SUGGEST NEW THREADS for this area: "The Story / The Film"

[Diego]

Ooh, That's a Good One!

I was always fascinated by the reactions the audience gave durung this film, Hopefully it'll "pass" and we'll get the thread.

Kudos to Daven and you Caroline for bringing it up. 

[Dathan]

Audience reaction would be very interesting.  I was wondering about a BBM pet peeves thread or scene rewrites or what if thread.  Not to be insulting to these master's work but it is fantasy for me.  And I'm no slasher!

[peteinportland]

Oh lord, I refuse to just pick one, so you will get burdened with several thread ideas that are rolling around in my brain. Not to be nitpicky, but I do wonder what is so difficult about just allowing us to start threads as on any other message board. The site might have a few extra posts; however, most threads will go for one or two pages and then a new topic will arise and older threads will get pushed off the first page. This will make the board easier to reference and to read and our discussions about small things (like the VERSATILE tractor as an example) won't get lost. IMO, you really make it harder for both the mods and the readers with these mega threads and so much good stuff is lost on this Board. My 2 cents (and still my great appreciation to you all for doing this).

[Dave Cullen]

Not to be nitpicky, but I do wonder what is so difficult about just allowing us to start threads as on any other message board.

Well we're still getting going, and we need more moderators.

[peteinportland]

Much has been said about the stereotype of the Western male (and the male in general) in regards to this work. What are your observations?

For example, there is a real off screen dynamic between Jack and Ennis and their fathers that colors these two mens actions, and in turn, affects their own roles as fathers. How do you see this played out in the film and the story?

There is much said about the American cowboy and how the archtypes play in this movie, especially in regards to the Old West and the New West. How do you think the cowboy mythology affects the actions of the men in this film? Do Jack or Ennis represent either the Old West or the New West?

Masculine stereotypes/attributes also play a role in the film, especially in regards to Jack and Ennis' relationship. How do we see these men struggle with these in terms of their relationship with each other and in their everyday life? Is their masculinity ever threatened and what are the consequences?

Finally, there are a number of other men in this story that are interesting studies of the Western male. Among these are Joe Aguirre, LB Newsome, Jack's father, the rodeo men and the bartenders, Randall, the hecklers at the fireworks, and Monroe.  How do you think their roles balance out the film's broad look at masculinity and the Western male?

I realize this is a broad and deep topic, and it pervades almost every frame of the film; however, it is an important subject to discuss on its own terms as there is a lot to pull together to create the very large picture of what the artists are saying about men, masculinity, and their role in the American West.  

[peteinportland]

Dave, it might be helpful if you tell us exactly what a moderator does. Is it an onerous task (although this is the nicest bunch I have posted with, so it can't be too bad, eh)? Will affect how one can post? I'm sure there are many of us who spend great amounts of time on the Board who would/could help out as long as it did not affect our abilities to join the discussions.

[Dave Cullen]

I was wondering about a BBM pet peeves thread . . .

OK, I love that one. Needed some fleshing out, and I didn't want to wait. Already posted the new thread. Thanks, Dathan.

[Dave Cullen]

Dave, it might be helpful if you tell us exactly what a moderator does. Is it an onerous task (although this is the nicest bunch I have posted with, so it can't be too bad, eh)? Will affect how one can post? I'm sure there are many of us who spend great amounts of time on the Board who would/could help out as long as it did not affect our abilities to join the discussions.

Oh no, you can still participate just as much.

But all good questions. Since Meli actually drew up the guidelines for the mods and is overseeing them, I'm going to ask her to respond.

[Dave Cullen]

Daven just came up with one: AUDIENCE REACTIONS AND WHY???

This sounds kind of promising, but could you (anyone interested in it) expand on it a bit?

Give us a potential opening post. Thanks.

[peteinportland]

Many see this film and the book as great works of art. As such there many literary elements that get discussed in reference to this film.

One of the most important is symbolism. What symbolic elements have you noticed in the film, and what do they represent? Are any of these ongoing symbols that pervade the work?

Another important artistic element is the parallel structure seen in many places that pulls parts of the film together (an example of this would be the rough housing between Ennis and Jack and the rough housing between Ennis and Alma). Which ones have you identified and how do they affect the film?

Yet another element is the film's structure. It has been noted that the film seems to take place in three Acts. Do you see these? What is the arch and the denouement for each Act? How do these affect the timeline and the artistry of the film?

