Great analysis! I really like the way you talk about liminal spaces and the way the film uses that aspect to make the audience experience that uneasy and eerie feeling
I'm so happy you got something out of this video! Considering how many people have dissected and analysed this movie, I was slightly worried I wouldn't be able to add much to the discussion. Glad I was wrong!
An honest word of encouragement for the new year: You’re very good at analyzing film and at clearly articulating your thoughts in an engaging style. Among many similar channels (film analysis) yours does stand out and I feel like I’ve seen more than I can count! May you see growth both in yourself and your work in the year to come. God bless.
Great analysis vid. This movie’s grim examination of male vanity and domestic violence remains as relevant as ever to this day… which is very upsetting. Great job! 👌👍
I don't know if you've noticed it, but the "heartbeat" you hear in some places is actually the sound of Danny's Big Wheel we hear when he's riding over the rugs in the Coloradso Lounge.
Some very, very nice observations in your essay. Eternal recurrence is a major theme of both the original story and Kubrick’s film. (I think Diane Johnson deserves a LOT of the credit for this.) But, yes, cycles of psychological trauma, both macro and micro, operate throughout the film. I saw the film opening day first show. You’ve probably heard of the missing scenes that were removed. They play right into your analysis since the gist of the sequence was Danny and Wendy both survived and Wendy reassures Ulman that Danny “…is fine. He doesn’t remember a thing.” Remember, Danny is only able to escape Jack because he has throughly explored the maze(the mind) and remembers how to get out. The original ending implied Danny had forgotten it all and was doomed to repeat the family dysfunction. Anyway, very nice work. CL Hollywood, CA
There are no ghosts in the film. Or, at least there is enough ambiguity to make the case. Notice Kubrick's use of mirrors and reflective surfaces. Notice how nearly all the ghosts appear around mirrors and shiny surfaces. The ghosts are also framed in doorways like the camera is looking into a mirror. What is it we see when we look in mirrors? One important seeming exception is when Danny sees the twins. But were they twins? I thought Ullman said about 8 and 10? But Danny definitely sees twins. Also, was it Delbert or Charles Grady? Were there two Gradys? Two sets of daughters? Why the pairs? The twins? Like mirrors? Finally, why did Kubrick change the ghost in costume from a dog to a bear? Why are there so many associations in the film with Danny and a teddy bear? What was that costumed ghost doing to that man? Why did Wendy see that (of course framed in a doorway like looking into a mirror)? What could it represent for that character and her family?
I like your take on liminal spaces. I have not heard of this before ,and it is a great observation of why some of this movie is so uncomfortable. Also I have read about a theory of the photo at the end where Jack has his pose in a position similar to that of Baphomet ,seen in drawings as a representation of the devil . If Jack has "always been here" this would make him a representation of the devil itself,overseeing the horrible events at the hotel, looking like the host or leader of an evil, historic party. Chilling.
I think Danny is responsible for everything that happened. Revenge on his dad Jack for the physical abuse. The twins were probably the only good spirits trying to distract Danny. Hollering discovered his secret of telepathic ability and had to be eliminated. So when he drove Jack crazy he sent a message to Hollering that he was in danger, only to be done in by an ax.
There is an article on the front cover about child abuse. A little odd that he is reading Playgirl in a busy hotel foyer and its a magazine that he picks up not his, why would the hotel have that magazine out?
@@greenfilmsofficial fun fact: songwriters Harry M. Woods, Jimmy Campbell and Reg Connelly had also written “Try a Little Tenderness”, an instrumental version of which was used in the opening credits of Dr Strangelove
The maze represents the mind, so does the hotel. Notice the maze doesn't exist in reality, the Hotel is shown at the start of the film and the maze, which should be out front on the same plane as the entrance and snowcat garage is simply not there. There are no ghosts in the film, Danny was sexually and physically abused over a long period of time , most of what we see relates to Danny's coping strategy, Wendy struggling with the knowledge that she needs to leave to keep Danny safe and Jack's struggle with the guilt and his unhappiness and failure . Also it references the holocaust, genocide of Native Americans. America is ever present, Wendy's clothes in the Maze, Danny's Apollo Jumper, The Owners suit tie combo n the interview which isn't an interview, flags and even the fed. Mirrors, doors and faces are also very big and are usually present in any major scene.
