Author Topic: Religious symbolism in Brokeback  (Read 15717 times)

Offline Brown Eyes

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Religious symbolism in Brokeback
« on: November 05, 2007, 08:53:57 pm »
Heya,

During my recent, amazing dinner with Pipedream we found ourselves deep in a discussion about the different ways that religious symbols are used in interesting and complex ways in BBM.  This is a topic that's come up in various forms in the past, but we thought it might be interesting to re-investigate this big topic with some fresh eyes.  I find the use of religious symbolism in BBM really gorgeous and profound in its complexity.  I think of it as a poetic deployment of religious symbols and a deployment of the symbols that can make you look a the original religious symbol in a new way.  I find it a fascinating and profound topic even though, I personally am not religious in my real life.

There seem to be many ways to approach this subject, and the word "religion" in no-way is limited to any one religion or religious tradition.  Christian symbols and Taoist symbols seem to be deployed very strongly, but I'm sure there are many, many other religious lenses to investigate here.

I'm going to mainly focus on the film here in this initial post... but I'm sure there are rich ways to address this topic with the story too.

One way to think about it is to look at ways that the topic of religion comes up explicitly.  The most obvious example seems to be Jack's singing of Water Walking Jesus and the two boys' discussion of the religions of their families.  The other prominent explicit discussion of religion comes later in Ennis's relationship with Alma... his disinterest in going to the "fire and brimstone" church social and his disinterest in singing at the church social with his girls.

There are other, more subtle, visual suggestions of religious symbols.  A couple examples come to mind... The three crosses that dominate the screen as Ennis rides into Signal in the semi-truck at the very beginning of the film.  The yin and yang compositions of many shots of the boys and landscape on Brokeback... For example, when we see Jack sitting guarding the sheep by moonlight for the first time, the moon in the black sky seems to be the white dot of one half of the symbol and Jack himself seems to be the dark spot amongst the white sheep as the second half of the symbol. (I'm re-posting this image that Meryl graciously provided in the original Yin and Yang thread).

<img src="http://www.divshare.com/img/midsize/2650142-c1c.jpg" border="0" />

Then there are thematic elements that seem to suggest a running religious metaphor... or the use of a religious them as a poetic device.  For example, I strongly believe that the use of sheep and the seeming equation between Jack and the sheep that need protection (from Ennis's point of view) has a religious connotation of the "sacrificial lamb" notion.  Endangered or killed-sheep seem to be equated with Jack and Earl in very significant ways in the film.

And, perhaps one of the most famous and controversial Brokie notions is that Jack is meant to be a "Jesus-type" figure... leading the way for Ennis... "walking on water" as he crosses the stream carrying the sheep... comforting Ennis even after he himself is dead (through the gesture of the shirts, etc.).  I've even heard somewhere the idea that Ennis's favorite endearment "Jack F***ing Twist" echoes a very common cursing, angry exclamation that you hear from time to time, "Jesus F***ing Christ".



Anyway, I'm just throwing these ideas out there to see how people feel about these ideas now. I think these are actually just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to this subject.  Again, many of these notions have been generated over long, long discussions both here and at imdb, etc.  It would be fun to see how many other themes and concepts we can tease out of this subject.

And, Anke, I'll leave it to you to include the two suggestions you made at dinner here!  They were great ideas... and two that I'd not considered before!

 :D



« Last Edit: November 06, 2007, 01:25:13 am by atz75 »
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Offline Artiste

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Re: Religious symbolism in Brokeback
« Reply #1 on: November 06, 2007, 11:24:37 am »
Yes, a good subject would be religion!

In one or more ways, too!!

Wonder why the talk of religion between Jack and Ennis came up as part of the film?

Hugs!

Offline TOoP/Bruce

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Re: Religious symbolism in Brokeback
« Reply #2 on: November 07, 2007, 08:10:08 pm »


Wonder why the talk of religion between Jack and Ennis came up as part of the film?


Religion represents a sort of moral framework for their lives, even though neither Jack nor Ennis seems to be particularly religious.  For Jack, it in some way seems to represent an aspect of his mother's love.  For Ennis, it seems to be more of a patriarchal set of laws that one does not admit to transgressing.

Jack says "My mother believes in the Pentecost" to Ennis, who expresses curiosity about what exactly the Pentecost is.  Jack's explanation that it is when "sinners like you an me go off to hell" is completely incorrect, but it does segue directly into the sexual act that follows when Ennis informs Jack that "You may be a sinner, but I aint yet had the opportunity."

