Comments | tirra_lyrra: Pop culture iconography

tirra_lyrra

Pop culture iconography

Jul 19, 2009 09:27

The iconic tan trench: no noir detective is complete without one. The other day I was seized by this fic bunny about Jimmy/Castiel's coat (I’m nerdishly fascinated by the pop culture iconography of his clothes . . . don't judge); a bunny that totally died and left me with 500 crappy words and burning need to know: where did this visual come from ( Read more... )

supernatural

Comments 36

rogueslayer452 July 20 2009, 05:13:29 UTC

I'm finding myself having this thing for trench coats, all thanks to Castiel by making it a signature for his character. Of course Kripke got the idea based on Constantine, but either way I love Castiel, and he wears the trench coat, so I love it on him. ;)

I'm also finding it kind of awesome that mostly a lot of characters from various different shows having the similar trench coat theme, sometimes with the same trench coat! It definitely is iconic. I'm now seeing them everywhere! XD

tirra_lyrra July 20 2009, 11:27:51 UTC

I love the costume, too. It's so much of the character's identity, now, that I can't imagine him in anything else.

Though I would actually love to see someone give him a different tie, or happy face socks, or to have the character wind up through a series of strange events wearing a polo shirt, or something. Something that alters the costume in a way that reveals something about the character. And then to have the suit and trench restored, of course. :)

architeuthis July 20 2009, 07:14:04 UTC

I haven't seen the film in ages, but I seem to recall there's some trenchcoat action in The Prophecy -- at the very least Gabriel, Lucifer, Eric Stoltz's possibly unnamed (or, you know, I've just forgotten) character, and the creepy Uriel of that film all wear long coats; I don't know if they were all cut like trench coats. Screenshots are surprisingly difficult to find. I think this is why I've always been weirdly satisfied by Castiel's getup.

tirra_lyrra July 20 2009, 11:33:18 UTC

Castiel's getup seems to be satisfying for many. :)

You know, I've never seen that film. How is it?

architeuthis July 20 2009, 13:46:19 UTC

It's a fun B movie, with a good cast (the standouts being Christopher Walken as the freaky, vulturelike Gabriel and Viggo Mortensen as a creepily hilarious Lucifer), some good horror moments, and some interesting theological points and worldbuilding; I'm sure its implacable, scary angels were an influence on Supernatural season four. It made a pretty deep impression on me. However, be advised that it is still, at the end of the day, a B movie. Also, Elias Koteas has no lips. It's distracting.

tirra_lyrra July 20 2009, 21:30:32 UTC

Sounds like it's worth checking out, anyway. Mr. tirra_lyrra *loves* B movies, so between that and the rest, seems like there's something for everyone. Thanks!

lola_thursday July 27 2009, 23:07:23 UTC

Oh, this post makes me so happy! Found my way here via deancastiel, and am so glad I did. I love Cas's iconic trench coat, with all its noirish associations. And I love the readings of cas as noir antihero that his trench coat triggers.

Maybe it's more the troubled-noirish thing than the specifics? People who are dogged by doubt, who have to navigate the grey areas when it seems like it should all be pretty straightforward?

this, this is so true, and it is exactly how i see/what i love about cas.

Um, mind if I friend you? Like minds and all...

tirra_lyrra July 28 2009, 00:48:45 UTC

Heh--I'm glad! It was a lot of fun to make.

Sure, friend away. Thanks for asking. :) I can't promise much like this, but Supernatural has eated my brainz, so who knows what will happen. Whatever does, I blame Kripke. ;)

andreth47 August 6 2009, 18:46:13 UTC

Great picspam!! Wow, Constantine, Bogart, and Cas all in the same post. (you should totally read the Constantine g.n., it's great stuff and MUCH better than the movie)

Bob Mitchum in various film noirs

and

MARV from Sin City

Just for chucks and giggles, check out the tvtropes entry for Badass Longcoats. The Browncoats from Firefly, and as you said above, the black leather longcoat, are really more Western-style dusters than trenches...but still COOL! The long coat seems to signify a somewhat ambivalent relationship with the law, no matter where it occurs. :D

tirra_lyrra August 11 2009, 11:12:22 UTC

Thanks! I haven't heard of Bob Mitchum before--what film is that from? Also: Yes! MARV! How could I forget? Great addition. :)

Thanks for the link. I think? I started reading, and got pulled in for, like, half an hour. :) It reminds me that I totally left off Rorschach, though. And I do love Firefly. The presence of Nathan Fillon makes everything cooler.