Watch Torn Curtain by Alfred Hitchcock. I'm not going to get into the Room 237 theories. However, I will say Kubrick used a code to hide his real intent. Torn Curtain is about the Cold War and propaganda. The Shining is about propaganda. And guess what, in Torn Curtain, there's a room 237. By Hitchcock standards, Torn Curtain was a flop. Why? Propaganda. Heck, Hitch had super duper trouble when trying to get it produced. No studio wanted to get involved. But, Hitchcock had Julie Andrews in his corner and she was able to get a deal. But why did no one want to produce the film? Propaganda. What was Manifest Destiny? Propaganda. Seeing the big picture. Kubrick did. The moon, is a giant liminal space.
Since you mention Hitchcock, he has a movie called Spellbound set in a mental hospital (a nice one) and at one point the leading lady takes a book from a shelf called "The Labyrinth of the Mind", I believe. And in original The Wolf Man film (not a Hitchcock movie) the characters talk about a man believing he can turn into a wolf and somebody says something about "a man getting lost in the labyrinths of his mind". Consider that Jack is quoting the Big Bad Wolf near the end. So, I don't think the Maze represents Jack's mind, so much, as The Mind as a concept. Jack's mind is connecting with the mind of the hotel - that's how I personally see the overhead shot of the model maze scene.
If you love The Shining as much as I do, you should see Rob Ager’s analysis
Will definitely check it out!
Great analysis! I really like the way you talk about liminal spaces and the way the film uses that aspect to make the audience experience that uneasy and eerie feeling
Thanks a ton!
"Liminal" is a word that needs to be retired in 2024.
Totally think that maze = Jack's twisted mind is a great metaphor. There's so much to unpack about this movie on so many levels. Incomparable.
This is fantastic! Loads of points I've never heard before, thanks so much for posting this
I'm so happy you got something out of this video! Considering how many people have dissected and analysed this movie, I was slightly worried I wouldn't be able to add much to the discussion. Glad I was wrong!
An honest word of encouragement for the new year: You’re very good at analyzing film and at clearly articulating your thoughts in an engaging style. Among many similar channels (film analysis) yours does stand out and I feel like I’ve seen more than I can count! May you see growth both in yourself and your work in the year to come. God bless.
Aw, thank you so much! That means a lot to me!
Great analysis vid.
This movie’s grim examination of male vanity and domestic violence remains as relevant as ever to this day… which is very upsetting. Great job! 👌👍
Thanks a lot, dude!
male vanity? what are you even talking about?
I don't know if you've noticed it, but the "heartbeat" you hear in some places is actually the sound of Danny's Big Wheel we hear when he's riding over the rugs in the Coloradso Lounge.
Some very, very nice observations in your essay. Eternal recurrence is a major theme of both the original story and Kubrick’s film. (I think Diane Johnson deserves a LOT of the credit for this.) But, yes, cycles of psychological trauma, both macro and micro, operate throughout the film.
I saw the film opening day first show. You’ve probably heard of the missing scenes that were removed. They play right into your analysis since the gist of the sequence was Danny and Wendy both survived and Wendy reassures Ulman that Danny “…is fine. He doesn’t remember a thing.” Remember, Danny is only able to escape Jack because he has throughly explored the maze(the mind) and remembers how to get out. The original ending implied Danny had forgotten it all and was doomed to repeat the family dysfunction.
Anyway, very nice work.
CL
Hollywood, CA
I can watch this film and get more out of it each time. I've probably watched it over 100 times
Those mountains are called the shining mountains.
The best Shining analysis I’ve heard! Great work!!
Aw, thank you so much!
I think the living room where Wendy and Danny eat lunch is the most horrifying space in the movie.
There are no ghosts in the film. Or, at least there is enough ambiguity to make the case. Notice Kubrick's use of mirrors and reflective surfaces. Notice how nearly all the ghosts appear around mirrors and shiny surfaces. The ghosts are also framed in doorways like the camera is looking into a mirror. What is it we see when we look in mirrors? One important seeming exception is when Danny sees the twins. But were they twins? I thought Ullman said about 8 and 10? But Danny definitely sees twins. Also, was it Delbert or Charles Grady? Were there two Gradys? Two sets of daughters? Why the pairs? The twins? Like mirrors? Finally, why did Kubrick change the ghost in costume from a dog to a bear? Why are there so many associations in the film with Danny and a teddy bear? What was that costumed ghost doing to that man? Why did Wendy see that (of course framed in a doorway like looking into a mirror)? What could it represent for that character and her family?
