Monday, November 17, 2014
The Shining
One interesting shot in The Shining that we've seen thus far is when Jack overlooks the mock hedge maze in the hotel. Jack is center in the frame and is peering down on the maze. It is evident that Danny and his mother Wendy have a closer relationship than Jack does with either of the two. We have had hints based off of how he treats his wife, he is a recovering alcoholic, and that he had once injured Danny's shoulder. Jack has a fixation on the hotel for he seems to have adjusted seamlessly despite his writer's block. I think a maze in general is an interesting concept, especially in this film since when one enters a maze, there is no way to navigate your way through since there are a lot of different paths you can take, yet only one takes you to the intended destination. This idea can relate to the film since so far we know bits and pieces of the plot but have not really experienced the true "horror" just yet. The symbolism of Jack looking over the maze, and the maze itself might actually be pointing towards clues that will reveal the meaning of the film and what is to happen next between the three family members as well as the possibility of the maze being a part of the plot later on. What do you think that the hedge maze symbolizes? Why is it included?
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I really liked how you mentioned the maze's symbolism and how it relates to further plot. I definitely agree! I also think the maze foreshadows the problems the family may face. I think it is included to add to the suspense and fear of the film. Danny is being chased in the maze by Jack in the last scene and in a maze you never know what comes behind the next corner. It keeps the viewer on their feet and worried about what is to come next! Instead of being chased outside, we are left with a more subjective point of view and more fear. A similar scene where we get that subjective point of view is when Danny is on his bicycle. The camera is shot from a long shot behind Danny and the viewer is experiencing each turn Danny takes the same time he takes them. This really creates suspense and fear for the viewer similar to the scene in the maze.
ReplyDeleteI thought it was interesting how you described how the maze is so intertwined within the plot. I think this scene really shows how, at this point in the film, Jack has all the power. When he looks down over the maze, it looks as though he is looking at his prey, Danny and Wendy. I also think that the idea of who has power vs. who doesn't at various points in the film is an interesting one, because not one person has it throughout the whole film. So in the maze scene that you mentioned, it is clear that Jack does, mostly because he is looking down on his family, but during the rest of the film, the power dynamic switches. One scene that demonstrates Jack not being as powerful as in the maze scene is when Wendy locks him in the pantry. Now, when he is trying to escape, he is looking up for help, not down like before, when he looks down. This scene is shot from a low angle, making his look small and powerless. I think this change in power is really interesting, because it is never really told, it is inferred with the use of camera angles.
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ReplyDeleteI really like how when you talked about the maze's concept and that there is only one path that will take you out, which I think can connect to the movie's plot and how there really only was one way to get away from Jack and the hotel, and that was to leave him there and let him die, rather than try and save him. I think the maze and how in that specific shot of Jack looking down on it can symbolize the predatory state that Jack is in for most of the movie. This scene is before Jack goes insane, but it does a very good job of showing that in the future Jack will be hunting his family in the hotel and in the maze.
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