Tuesday, January 15, 2008
Walking in a Winter Pop Culture Wonderland
We were due for a big snow storm in the Northeast this weekend,but in my neck of the woods,the flakes just passed us right by. A tad disappointing,since I adore snow and big snowfalls(especially when I'm inside,safe and warm,with a good book beside me).
However,all is not lost. After all,winter is just getting started up here and like many other things in life,one can live their dreams vicariously thru pop culture images. So,let me share with you all some of my favorite winter time TV/Movie moments.
GILMORE GIRLS FROLIC AMONGST THE FLAKES
One of the biggest snow advocates in the annals of TV history is Lorelai Gilmore. She not only has a literal nose for incoming wintery weather,she can sing the praises of what Luke prefers to call "frozen water" to the high heavens and delight in the glories of the season with relish.
Of course,there was that one bad period where Lorelai and snow went thru a rather bad patch. For a moment there,it looked as if the two of them were doomed to end their loving relationship but like many problems in Stars Hollow,Luke was able to heal the breach in that incredibly charming way of his:
LORELAI'S SENSE OF SNOW
ME AND SNOW,WE'RE THROUGH!
A LITTLE GIFT FROM JACK FROST
Rory also inherited a love of snow from her mother and a flair for making unique snow women. During the early course of her turbulent courtship with Jess,one thing they both agreed on was that personality should count more than flashy showmanship when it comes to judging snowmen:
REGALLY COLD AS ICE
Ice and snow have been used as symbolic hallmarks of villainy in literature over the centuries and one of the best examples of that comes from C.S. Lewis' The Lion,the Witch and the Wardrobe.
The White Witch of Narnia ,who makes the realm always winter but never allows Christmas to come, lives up to her frightening frozen reputation and in this scene,uses her chilling charms to lead young Edmund astray and seal his siblings' doom:
A FROZEN FRENZY OF MURDER AND BETRAYAL
Many of the Coen brothers' collaborations have had mixed results and reviews from the critics,yet when it came to Fargo,the response was unanimous.
This tale of crime and punishment in the seemingly calm and quiet heartland of America has become a classic film,known not only for it's brilliant storytelling and excellent performances from Frances McDormand and William H. Macy,but the cinematic use of a flat,endlessly snow coated landscape as a metaphor for the growing despair and desperation of the characters as well:
SUPERMAN'S SNOWBALL FORTRESS
Heroes are allowed to embrace the cold of winter as well,in the battle against evil. The X-Men have Iceman in their ranks and even Superman takes a break from the warmth of Metropolis once in awhile there.
The greatest superhero of all has his homebase firmly planted in the frozen zone of the Arctic,with it's icicle structure neatly blending into the background and yet making a strong statement for solitude and hoped for serenity:
So,whether you love or hate the weather outside,which can be frightful,just remember that the fires of imagination can be so delightful. And as long as you're not too cold,let it snow,let it snow,let it snow!
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