The pentecost is actually the fiftieth day after Easter Sunday, when (according to Christian tradition) the Holy Spirit decended upon the Apostles.  The Apostles then spoke in tongues as the spirit of God settled over them.  It is considered by many to be the birth of the Christian church as we know it.  It directly forshadows the end of the film, for Ennis who mourns Jack and has built a shrine to his memory, seems to have come to some sort of peace in his love for Jack, and the strength it brings him allows him to find his voice to express his love for his daughter.  The Pentecost is related to the sacrament of confirmation, and like that sacrament, he vows his allegience to the man in whose love he is redeemed with the simple words "Jack, I swear..."
Former IMDb Name: True Oracle of Phoenix / TOoP (I pronounce it "too - op") / " in fire forged,  from ash reborn" / Currently: GeorgeObliqueStrokeXR40

Offline Artiste

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Re: Religious symbolism in Brokeback
« Reply #3 on: November 08, 2007, 12:43:42 pm »
Thanks TOoP/Bruce!

Your words illustrate much. They are wonderfully expressed! I will re-read it again, that often!

And much more can be said concerning Religious symbolism in Brokeback, may I state.

I am now puzzled by your statement and elaborations: does it maybe mean that the BM movie is pro-gay or anti-gay?? Because of such sysmbolism as religious??

Hugs!


Offline Lynne

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Re: Religious symbolism in Brokeback
« Reply #4 on: November 08, 2007, 01:00:09 pm »
This is a terrific thread, Amanda - thanks for starting it.  And Bruce - excellent observations about the Pentecost.

I'll chime in with my favorite religious symbol in the movie - scales!   ::)  (I know I've worn this subject out, but I can't help myself.)

There are kitchen scales in Alma's kitchen during the Thanksgiving confrontation with Ennis.  I see them as symbolic of her judging Ennis and Jack ('Jack Twist? Jack Nasty! You didn't go up there to fish.') and condemning them.  I contrast this to the scales in Mrs. Twist's kitchen when Ennis goes there after Jack's death.  She too judges Ennis and Jack, but she reaches out to Ennis with love and compassion and understanding.
"Laß sein. Laß sein."

Offline Artiste

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Re: Religious symbolism in Brokeback
« Reply #5 on: November 08, 2007, 05:17:35 pm »
So to you scales are like religious symbols?

Hugs!

Offline TOoP/Bruce

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Re: Religious symbolism in Brokeback
« Reply #6 on: November 08, 2007, 05:29:46 pm »
"We was fishin buddies."

Ennis comes to this explanation quickly off the top of his head when Alma asks him how he knows a man called Jack.  Some have questioned whether Ennis had a story planned to tell her all along if Jack ever showed up unexpectedly.

But let's consider it in terms of its Christian symbolism.  In the earliest days of the Christian church, the fish was a symbol for Jesus, and in ancient Rome, Christianity was an underground society, and membership in that society was potentially a death sentence.  Drawing the symbol of the fish was one way that members of the secret Christian society recognized each other.  In Brokeback Mountain, we see that Randall reveals his membership in an underground society to Jack by offering to get together to do some fishing.  

Former IMDb Name: True Oracle of Phoenix / TOoP (I pronounce it "too - op") / " in fire forged,  from ash reborn" / Currently: GeorgeObliqueStrokeXR40

Offline Artiste

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Re: Religious symbolism in Brokeback
« Reply #7 on: November 08, 2007, 05:44:48 pm »
Thanks Bruce!

Those two details of yours are very revealing as religious symbols!!

Any others?

Hugs!

Offline TOoP/Bruce

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Re: Religious symbolism in Brokeback
« Reply #8 on: November 08, 2007, 05:53:35 pm »
In the Twist house in Lightning Flat, there is a prominently displayed crucifix on the the white walls of the home.  It can be seen behind Mrs. Twist in some of her face shots.  Similarly, behind Ennis in the same room, a black hat hangs on the wall behind him at the same level as the crucifix (it is near the door) and it is presumably Jack's black hat.  This is another subtle Jack/Jesus equivalence.
Former IMDb Name: True Oracle of Phoenix / TOoP (I pronounce it "too - op") / " in fire forged,  from ash reborn" / Currently: GeorgeObliqueStrokeXR40

Offline Artiste

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Re: Religious symbolism in Brokeback
« Reply #9 on: November 08, 2007, 06:01:49 pm »
Thanks Bruce!

I can understand about the cross in the Twist home.

But please elaborate more on the hat?

Hugs!