I like your take on liminal spaces. I have not heard of this before ,and it is a great observation of why some of this movie is so uncomfortable.
Also I have read about a theory of the photo at the end where Jack has his pose in a position similar to that of Baphomet ,seen in drawings as a representation of the devil . If Jack has "always been here" this would make him a representation of the devil itself,overseeing the horrible events at the hotel, looking like the host or leader of an evil, historic party. Chilling.
Great analysis. My favorite movie. I want to watch it again, thanks for this!
Thank YOU!
I think Danny is responsible for everything that happened. Revenge on his dad Jack for the physical abuse. The twins were probably the only good spirits trying to distract Danny. Hollering discovered his secret of telepathic ability and had to be eliminated. So when he drove Jack crazy he sent a message to Hollering that he was in danger, only to be done in by an ax.
Wow! Another theory, another idea, another point of view. I have seen so many by now, and am fascinated of each one! Great movie, indeed
So true! Great analysis
Thanks!
One of your best. Great job!
Great analysis!
Thanks!
Really enjoyed 🎉 Thank you/ typing friends
No problem! Glad you enjoyed!
What do you feel about Jack reading the Playgirl in the hotel lobby?
I think it's an early sign that he's a pretty messed up dude right from the get-go to say the least. I wish I had mentioned it in the video.
@@greenfilmsofficial
I think it may lead to Jack's possible physical abuse of Danny along with the placement of the teddy bears.
There is an article on the front cover about child abuse. A little odd that he is reading Playgirl in a busy hotel foyer and its a magazine that he picks up not his, why would the hotel have that magazine out?
Excellent
Glad you liked the vid!
Very interesting thank you
Thank YOU!
“Midnight, the Stars and You” isn’t Classical music lol
Yeahhhhhh, I know. I meant to just say classic, but accidentally said classical instead lmao.
@@greenfilmsofficial fun fact: songwriters Harry M. Woods, Jimmy Campbell and Reg Connelly had also written “Try a Little Tenderness”, an instrumental version of which was used in the opening credits of Dr Strangelove
@@Tolstoy111 Oh, cool! Thanks for sharing that!
are you brendan fraser
The maze represents the mind, so does the hotel. Notice the maze doesn't exist in reality, the Hotel is shown at the start of the film and the maze, which should be out front on the same plane as the entrance and snowcat garage is simply not there. There are no ghosts in the film, Danny was sexually and physically abused over a long period of time , most of what we see relates to Danny's coping strategy, Wendy struggling with the knowledge that she needs to leave to keep Danny safe and Jack's struggle with the guilt and his unhappiness and failure . Also it references the holocaust, genocide of Native Americans. America is ever present, Wendy's clothes in the Maze, Danny's Apollo Jumper, The Owners suit tie combo n the interview which isn't an interview, flags and even the fed. Mirrors, doors and faces are also very big and are usually present in any major scene.
great video
Thanks!
You psychologists are making this film a drag.
Watch Torn Curtain by Alfred Hitchcock. I'm not going to get into the Room 237 theories. However, I will say Kubrick used a code to hide his real intent. Torn Curtain is about the Cold War and propaganda. The Shining is about propaganda. And guess what, in Torn Curtain, there's a room 237. By Hitchcock standards, Torn Curtain was a flop. Why? Propaganda. Heck, Hitch had super duper trouble when trying to get it produced. No studio wanted to get involved. But, Hitchcock had Julie Andrews in his corner and she was able to get a deal. But why did no one want to produce the film? Propaganda. What was Manifest Destiny? Propaganda. Seeing the big picture. Kubrick did. The moon, is a giant liminal space.
Since you mention Hitchcock, he has a movie called Spellbound set in a mental hospital (a nice one) and at one point the leading lady takes a book from a shelf called "The Labyrinth of the Mind", I believe. And in original The Wolf Man film (not a Hitchcock movie) the characters talk about a man believing he can turn into a wolf and somebody says something about "a man getting lost in the labyrinths of his mind". Consider that Jack is quoting the Big Bad Wolf near the end. So, I don't think the Maze represents Jack's mind, so much, as The Mind as a concept. Jack's mind is connecting with the mind of the hotel - that's how I personally see the overhead shot of the model maze scene.
First of all Stephen king had alot to do with it.kubrinck actually took alot of his ideas more than you'd think.
Well, that's obvious since it IS based on a Stephen King novel 🤦🏽♀