In
the 1959 film Pull My Daisy by Robert Frank, religion and the
new generation come together in a quite clash. However the do not
come as a opposing force but rather two sides who can not understand
trying to understand. This crisis provides context not to how
religion can alienate but rather how the two can understand and make
a new meaning.
At
the 13:37 mark of the film the party gathers around the table to eat
when one of the bishop says “I don't know anything” and is asked
in return that he should surly know what to say. What he replies is
that “he doesn't know how to say what he truly wants to say.”
Peter asks if he has ever played ball or seen girls in tight dresses.
When the bishop replies back with a yes Peter asks him if “baseball
is holy.”
Here
we see the beginning of a crisis. Religion, as a term, is widely
definable. Within Pull My Daisy
we see both Christianity being represented and Buddhism being talked
about. Both are widely respected as two forms of a religion or a
center of worships and practices around a central figure or central
set of figures. Buddhism and Christianity can be a clashing set of
religion on their own as a monotheism, or a singular deity based
religion, or a polytheism, or multiple deity based religion.
But
Peter brings in a new clash; man-made religion. As the bishop begins
to fade into another thought around 14:10 we see people staring at a
massive American flag and a preacher. As he preaches the flag billows
in front of him almost blocking him as he preaches. The lines between
religions is blurring or is rather crossed and entwined with one
another.
Religion
for Pull My Daisy is
complex not unlike any dealing with religion. But what it brings to
light is that religion is not just divine right but rather things
like American and baseball. When Peter asks if baseball is holy is
not just to question the Bishop and his faith but our faith. The film
begins to implicate us into this as well.
For
what is the difference between a bishop to Christianity and a player
to baseball. Each one holds a place in their own hierarchies. What
the film questions is why is there a difference between their
religions. How is swearing to an American flag any different from the
bible. The image of the flag displaying before the man with the bible
is so important. When one does not notice the two slip across one
another but when they do they begin to question the structure and
realize that they are very similar.
This
connections to around the 20:20 mark. Peter begins to ask the Bishop
if each object is holy. Each object is clearly not a thought of
religious item. Is car, women, basketball, you me holy? What matters
is that its what we think. But because we have questioned it we drive
the bishop away and thus traditional religion away.
The
coming together fails in Pull My Daisy.
The meaning does not become clear for the characters but it does for
the viewer and thats what matter.
I'm here for the title. Really, it's pretty hilarious and witty! I really liked your analysis, though I have to admit I found myself quite confused at certain points throughout it. But if you're trying to say what I think you are, then I couldn't agree more. I actually made a similar argument to yours, though on the topic of art, regarding the "clash" created by the Beat Generation. They did create quite the ruckus in their day. I also like the connection you drew between baseball and Christianity, or the beatniks' proposition of man-made religion and the questioned "holiness" of it all. Your argument that by making this proposition, Peter is questioning faith on an individual level rather than merely the bishop has really skewed my original perspective of this scene, and of the beatniks themselves as they are portrayed in this scene—for the better. Finally, I think your conclusion that this uncertainty is what ultimately drove the bishop away from the party and symbolically traditional religion away from the new generation, is completely accurate and has given me much insight on the film's meaning. Nice job!
ReplyDeleteLOL at your title.. and to answer; if this blog is sacred to you, then it is holy to you. Which I think is the ultimate idea that Robert Frank is hoping to address in the film. Your religion is what you do. If you chose to worship the Bishops's God and sacred texts, then your religion is Christianity. BUT, in this film I wrote in my blog that ART is the religion. They worship the process of writing, playing their instruments, and coming together to embrace their god. I think by asking the bishop if this or that is holy... is kind of humorous, in that, we see a bit of satire on religion. The beats should not have to conform the God everyone in society believes in when god lies within their own creativity and imagination. To conclude, I agree with you. The questioning of this religion is done to push the bishop away and ultimately this one-sided idea of holiness.
ReplyDeleteGreat title... I think the most interesting religious aspect of the film came at near the start of the religious conversation, when the bishop was asked about Buddhism allowing its members to do whatever they want. While this shows a misunderstanding of fundamental Buddhism, which has a goal of abolishing all desires beyond necessities, many people who claim to be religious or spiritual choose a belief system that fits with their desires or they do what they want in spite of their professed belief system. Pull My Daisy addresses that in great detail, by questioning what is holy, it shows how religious beliefs can be shaped by human desire. As satirical as it gets, it never felt like it was putting down the idea of religion or spirituality. It was merely pointing out many people's attitude towards it.
ReplyDeleteRound of applause Megan! This blog really goes into the details of dialogue and parallels them with the issues at hand. I like how you detailed the correlation to religion and baseball, and it's importance in the questioning of faith. Faith in a sport, faith in a god, faith in faith itself, you lay it out so nicely on here and I think that's extremely beneficial for understanding the surface and subtext of religion throughout Pull My Daisy!
ReplyDelete