The other thing I've been mulling over, when thinking about Jericho, is the way Stanley's farm seems acts as a symbolic -- and contested -- space within the storyline. ( more vague meanderings below )
The family farm and family farmer are absolutely the backbone of the American mythology. It's natural that that's where the drama is played out because it is a mythological show about America.
We are a nation, not of shopkeepers, but of family farmers in our own heads. Gentlemen landowners created this nation and all of the homestead laws, etc. have led to that home and land-ownership ideal.
It's easy to see the battle for home and hearth when it's played out on home and hearth.
Yes, I agree -- the family farm is already heavily mythologized. I really like the way, in this show, it stands in for the country as a whole -- it's what they're fighting for and what they're fighting on. The symbolism works really, really well for me.
(The only other place that comes close, in symbolic terms, is the square and main street right outside the town hall -- which again, is exactly what you would expect.)
Oh, smart thinkiness. Of course, my immediate response is, "Well, the showrunners are operating on a limited budget and for that reason and for personalization of the narrative they're making these choices." But that doesn't negate the symbolic nature of the use of the Richmond farm, either.
Yes -- I mean, obviously they've found a good site for filming things! But the symbolism really works -- that the farm stands in for the country itself.
You know, I knew his farm was involved in a lot but for some reason I didn't really notice all this until you laid it out ... XD; I tend to miss symbolic anything. I like how you've pointed it out to represent the town/country.
I didn't really notice it until I started to think about this episode and the 1st season finale -- Johnston's body on the kitchen table, in the latter, and Bonnie's on the floor, cradled by Stanley, here. And then I was like... hey, a lot of stuff goes down over at Stanley's farm, doesn't it?
I don't know about the 'symbolism' of the farm, but the reason they choose Bonnie, is symbolic, and explained if you watch the episode with the commentary. ^^
oh i love commentaries, special when the cast are included on them. They chose Bonnie, because they needed someone whose death would affect every single person in Jericho. Apparently when they decided it, they sat Shoshannah down to tell her before anyone else, and she thanked them for giving her the opportunity.
IMO it's a good commentary to check out, even just during that part. Also they mention how Shoshannah said: "I'm a farm girl. I should know how to use a shotgun." And how it was so big, but the writer wanted her to go out protecting someone she loved. Brad Beyer's (Stanley) also says some nice stuff about Shoshannah. (I've only watched it with commentary twice though. Might watch it one more time)
I completely forgot about the prisoners at the very beginning of S1.
I'm sure you're right that it probably isn't something the writers and directors intended, but I agree -- so much is centered on this one spot. It's the place where everything is held in balance: the town's survival, but also the country's. Whereas the sorts of things that happen at Hawkins' are never public events, the way the events at the Richmond farm are: they're secrets, things that need to be covered up, that can't be revealed. It's a different kind of pattern.
Comments 10
The family farm and family farmer are absolutely the backbone of the American mythology. It's natural that that's where the drama is played out because it is a mythological show about America.
We are a nation, not of shopkeepers, but of family farmers in our own heads. Gentlemen landowners created this nation and all of the homestead laws, etc. have led to that home and land-ownership ideal.
It's easy to see the battle for home and hearth when it's played out on home and hearth.
Reply
(The only other place that comes close, in symbolic terms, is the square and main street right outside the town hall -- which again, is exactly what you would expect.)
Reply
Poor Stanley.
Reply
Reply
*Basically a thumbs up post lol*
Reply
Reply
Reply
Reply
They chose Bonnie, because they needed someone whose death would affect every single person in Jericho. Apparently when they decided it, they sat Shoshannah down to tell her before anyone else, and she thanked them for giving her the opportunity.
IMO it's a good commentary to check out, even just during that part. Also they mention how Shoshannah said: "I'm a farm girl. I should know how to use a shotgun." And how it was so big, but the writer wanted her to go out protecting someone she loved. Brad Beyer's (Stanley) also says some nice stuff about Shoshannah.
(I've only watched it with commentary twice though. Might watch it one more time)
Reply
(The comment has been removed)
I'm sure you're right that it probably isn't something the writers and directors intended, but I agree -- so much is centered on this one spot. It's the place where everything is held in balance: the town's survival, but also the country's. Whereas the sorts of things that happen at Hawkins' are never public events, the way the events at the Richmond farm are: they're secrets, things that need to be covered up, that can't be revealed. It's a different kind of pattern.
Reply
Leave a comment