TheWanderingStars

2y

Except it’s not really surface level. And the reactions I get from contemptuous idiots (I’m not talking about you) is just another proof that it’s deeper than it seems.

The film itself is built entirely on esoteric concepts and perennial symbols linked to Femininity. The film hints at the fact that the dynamics and rituals portrayed are all ancient.

Quick example. Triangles are everywhere in the film. An inverted triangle is ancient symbol linked to femininity. In Alchemy, water is represented by an inverted triangle. Now rewatch the film and notice how it relates to some precise situations and how blood and different liquids (like blood) are used to foreshadow or symbolize the occult forces preying on the main character.

To say that the film isn’t about esotericism because the characters aren’t actually looking at the camera, winking at the audience and saying “oops, that’s some nice esoteric s*** right here” is profoundly reductive. It’s esoteric so it doesn’t really have to state that it deals with hidden/secret knowledge because that’d defeat the f***ing purpose.

“Pi” doesn’t tell you anything that meaningful about Kabbalah but it’s a fascinating character study and the way Aronofsky portrays paranoia is beautiful and disturbing. Now look at “mother!”. It’s a film heavily influenced by Gnosticism but the characters don’t have to mention it. You have to figure it out.

“Tree of Life” and “Knight of Cups” are also deeply rooted in esotericism but if you had to ask the idiots in this thread, they’d probably tell you that it’s just “about the Bible or something”. But if you know you know.

FlyHiii

2y

Okay since you mentioning alchemy and how certain symbols refer to femininity i feel like i have to rewatch, i've only seen Neon Demon once (whereas i rewatched all his other work already) and i was most def high outta my mind so it's possible there's more to it that i missed. I'll check it out again soon to confirm

I wasn't saying that they had to mention or state it like that, on the contrary, i was saying Refn already WAS shoving it in our face too often. In the sense that i don't recall any actual esoteric stuff being explored besides some cool stuff for aesthetic reasons. I know he tends to think his stuff through (i love his use of colors and their meanings in both OGF & TOTDY) but i really just don't remember it being that way for The Neon Demon

It's true that Pi doesn't actually tell you much about the Kabbalistic systems itself but just it's prescense as one of the main themes already seemed inherently more esoteric to me than geometric shapes and mystical initiations. Sure you can relate them to esoterica but they don't have to be connected to it just because they are things you frequently come across in occult books/practices. But again, i'll have to refresh my memory and do a rewatch to confirm or deny if Refn had any intentions that went deeper than purely aesthetic reasons

Knight Of Cups obviously has esoteric themes all throughout (watched it yesterday, what's the chance). The chapters being Tarot names are a dead giveaway. But all of Malicks work is highly spiritual and the spiritual & esoterica are strongly connected so anyone who would deny that is just full of s*** lol

Also, you have a letterboxd? we might be able to put each other on to some dope films that deal with this

TheWanderingStars

2y

Nope, I don’t have Letterboxd and to be honest, I don’t know a lot of films which deal with this topic. Some occult/esoteric symbols appear in lot of movies but these films aren’t built on these symbols.

Kenneth Anger and Jodorowsky are obviously two directors haunted by esoteric and occult ideas. Alan Moore too even he’s not a director and the most esoteric elements of his works are found within his novels. Maya Deren had some interesting symbols in her short films.

The idea that the “Christian symbols” in Evangelion are somewhat meaningless has become a meme but it’s wrong. Anno used a lot of esoteric symbols in a highly sophisticated way, it was entirely on purpose.

FlyHiii

2y

The Holy Mountain will forever be the greatest anyway

Anger is cool but i went in with the wrong ideas. Yes his stuff is full of esoteric stuff but whenever he really wants to make a point about something he makes it about sexuality

Not saying that he’s a poser because he’s obviously not

TheWanderingStars

2y

I think he makes it about sexuality because he’s deeply influenced by Crowley who, you know, used to eat his own feces and thought homosexual orgies were rituals.

I can appreciate his aesthetics but I have a moral and ideological problem with his films. It’s sus to say the least.

HaroldsChicken

2y

I was hyped for avenging silence but I’m

FlyHiii

2y

I have only seen you dislike stuff i think

UIP

2y

it wasn’t good but it wasn’t “beyond awful” lmao stop being a dramatic b****

Mo

2y

more fun gthan posting 'me like x' for 100th time

FlyHiii

2y

What directors/films you into?

CKL William

2y

Marvel and Nolan

FlyHiii

2y

I'd bet my life savings on that not being the case for him lmao

CKL William

2y

No obv not
You coming Sunday for filmo club?

FlyHiii

2y

What directors/films you into?

FlyHiii

2y

The information that we know about Crowley.. a lot of it was probably not true, even the stuff he wrote himself

Mans was an early f***ing troll but i'm sure he probably did some sketchy stuff fr

FlyHiii

2y

Don't think i'll be home but if i can make it sure

Which film?

CKL William

2y

Trainspotting

dundis

2y

refn stole your nickname for this

FlyHiii

2y

I really love the Neon Demon but

Esoteric = The Holy Mountain

Esoteric = Aronofsky's Pi

Neon Demon doesn't require any knowledge on esoterica whatsoever. Just because it shows surreal initiations doesn't mean it has anything to do with esoterica

Just saying