Snakes Alive!

[moremojo]

I wonder if the lasso could be considered an extension of the snake imagery in the movie and book??

I saw the lassoing scene of Jack snaring Ennis as a literal metaphor of how he captures the lad's heart and doesn't let go. The circular nature of the lasso might be redolent of the eternity aspect of the snake eating its own tail: this is a love that will never die.

[Front-Ranger]

Yes that is the happy interpretation of it, and the sadder one is where Ennis says, "I'm caught in my own loop." 

[Front-Ranger]

There is an oblique reference to snakes in the very first sentence of the story, Brokeback Mountain:

Ennis del Mar wakes before five, wind rocking the trailer, hissing in around the aluminum door and window frames. The shirts hanging on a nail shudder slightly in the draft.

Did you catch it? It's the word hissing.

[moremojo]

Off-topic, as far as BBM is concerned, but serpentine nonetheless in its allusions: I read recently of Franz Liszt's Sonate in B minor (written in about 1852-1853, and publicly premiered in 1857), in one movement, being described as "snake-like"--making me all the more keen to hear it someday. This, reputedly one of Liszt's masterpieces, was dedicated by him to Robert Schumann.

[Front-Ranger]

That's interesting, Scott! And don't worry about it being off-topic--that's why I put this in Anything Goes!

[Front-Ranger]

Snakes keep popping up in my life! Friday nite, LauraGigs invited me to a concert by a funk music group, and we were treated beforehand to a tableau by three women painted with snake symbols and covered with feathers and fur. Then, I was reading a review of the movie Black Snake Moan, and the director was explaining the origin of the title. Only problem was, the explanation was unprintable in the newspaper. But I was able to gather that the snake reference was to the male penis, which surprised me because snakes are usually associated with females. I also went to a performance called "Heartbeat" about Chinese history yesterday, and there were several snake references. In addition, the dragon used in the New Years celebration dance is very snakelike, with its fangs, forked tongue, and long undulating tail.

[Front-Ranger]

I have seen Annie Proulx speaking twice, and both times she ended with references to snakes. At the literary conference in Casper last October, she told a joke that included a yellow snake. In Boulder, Colorado, she ended with the words, "Stay on your side of the Snake." Interesting and puzzling...

[moremojo]

I have determined that the following people associated with the film Brokeback Mountain were born in the Year of the Snake:

Bob Dylan (born 1941)--is credited with having written the song 'He Was A Friend Of Mine' (covered by Willie Nelson); in actuality, Dylan seems to have transcribed the song, and may have been the first to record it.

Kim Olsen (born 1965)--key grip

Geraldine Peroni (1953-2004)--co-editor, and receives an "in loving memory of" citation during the closing credits

Rodrigo Prieto (born 1965)--cinematographer, making a cameo appearance in the film as the male prostitute Jack encounters in Mexico 

[David In Indy]

Snakes keep popping up in my life! Friday nite, LauraGigs invited me to a concert by a funk music group, and we were treated beforehand to a tableau by three women painted with snake symbols and covered with feathers and fur. Then, I was reading a review of the movie Black Snake Moan, and the director was explaining the origin of the title. Only problem was, the explanation was unprintable in the newspaper. But I was able to gather that the snake reference was to the male penis, which surprised me because snakes are usually associated with females. I also went to a performance called "Heartbeat" about Chinese history yesterday, and there were several snake references. In addition, the dragon used in the New Years celebration dance is very snakelike, with its fangs, forked tongue, and long undulating tail.

And then there was that movie.... Snakes on a Plane! 

[Front-Ranger]

Just when you think all is safe...it's the full moon and the Snake Goddess appears!!