thank Diane for sharing those quotes from Ang Lee, Diana Ossana, and Larry McMurtry. They've already been added to my Brokeback file!
serious crayons:
--- Quote from: Mikaela on June 26, 2006, 08:06:27 pm ---I would think that Ang Lee, Ossana/McMurtry, Ledger, Gyllenhaal and everyone else involved in making the movie would first and foremost want me to interpret the film for myself, form my own views and consider my own emotions when experiencing this unique work of art they've collectively presented to me. They've gone out of their way to make many scenes and lines in the film as ambiguous as possible - they've avoided including any "Messages"; - they did not want to hit people over the head with their "one correct interpretation". I'm sure they'd be thrilled if I didn't read exactly the same into it that they outline in any interviews they give.
I have my firm interpretation now that I feel the film very clearly conveys to me - and I don't mind sharing that. I enjoy going on the internet to read others' differing opinions and interpretations .I've had many an illuminating read that way in terms of examining the character development, the film symbolism etc. But interpretation of the main issues of the film and the main character development and motivation in the film is so intimately connected with each viewer's personal viewpoints and life experiences that I don't think we'll ever reach a concensus. Nor do I want us to. Nor do I think the filmmakers want us to.
--- End quote ---
Once again, Mikaela, you and I agree. A work of art is a collaboration between the imaginations of artist and audience -- one can't exist without the other. The fillmmakers (screenwriters, director, actors, etc.) have their own views, and because they created the work of art that we love, their views are important. But their authority is not absolute.
We have all spent many hours and many words developing our interpretations of Brokeback Mountain. I would hate to feel forced to scrap all those efforts if I came across some magazine interview in which someone's offhand, hasty, impromptu, possibly ambiguous remark seemed in less than perfect synch with my own cherished dreams and visions. As a journalist who has conducted hundreds of interviews, I believe they are useful and even enlightening but I'm afraid I don't have a very idealistic opinion of them as a source of immutable truths. Far too many factors -- haste, superficiality, misquoting, extemporanity, etc. -- can compromise their reliability.
As it happens, Diane, I don't find the statements you quote to be all that incongruous with my own views. For example, I don't see how Ang's "The other has to go through self denial and only accepts it when it's too late, when he missed him" or even "After his and Jack’s final confrontation about Mexico, Ennis realizes that it is Jack he truly loves, and he simply cannot continue in his attempts at a relationship with Cassie," drastically contradict what I've said. They don't send me back to the drawing board; on the contrary, I think they basically describe -- in a rough, entertainment-press interviewese sense -- what I said.
But even if they didn't, so what? It's the finished product I care about, not the opinion of any one person involved in its creation (who, for that matter, might disagree with any number of OTHER people involved in its creation). If we're going to pretend that Jack and Ennis exist on some other plane of reality -- which we do, in a way, when we speculate about their motivations and inner lives -- then each viewer ought to be allowed to interpret their behavior for himself or herself.
However, this is not to say that my mind can never be changed, that my opinions are beyond influence. I still fairly often come upon posts that enhance, deepen or even alter my interpretations of BBM. One of them, posted yesterday, is very germane to our discussion here, and some of you might be interested in checking it out:
http://bettermost.net/forum/index.php?topic=2858.0;topicseen#bot
dly64:
--- Quote from: latjoreme on June 27, 2006, 03:06:19 am ---Once again, Mikaela, you and I agree. A work of art is a collaboration between the imaginations of artist and audience -- one can't exist without the other. The fillmmakers (screenwriters, director, actors, etc.) have their own views, and because they created the work of art that we love, their views are important. But their authority is not absolute.
We have all spent many hours and many words developing our interpretations of Brokeback Mountain. I would hate to feel forced to scrap all those efforts if I came across some magazine interview in which someone's offhand, hasty, impromptu, possibly ambiguous remark seemed in less than perfect synch with my own cherished dreams and visions. As a journalist who has conducted hundreds of interviews, I believe they are useful and even enlightening but I'm afraid I don't have a very idealistic opinion of them as a source of immutable truths. Far too many factors -- haste, superficiality, misquoting, extemporanity, etc. -- can compromise their reliability.
As it happens, Diane, I don't find the statements you quote to be all that incongruous with my own views. For example, I don't see how Ang's "The other has to go through self denial and only accepts it when it's too late, when he missed him" or even "After his and Jack’s final confrontation about Mexico, Ennis realizes that it is Jack he truly loves, and he simply cannot continue in his attempts at a relationship with Cassie," drastically contradict what I've said. They don't send me back to the drawing board; on the contrary, I think they basically describe -- in a rough, entertainment-press interviewese sense -- what I said.
But even if they didn't, so what? It's the finished product I care about, not the opinion of any one person involved in its creation (who, for that matter, might disagree with any number of OTHER people involved in its creation). If we're going to pretend that Jack and Ennis exist on some other plane of reality -- which we do, in a way, when we speculate about their motivations and inner lives -- then each viewer ought to be allowed to interpret their behavior for himself or herself.
However, this is not to say that my mind can never be changed, that my opinions are beyond influence. I still fairly often come upon posts that enhance, deepen or even alter my interpretations of BBM. One of them, posted yesterday, is very germane to our discussion here, and some of you might be interested in checking it out:
http://bettermost.net/forum/index.php?topic=2858.0;topicseen#bot
--- End quote ---
You and Mikeala are both right ... it doesn't matter what I or anyone else think. Everyone's interpretation of BBM is going to be different since each human has his/her own frame of reference. But, like I said, since I was on the debate team in college, I like to find information to support my theories. Habit .... I got it from my dad and drove my mom nuts. We could go on for hours and hours. Amazingly, that does not make me inflexible. I like the link you have posted, latjoreme. I read the whole thing and found it quite insightful. There were a few things that I had not previously considered. The long and short of it is this .... I love hearing all ponts of view. Sometimes I like to be the protagonist. (You should have heard the heated debate I had with my brother when I argued Mary wasn't a virgin when she had Jesus! Whoa!!! Then, at the end I laughed .... I loved seeing his face turn purple.)
Keep bringing your viewpoints! I love it! Sometimes we'll agree, sometimes we won't. Others may agree with me, others will agree with you, and still others will think we are all nuts. Isn't that the best!? ;D
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