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O Brother Where Art Thou Themes and Support - Coggle Diagram
O Brother Where Art Thou Themes and Support
Stories change over time, but don't lose their meaning, and evolve to a modern perspective. -The use of "Man of Constant Sorrow" in O Brother Where Art Thou reflects the power of song and story in communicating the loss of freedom.
Everett's journey - "Man of Constant Sorrow" -sorrow through loss of family (Penny engaged, kids calling Vernon daddy), loss of friends (Pete and Delmar), loss of freedom (prison)..
"bound to ride that northern railroad" -connects the imagery (motif-reoccurring symbol) of the film (reoccurring railroad and train) -freedom. Train is a symbol for freedom: word choice in the song (northern) references rides to freedom away from slavery; freedom in death (Everett hit by train, could free him from a life of "sorrow" and Penny from their marriage); repeated crossing the train tracks (family at the end, the oracle in the beginning on the hand car on the tracks, the trio running for the boxcars to escape in their prison jumpsuits)
The Great Depression and rail riders. Trains and boxcars were aspects of freedom for those "kicked out of society."
Beauty and the Beast: Bullies are rewarded by society because their victims have been "othered."
Howard Ashman -collaborated on the film's score and huge influence on the movie (died of AIDs shortly after-during a time of intense societal judgement towards gay men and those who had contracted AIDs).
Historical perceptions of AIDs and the ostracism of those with the disease during the early 90s.
Beast has been beaten down by society so long he accepts their hatred (until Belle becomes a source of strength). -songs, actions, reactions in the film to support this.
References the original story to demonstrate the change the Disney version to emphasize the effect of ostracism by society.
Town's perspective on those who are considered "othered"
Gaston as the quintessential bully accepted and loved by all because his victims "deserve it" because they are "weird."
Trio of girls follow him around. The song solely dedicated to how great he is.
Arranges a marriage ceremony with the town's help even though they know he hasn't proposed yet and is going to surprise her.
Gaston arranges for Maurice to be carted off to an insane asylum.
In O Brother Where Art Thou, religion aides in freedom through the perception of those "saved" on how deserving or capable they are in achieving freedom. Symbolism of water and fire in the movie (archetypal approach using Carl Jung's theory of universal symbols).
Symbolism of Water: Baptism scene- Pete and Delmar thinking their crimes and sins washed away: "I'm forgiven" and "I'm a changed man."
Symbolism in Fire: Big Dan ended up dying through being crushed to death by the fiery cross.
Symbolism of Water: "meet you on God's golden shore" tie to water and forgiveness.
Symbolism in campfire scenes: reflective discussion about freedom and "saving" themselves. Examine dialogue.
Symbolism of Water: The flood saved them after Everett began praying. Only saved once Everett looked away from himself and repented.
Article commentary: coffin and water and God.
In the film
O Brother Where Art Thou,
the song "Man of Constant Sorrow" is a symbol of the idea of the "forgotten story."
Character analysis on Everett: love of his family and children.
Lyrics "forgotten"
Lyrics third stanza of song: mirrors Everett's experience with his wife moving on "love another" and her report to the children about his death "being hit by a train"
Flood symbol?
The flood shows how their forgotten role in society is washed away because they are clean.
Forgotten= dirty (plenty of examples in the film).
In O Brother Where Art Thou, the association of Everett, Pete, and Delmar with Tommy Johnson sociologically lowers them, reflecting the historical perception of the time.
Homer Stokes: at the political rally. Called Everett, Pete, and Delmar "not white" and miscegenated (mixed race) and treated that as "worse" than just being black (historical perception).
Pete, when captured by the bounty hunter (living embodiment of fate) was whipped (historical association with slavery).
Article discusses Everett and boys escaped from Parchman Farm (historically all black prison camp) and further association with the three protagonists as on the same societal level as blacks (historical association prisoners, workers, the poor on same level).
Perception of the KKK rally: Homer Stokes saying "the color guard is colored." Appropriateness of the Coen Brothers using this scene?