Bowling Theme

[gogo]

This quote comes from the article "The Big Lebowski: Bowling for Buddha"

Buddha’s life was a constant struggle for perfection. Bowling, a seemingly simple game where a big ball is hurled at ten wooden pins—just knock them down twelve times in a row—is a symbol for this same goal. Coen brother films often use circular symbols or themes, so using a perfectly round ball to achieve a perfect 300 game, in rented shoes no less, is actually representative of Buddhist principles. It’s more a competition with one’s self than with an opponent.

from metaphilm.com

Although this article deals with the Big Lebowski and other films by the Coen brothers, I do think it is interesting that bowling can offer a thematic reference.

I haven't really considered the reoccuring activity of bowling in lg15 yet. But I am kind of interested to see other instances of bowling as symbolism (such as representing an "All American" activity for those in small/sheltered communities with not much else to do; the preWWII view of bowling alleys as a working class refuge of lower class values; the postWWII middle class American Dream of prefab houses in new suburbs with soda shops, diners and bowling alleys, which became more esteemed by the middle class; etc.)..

I wonder if, how and/or why bowling would reappear in this story (unless one of the writers just happens to be a fan of bowling or something...). Either way, this is a topic that I find interesting.

[impulse]

(such as representing an "All American" activity for those in small/sheltered communities with not much else to do; the preWWII view of bowling alleys as a working class refuge of lower class values; the postWWII middle class American Dream of prefab houses in new suburbs with soda shops, diners and bowling alleys, which became more esteemed by the middle class; etc.)

Hello gogo from New England. I guess bowling is just the epitome of secluded suburb community' s life on Friday nights. The semiology of the LG15 iconography in general revolves around simple iconic pop culture elements. Even the image of Aleister Crowley falls into that category for what it's worth.

[gogo]

Hello to you impulse from 22 December 2006:

Not to take this off topic for a second, but I am intrigued by your statement about Aleister Crowley fitting into the "simple pop iconic cultural elements category." Please explain when you get a chance. I find this idea interesting...

Now back to bowling...
I agree with what you're saying about bowling as

the epitome of secluded suburb community' s life on Friday nights.

However, I do see that the LG15 iconography seems to address the fact that a dark, secretive element could be lurking behind some closed doors in the seemingly-wholesome, middle-class community. I will even go as far to say that LG15's semiology points to the possiblity of a nefarious and disturbing underbelly in this ideal American suburbia.

This is not to say that bowling represents anything sinister. And in LG15, it could just represent the "regular" community and an adolescent activity from which Bree has been denied through her isolation (which might have been your point to begin with, impulse...although you only needed two sentences to make your point, whereas I gogo on forever... )

Of course, I am sure I am reading too much into this. But I don't care. I am intrigued.

[impulse]

What I meant is that Aleister Crowley is indeed a pop icon. I would trace that back to the days of Led Zeppelin and the fascination Jimmy Page developed about him in the 70s. That's when he really stepped into pop culture, I think. Anyway, if you want to invoke a sort of mystical/satanistic figure, Aleister Crowley is an obvious iconographic choice. And as you know, it had a tremendous effect on the viewers of the show.

I agree with you on the darkness behind the door. But again, how many mystery/fantastic/horror movies take place in a nice, quiet and unsuspecting suburb community? It's a cliche of the genre.(Wow! that's two French words in the same sentence! My high school teacher would be so proud!)

[gogo]

Ooh la la!

Oh, I see what you mean about Crowley, especially with the Zeppelin reference. Thanks, impulse.

I would agree that there are countless cinematic and literary examples of the secret evils in suburbia. Although they are rather cliche at times, I must admit that I often enjoy this reveal as a viewer/reader (like Ira Levin's novels the Stepford Wives and Rosemary's Baby are two examples off the top of my head.)

I am not a bowler, although my daughters have gone to bowling birthday parties. I don't recall anything particularly sinister going on however ...

[impulse]

This is all actually very interesting. I'll go hunting for some more cliches in LG15. There is a pattern here. If ever you come up with new ideas on that little quest of ours...let me know!

[Kanazaka]

It could just be that Daniel went to a bowling alley because bowling holds a special place in his heart, since that's what he did for his first date with Bree. So, he went back to a bowling alley to reminisce and get drunk . But if my conspiracy theory holds true, then I think that Jonas might have sent Daniel to the bowling alley with hopes that he would get drunk and blab about the Order (or he already knew that Daniel would get drunk). Plus, Tachyon has already seen Daniel at a bowling alley, so we have some reason to believe that she might have filmed Daniel's drunken rant (not a good reason, but some reason ). Or, having known that Bree and Daniel enjoy bowling, the Order could have set up cameras in local bowling alleys, and they have footage of Daniel's drunken rant. But I think my first thought is most likely.