tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16528392.post7257906903905059620..comments2024-03-09T00:35:51.499-08:00Comments on Pure Drivel: Losing My Soul: Joe vs. The Volcano Film AnalysisRobert E Wilsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18391581467677241611noreply@blogger.comBlogger30125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16528392.post-3725268787080871072021-10-24T10:38:45.019-07:002021-10-24T10:38:45.019-07:00Enjoyed your commentary very much. I've got a...Enjoyed your commentary very much. I've got a few different thoughts to add:<br /> 1) I see the crooked lightening bolt as the path to hell, and the volcano is Hell. (or possibly the crooked path is just 'Life' itself, and is random and short)<br /> 2) the Duck is the symbol of the devil, who is Mr Graynomore. (he owns the Dr, who has a Duck on the mantle)<br /> 3) Joe makes a deal with the devil to sell his soul for money. But otherwise he has done no sin. So the devil sends his three daughters to seduce him, and each one fails. Joe then falls in Love with the third angel. This is why in the end Hell must reject them, because they are pure souls. (Love your idea about the Sun/Moon/Earth, very good.)<br /> 4) Marshall is the Guardian Angel sent by God, so everything he buys on that trip is a gift from God. (and it all comes back to save him later)<br /> 5) Patricia wants to 'get away from the things of man', yet she sold her soul for the boat. Which is a thing of man. So the devil takes it away. They lose everything except for the gifts from God, the Trunks and their contents.<br /> 6) The hats might represent who he thinks he is, but he throws them all away. He then figures out who he really is.<br /> 7) In the original script he sits next to a Priest on the plane, tells him he's an atheist, and asks advice. FATHER CONROY -If you need a guide. If you're a seeker and you need a guide, someone to counsel you so you can find your way forward into a spiritual realm. And you're on an airplane. Don't look in first class.<br /> 8) I also didn't see the luggage salesman as a lost soul, but rather one of the angels from God. Marshall guides him to his holy gifts, and that is one. That's why he says "May you live to be a thousand years old, sir".<br /><br />thank you, i very much enjoyed your take. I've also studied this countless times, and pick up some new points from folks like you each time.<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16528392.post-66126290883222171142018-06-25T10:07:52.668-07:002018-06-25T10:07:52.668-07:00This is, by far, the best commentary that I’ve see...This is, by far, the best commentary that I’ve seen about Joe Vs. the Volcano including the comments. Your writing gives me a new depiction of the film and how it closely relates to growth and the true meaning of life. This film is brilliantly written and your commentary shows why. Thank you!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01344510843541533706noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16528392.post-2480576039478520432018-05-18T09:52:32.338-07:002018-05-18T09:52:32.338-07:00It's interesting to see that Christians see th...It's interesting to see that Christians see this as a Christian story, and Buddhists see it as Buddhist. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16528392.post-58370555544954960012018-01-06T11:56:51.567-08:002018-01-06T11:56:51.567-08:00Sorry to be late to the party. Thank you for your ...Sorry to be late to the party. Thank you for your great insights. A gentleman around Salt Lake had assembled lots of material relating the elements of this movie to Campbell's hero cycle and to progress in Christ's gospel. Fascinating stuff. We loved listening to his ideas as well. <br /><br />The luggage saves Joe and Patricia TWICE. It must represent the principles Joe has learned that will survive his death/s, because you can't take anything with you except what you ahve learned and who you've become. Thus, the luggage salesman probably isn't a drone but someone like an angel who facilitates Joe's passage from this low and fallen world to a higher sphere. Indeed, the scenes of Joe's life on State Island are gritty, dark and evoke Hell. But once Joe abtains his luggage, he sleeps in a hotel--alone--but in the middle of a bed in expuisite pajamas and sheets with his arms set like in a casket., a death-like albeit peaceful pose The next scene he is in the air in a sleek airplane. Is this like dying and being raised form the fallen world to the skies and ultimately. LA, which is beautiful and glorious to him, is better than Staten Island, but still fake, as typified by the vapid Angelica. (Why did yshe get the "angel" name?) It's definitely a higher existence by any measure. Joe survived the temptation test of Angelica as siren and qualified to move on to V and the yacht. And finally, their third dimension--after surviving the ocean and jumping into the volcano--seems to be an afterworld of peace and no worries. Note that they have both sacrificed themselves unselfishly for the Waponis' salvation and sealed their union as a married couple as well.<br /><br />The lightning symbol leads to his quasi death. It appears again to destroy the yacht, imperiling his life. And finally it appears on the volcano, which is again leading to his death. But he survives all three manifestations of the lightning.