Our BetterMost Community > Chez Tremblay
"On Your Feet Cowboy"
starboardlight:
it's been suggested (by whom? I can't recall) that the tattooed woman is meant to show that time was changing and that things were getting more liberal. That such an unusual woman was out in daylight perhaps meant that the people in town were more accepting tof differences than Ennis feared. The fact that her partner is a black hat wearing man might even draw us to believe that Ennis and Jack could actually be out and about together without too much trouble. Thus making his fear all the more tragic, because it may have been possible to have that "sweet life" and be accepted. Just like the Black Hat and White Hat men in the bus station, suggest a possible alternate existence for the Ennis and Jack. I'm not sure I believe that entirely, but it's worth playing with, symbolically.
Brown Eyes:
Heya starboardlight,
I was just about to mention the guy in the black hat. I've never really pondered the tattooed woman too much because I'm always focused on the guy with the black hat. I mostly see that particular guy as a sign that Ennis is dreaming of Jack at this moment. I think both of Ennis's dancing scenes with Cassie are meant to show his true lack of interest - having to be dragged out to the floor and (in the first dance) trying to keep her at arms length. Jack is at least usually more willing to dance and seems to be pretty good at it, at least in comparison. I guess this is no surprise since Jack is generally more social.
serious crayons:
--- Quote ---Jack is at least usually more willing to dance and seems to be pretty good at it, at least in comparison.
--- End quote ---
Yeah, what's that line about this scene from the cowboy etiquette thread? Something like, "If by chance you are required to dance with a woman, hold her at arm's length and smoke furiously until the situation subsides."
OK, I guess I like the idea Nipith mentions for the tattooed woman. I was thinking earlier, the chances of there being a woman living in Riverton with so many tattooes are probably a million to one today -- let alone in 1983. So the idea that she could be calmly dancing in the local tavern without drawing any particular attention is a signal that Ennis is being too paranoid.
Brown Eyes:
--- Quote from: latjoreme on May 23, 2006, 12:24:37 am ---Yeah, what's that line about this scene from the cowboy etiquette thread? Something like, "If by chance you are required to dance with a woman, hold her at arm's length and smoke furiously until the situation subsides."
OK, I guess I like the idea Nipith mentions for the tattooed woman. I was thinking earlier, the chances of there being a woman living in Riverton with so many tattooes are probably a million to one today -- let alone in 1983. So the idea that she could be calmly dancing in the local tavern without drawing any particular attention is a signal that Ennis is being too paranoid.
--- End quote ---
LOL!!! :laugh: :laugh:
Mikaela:
--- Quote --- From latjoreme
tattoos are a way of artificially altering your appearance or your image or your natural self, and that's what Ennis is doing by dating Cassie ...?
--- End quote ---
I like that interpretation. Makes sense to me.
--- Quote from: starboardlight on May 22, 2006, 07:02:52 pm ---it's been suggested (by whom? I can't recall) that the tattooed woman is meant to show that time was changing and that things were getting more liberal. That such an unusual woman was out in daylight perhaps meant that the people in town were more accepting tof differences than Ennis feared. The fact that her partner is a black hat wearing man might even draw us to believe that Ennis and Jack could actually be out and about together without too much trouble. [snip] I'm not sure I believe that entirely, but it's worth playing with, symbolically.
--- End quote ---
I like this interpretation, too - but it somehow seems to be too optimistic compared to the entire tone of BBM. :(
Somehow, takinng in the whole scene, I think it speaks to me about how many more superficial things may change, but some deeply personal and important things tragically remain unchanged: While women (and men) might have more style choices in how they dressed and presented themselves, and it's accepted that they choose the kind of extreme personal expression that being tattooed from top to toe represents, men like Ennis still make efforts to put up a smoke screen to hide who they really are. And they still very well may be right in thinking that their true self would not easily be accepted.
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