What other literary elements do you see and want to discuss? This thread might be a bit esoteric for some, but for the literary majors and avid readers among us, these elements greatly add to the overall artistry of the film.

[peteinportland]

What role does Cassie Cartwright play in the film? She is only quickly mentioned in the story (and not even given a name), yet she has almost as much screen time as Lureen and Alma. What do the screenwriters and Ang Lee want this character to accomplish? Is she necessary? Do you ever wonder what might have happened had Ennis married her? And why does he just dump her without an explanation, and what leads him to do this? This is the most overlooked major character in the film, but she is not just there by accident. So, what gives?

[peteinportland]

Well damn, two of my thread ideas are still too cumbersome. The one on the role of the Western male needs to be broken down into threads on fathers and sons, other men in BBM, the cowboy myth and old vs. new West, and male stereotypes to keep the threads tight and on topic. You could probably do an entire forum on gender roles and sexual stereotypes and lump all the masculine/feminine/sexuality threads in there. 

The one on artistic elements really needs to be broken down into symbolism, film structure, imagery, and parallel structure for the same reasons. This could probably be its own forum there is so much to discuss here.

Well, I still like the Cassie thread as it is narrowly defined. The other two suggestions I made really do need to be broken up into their own topics.

How many years are we going to be discussing all this?

[gnash]

how about a MOVIE SCENE DISCUSSION forum, with breakdowns of scene in chronological order?

for instance: "when ennis meets jack" and subtopics beneath that scenes, such as "hitchhiking", "was jack cruising ennis?", "the sign on the door of joe's trailer", "joe's instructions", "conversation in the bar."   etc...

then, as people come up with new scenes or break up an existing scene topic into smaller scenes, they could post suggestions in a "scene suggestion" thread in a "scene discussion" within that topic forum, where it is considered by moderators who then can create (or decide to not create) the additional subtopic heading. hopefully there is a way to insert each new topic heading wherever needed, to keep things in chronological order.

this would really lighten the load in the main discussion, and people, browsing the topic headings, can easily enter the forum of their choice, choose the proper subtopic, then post their questions, insights, or answers each a particular scene.

.....that said,


how about a forum heading with the title "THANKSGIVING", with two topics, "dinner at the twist house" and "thanksgiving table at munroe's (monroe?)", then beneath the latter, a subtopic entitled: "the girl's ears," where a discussion could be started about what ennis says about not having "wings."

(of course, it gets complicated because the "jack nasty" scene could be here in "thanksgiving" but really deserves its own forum altogether.)

regarding the girl's ears and wings, i'd ask if this was this a cutting remark about how the girls got their ears from their mother, and not from their father. i forgot exactly what ennis said in the movie, but it was something about how he couldn't fly because he didn't have "wings" like the girls... it seemed to have upset alma, and might have fueled her anger to FINALLY bring up the fact that she knew ennis' friend jack wasn't just a fishing partner...

[chiaros]

Daven just came up with one: AUDIENCE REACTIONS AND WHY???  be kind, if I am being stupid just tell me gently... hey I am the first POSTER here...... c ool eh?

Daven just came up with one: AUDIENCE REACTIONS AND WHY???

This sounds kind of promising, but could you (anyone interested in it) expand on it a bit?
Give us a potential opening post. Thanks.

I gave an account of the different audience responses in two cities 180 miles apart back in post #398 on the "Main Discussion" thread.  I would only add that I wonder if it was suggestive of the difference in the general surrounding culture and attitudes.

[gnash]

( i posted this in the other topic suggestion thread, but it should probably be here instead. i thought "the story/the film" meant how the story and the film relate to one another, etc. )

how about a mega MOVIE SCENE DISCUSSION forum, with breakdowns of scene in chronological order?

for instance: "when ennis meets jack" and subtopics beneath that scenes, such as "hitchhiking", "was jack cruising ennis?", "the sign on the door of joe's trailer", "joe's instructions", "conversation in the bar."   etc...

then, as people come up with new scenes or break up an existing scene topic into smaller scenes, they could post suggestions in a "scene suggestion" thread in a "scene discussion" within that topic forum, where it is considered by moderators who then can create (or decide to not create) the additional subtopic heading. hopefully there is a way to insert each new topic heading wherever needed, to keep things in chronological order.

this would really lighten the load in the main discussion, and people, browsing the topic headings, can easily enter the forum of their choice, choose the proper subtopic, then post their questions, insights, or answers for each a particular scene.