<br /><br />Interestingly, the contents of the luggage seem hopelessly useless, like his Jungle Jim hat. But the golf game, the violin case, the lanterns, which all seemed so extraneous, all play a role in his and Patricia's survival.<br /><br />The one scene I have often tried to figure out is the luggage store front, I think it is, where there are two women on each corner of the building standing with two large dogs. They symbolize something, but I don't know what. <br /><br />Thanks again for all the great insights. Best,Greghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05958469014337876428noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16528392.post-11184099924714111772017-02-27T12:41:34.455-08:002017-02-27T12:41:34.455-08:00I also note that Joe plays the ukulele immediately...I also note that Joe plays the ukulele immediately before the introduction of three metaphysical characters: the devil (Samuel Graynamore), his guardian angel (limo driver preparing him for his journey) and god (the moon).Bloggerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14166250280046204684noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16528392.post-4411608187449574242016-11-22T07:48:49.351-08:002016-11-22T07:48:49.351-08:00I just watched this movie for the first time, and ...I just watched this movie for the first time, and I looked up some commentary. I really enjoyed your analysis and presentation. Really superb!<br />I'd like to add a bit more to the symbolism of regaining Joe's lost soul: In Kabbalah, there are three levels to the soul. I thought the idea of the same actress, Meg Ryan, playing the three female parts brings this out. <br />The first level is the nefesh, "animal soul", shared by humans and all sentiment life, which is concerned with the instinct for survival, procreation, and the like. It's the part of us seeking comfort. That's represented by Dee Dee, who shows the most physical side in lusting for Joe, but then panics at the thought of death and losing him. Then comes the ruach, "speaking spirit" – unique to mankind – which is represented by Angelica. This is the part of our soul buffered between the animal soul and the higher soul, where we make our decisions. In the movie, she wants to give up the fight and commit suicide. Finally Joe meets the neshama, the highest part of his soul, symbolized by Patricia (from the Latin for "noble"), who is searching for independence and meaning, willing to explore philosophical questions and infused with optimism. <br />I liked the message about the sacrifice he endures to preserve his relationship with the elevated soul, which brings him to the realization that he appreciates life and thanks God for being alive. <br />Also, I thought it was neat to note the similarity between Samuel Graynamore and Samael.(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samael) <br />Davidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13519528474966337749noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16528392.post-47889359335042469552016-07-23T13:42:16.288-07:002016-07-23T13:42:16.288-07:00All the Waponi died. That seems a high price for...All the Waponi died. That seems a high price for personal growth. penngoshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08091046263890842615noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16528392.post-19266040701695781602016-06-20T00:33:02.613-07:002016-06-20T00:33:02.613-07:00I just read The Fall of the House of Usher by Poe ...I just read The Fall of the House of Usher by Poe and thought there might be a connection there too. In Usher, the narrator visits a friend who is in failing health due to some unknown disease. We learn that it isn't a real disease killing him, it is his own hypochondria and anxiety/depression- like Joe. His friends home is gloomy and depressing and he seems stuck there, just a place to wait for death, like Joe's office. There is also a zigzagging crack across the front of the house that symbolizes decay. Eventually the crack/decay spreads and the whole house sinks into a lake. If Joe hadn't fixed this decay/fissure through his soul he would've been engulfed by the volcano, just like the house and the lake. <br /><br />Anyway, I don't know if the screenwriter meant to make a nod to Poe, but I certainly see some similarities.Genevahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17903810776572391810noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16528392.post-3935571375301430632016-06-10T00:25:28.908-07:002016-06-10T00:25:28.908-07:00Nobody's talking about the ending. I say to my...Nobody's talking about the ending. I say to my significant other all the time, "You are my pessimistic existentialist!" I love it when Patricia says something like, "It's always going to be something, isn't it Joe?" She has faith. She's an optimist. She knows they are going to be okay somehow, and then the luggage appears. She says something like, "We have the whole rest of our lives to live!" Instead of being depressed about their situation, she asks, "Who gets a honeymoon like this?" She also says at some point, "We'll just see. We'll take the leap and see." And so they sail off unto the future like all of us, not having a clue how it's going to turn out, but they're in it together, with faith, and smiles on their faces. (The theme of courage and faith was important to me.) Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16528392.post-23301750568376182592016-06-02T19:27:35.267-07:002016-06-02T19:27:35.267-07:00There was a ton of symbolism in the movie - like t...There was a ton of symbolism in the movie - like the lilac suit on the old dude which symbolizes disappointment, don't rely on what you see or hear, the bolts of lightning everywhere signaling permanent transformation, lamps which is about shielding oneself, the duck which is about it is what it is, jumping off the boat that you are willing to confront stuff head on, the ripped sole (soul) of the shoe could mean that you are on a path that is new to you, or your soul will be metaphorically ripped around. Mr. Watoni and the Waponi...the whole thing is very dreamlike and the story follows his lamp. When he jumps into the volcano, like in a dream the extraordinary occurs and he gets a reprieve or a second chance but he turns back to his weirdness too a bit which is like how at first one claims it will all change but really, you are who you are and will only change what you want to change and he doesn't necessarily want everything to change. Anyway, the whole thing might be one big dream, period, which is interesting for sure. Like Lost (haha). <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16528392.post-69493145710819867532016-05-25T22:37:57.490-07:002016-05-25T22:37:57.490-07:00I always thought the duck (or goose) was an omen o...I always thought the duck (or goose) was an omen of Joe getting ridiculed. We first see the duck in the doctor's office, just before he tells Joe that he is sick (which is untrue). Then Mr Grainamore has a duck-shaped cane head which he brandishes as he tells Joe he needs him to sacrifice himself (even though he is the one who paid the doctor to tell joe a lie) and we see the bird on Joe's trunks just before the Waponis "cleanse" him and laugh at him.<br />-TerryAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16528392.post-85979904224496566442016-04-25T15:21:51.908-07:002016-04-25T15:21:51.908-07:00Loved reading your take on the film. I watched it ...Loved reading your take on the film. I watched it for the first time this last weekend. I was amazed at how Gilliam-esque it was in parts.<br /><br />There were a couple things that kept popping up throughout the film that you didn't mention. 1) A goose. it showed up several times. 2) the Great Danes (don't know what they might represent, but they showed up several times and Joe himself even noted them.)<br /><br />While watching I couldn't help but think that everything after his date with Deedee was a dream. The apartment seemed to get much more decrepit and cramped during the morning..<br />Myvrynhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00037956231375840133noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16528392.post-19890354196468728302016-02-15T18:43:33.721-08:002016-02-15T18:43:33.721-08:00When Joe is with Narshall and gets his hair cut, t...When Joe is with Narshall and gets his hair cut, the stylist remarks "Shazam!"<br /><br />The symbol for Shazam is the same crooked lineBigTexNhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09369401328856390808noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16528392.post-19584677424809044022016-02-06T07:54:05.132-08:002016-02-06T07:54:05.132-08:00He works in the prosthetic dept. (An artificial de...He works in the prosthetic dept. (An artificial device used to replace a missing body part, such as a limb or a heart valve. Replacement of a missing body part with such a device.)<br />Which indicates he and the others are faking their way thru life or their lives are fake.<br />Not the real Joe. He keeps throwing his hats away as though trying on and discarding different personas, none of which are the real Joe.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16528392.post-15610155747065663562016-01-19T17:29:47.674-08:002016-01-19T17:29:47.674-08:00I often read that "there are two camps: those...I often read that "there are two camps: those who hate it and those who love it" divided about 90-10. Not surprisingly, this is the same ratio of people who like pop music (90) and people who can't stand it (10).<br /><br />My personal opinion is that the 90% represent those who sit in front of something on the screen and want it to be fed to them it little bites that don't require much chewing. It's OK if it tastes good, but not too much spice that it requires consideration or triggers the question, "Hmm, I wonder what they put in this." The are also the folks that sit passively in a detective/thriller waiting for the plot to unroll telling them each little detail. For these people, there are laugh tracks to help them recognize which parts are funny and prevent the embarrassment of being the only person laughing out loud in the room.<br /><br />The 10% are the people who recognize by the colors, fonts and CSS of the opening credits that this is something else. This is going to have references to the old classic as well as "B" movies of the past. What it's saying is, "The story you are about to watch is not the story I am really telling you. This will be obvious by the total lack of surprise in the denouement. By the same token, every time the camera rests on anything for more than a second, there is another story I am trying to tell you.<br /><br />The screenwriter is not trying to be smarter than us, he's just giving us the credit of being smart enough to catch the smiles, jokes and he has framed for us that find their analogs in each of our lives. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12605560326212631302noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16528392.post-38758514021214905752016-01-02T09:37:02.154-08:002016-01-02T09:37:02.154-08:00I have loved this movie since I first saw it in th...I have loved this movie since I first saw it in the movie theater all those years ago...<br />Thank you for confirming my own archetypal musings about this very underrated film.<br /><br />I turn on the tv today- January 2nd of 2016 and Joe Vs the Volcano is on HBO and I see that number 941 in front of the medical bldg Joe goes to. "941" must mean something (Joe vs the Volcano was pre-Matrix and we KNOW how the numbers in The Matrix are very symbolic....haven't figured it out ..yet...<br /><br />btw in the Tarot deck The Devil is XIV and the Lovers are VI ....Joe and Patricia become paradoxically "unchained" from the "things of Man" (The Devil- matter- material) thru the Divine sacred love of the Lovers- ...all paradoxical like the Divine Feminine .....2016 = 9- wake up- we are waking up ... :)carolynnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16528392.post-70147356683744876432015-10-10T22:29:25.509-07:002015-10-10T22:29:25.509-07:00Hi, great observations about this profound movie. ...Hi, great observations about this profound movie. I have some insight that id like to share. The volcano is symbolic of the sexual magic /Tantra/ The Holy Grail. They are pure and in love, they sacrifice their desires for something greater. By jumping in (to the mysteries) together is what grants them eternal life. Vulcan/The ninth spere/Sex/Alchemy. All symbolised here and also by the colour red, worn by Tibetan monks. Im not sure about the character you say is the devil, i think perhaps he is the Demiurg. Like the director character in Trueman Show. Thank u.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16528392.post-76875930689274556472015-08-19T19:23:40.752-07:002015-08-19T19:23:40.752-07:00It proves that you are not insane :-)It proves that you are not insane :-)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16528392.post-79602040820958960452015-08-19T17:56:59.030-07:002015-08-19T17:56:59.030-07:00It's a Studebaker ;-)It's a Studebaker ;-)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16528392.post-35647546064595868462015-01-21T21:41:13.547-08:002015-01-21T21:41:13.547-08:00Hello Skipper Steve Morris,
That's a nice obs...Hello Skipper Steve Morris,<br /><br />That's a nice observation about the hats.Robert E Wilsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18391581467677241611noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16528392.post-7933309363034551282014-12-14T22:47:24.422-08:002014-12-14T22:47:24.422-08:00Does anyone know the make of the car that Joe driv...Does anyone know the make of the car that Joe drives. It looks very familiar like my first car I drove but I need help.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16528392.post-46997270822733807572014-11-09T20:35:18.979-08:002014-11-09T20:35:18.979-08:00Another symbol: Joe's hats. As he arrives at t...Another symbol: Joe's hats. As he arrives at the factory, he has a hard time getting his hat to hang on the hat rack. When he quits his job Joe throws his hat in the garbage before leaving the office for good. After he leaves Angelica and sails off with Patricia, he takes off his "Jungle Jim" hat and throws it into the sea. The hats, I believe, symbolize a transition between his three stages of existence. In his third and last stage, Joe has no hat, symbolizing that his character is fully developed.Skipper Steve Morrisnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16528392.post-43943711990691979142014-08-03T04:07:56.542-07:002014-08-03T04:07:56.542-07:00This was a fantastic analysis. I first saw this m...This was a fantastic analysis. I first saw this movie as a young kid (thank you Dad for showing it to my sister and me), and as such didn't understand any of the symbology, but appreciated the movie as a comedy and just for being weird. I have watched it dozens of times over the years and began to recognize a lot of symbology such as the obvious crooked path recurring throughout. However, I'm not smart enough to figure out what it all meant, so thank you for elucidating it for me. There's one symbol which I noticed that you didn't mention. When Joe and DeDe are having dinner, he extends his open hand to her, and she puts her tightly balled fist into it. Later, when Joe and Patricia are about to jump into the volcano, he extends his open hand to her, to which she appears to react the same way, until right before her balled fist meets his hand. At that moment she opens it fully and interlocks fingers with his. I won't attempt to explain what this means, but I just thought it was interesting.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16528392.post-86205072900104684002014-06-15T18:23:16.728-07:002014-06-15T18:23:16.728-07:00I don't even know how I ended up here, but I a...I don't even know how I ended up here, but I assumed this put up was great.<br />I do not know who you're however definitely you are going to a well-known blogger if you are not already.<br />Cheers!<br /><br />Here is my website; <a href="http://molinavuwp.wordpress.com" rel="nofollow">check my source</a>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16528392.post-67796354709984719142014-05-21T19:23:00.887-07:002014-05-21T19:23:00.887-07:00Hello there! Would you mind if I share your blog
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