Much has been talked about in the hidden imagery within The Shining. Symbolising everything from the fake moon landings to hidden illuminati symbolism. Personally I don't object to these kinds of readings even if they are a little far fetched. Reading a film's imagery is a matter of speculation because it is open to interpretation and often the most relevant theory is based simply on an educated guess.
Kubrick's films are loaded with this kind of symbolic meaning - framing devices, colours, brands, film references and symbols can all be found in abundance in Kubrick films. In terms of The Shining I have seen little analysis of the Apache and Navajo imagery used in the film.
Kubrick often doesn't hide the themes in his films as many believe - he often expresses the themes directly within the text. For instance the Apache Navajo imagery is discussed in The Shining quite explicitly by Wendy when she is being given a guided tour of The Overlook hotel:
I have found very little about the Navajo and Apache imagery in relation to The Shining yet it seems key to understanding the themes behind the film.
Navajo designs which I think are relevant to the film are The Twins, The Sun and The Man Trapped In The Maze designs which anyone who knows The Shining will understand as key elements within the film.
The Twins and the Great Mother
The Navajos trace descent through the mother, and their families centers around the grandmother. This is another evidence of their cult of the Great Mother, which is a feature of Dravidian Hinduism. The Navajo rites, chants and dances are based entirely on the characters, incidents and places of their mythology and ritual designs. The dancers wear masks and dresses according to exacting standards, and impersonate the gods and heroes (Kachina) of their mythology.
Foremost among these ancestral heroes of the Navajos are the Twins, the sons of Sun and Earth-Mother. These Twins are also called "Little War-Gods", a name which closely evokes that of the Hindu Ashvin Twins and, more exactly, the two brothers Skanda and Ganesha, respectively the generalissimos of the gods and of the devils in Hindu mythology.
The Twins free the earth from all sorts of monsters, creating order out of the prevalent chaos. The Navajo Twins closely correspond to the ones of the Pueblo Indians and those of the Mayas and even the ones of the Indians of South America.
Indeed, the Navajo Twins are the counterparts of those of the Old World, pairs like Castor and Pollux, Atlas and Gadeiros, as well as the Ashvin Twins of Vedic India. In all cases the function of these Twins was ridding the world of monsters and pests, including diseases and vermin. This is true on both sides of the world. Hence, it is naive to think that such perfect correspondences can be the result of chancy coincidences.
A close comparison of these and other mythological personages discloses the fact that Amerindian religion is very much the same all over the three Americas, particularly insofar as their Cosmogony is implied. However, as is so often the case with the oppressed races, the Indians disguise their true religion under a heavy veil of allegories and symbolisms that have to be deciphered before the underlying unity and purpose become evident.
The Man In The Maze
Life's Choices. "The-man-in-the-maze" is a very popular design that was originally created as an illustration of an emergence story by the Tohono o'odham or Papago Indians of the Central Valley in Arizona. The little man is named "U'ki'ut'l" in their language. It has been adopted by many other people. It is significant of life's cycles and eternal motion and also of the choices we are always confronted with. Correct choices lead us to harmony with all things, no matter how long & hard the road can get.
The Sun
Sun symbols are seen in some shape or fashion in every Native American tribe. This should be a clear indication of how much the sun was revered for its power. Views and beliefs surrounding the sun symbols vary according to region.
Unanimously, the sun was of great importance. Provider of warmth, facilitator of crops, and the great bearer of light - it is no wonder this symbol finds its way on so many Native American artifacts and artwork.
Compare for instance the maze design to the Navajo symbols. There are clearly references to these symbols in the design of the maze construction. I also believe that the design of the maze represents a sun symbol shape - with the diagonal, horizontal and vertical lines with an abstract face at the centre very similar to Navajo designs.
Kubrick's films are loaded with this kind of symbolic meaning - framing devices, colours, brands, film references and symbols can all be found in abundance in Kubrick films. In terms of The Shining I have seen little analysis of the Apache and Navajo imagery used in the film.
Kubrick often doesn't hide the themes in his films as many believe - he often expresses the themes directly within the text. For instance the Apache Navajo imagery is discussed in The Shining quite explicitly by Wendy when she is being given a guided tour of The Overlook hotel:
Wendy: Are all these Indian designs authentic?
Ullman: Yeah I believe, the basics. Mainly on Navajo and, uh, Apache motifs.
Wendy: Oh, well they're really gorgeous. As a matter of fact, this is probably the most gorgeous hotel I've ever seen.
Ullman: Oh, this old place has had an illustrious past. In its hey-day, it was one of the stopping places for the jetset, even before anybody knew what a jetset was. Yet four presidents have stayed here. Lots of movie stars.
Wendy: Royalty?
Ullman: All the best people.
I have found very little about the Navajo and Apache imagery in relation to The Shining yet it seems key to understanding the themes behind the film.
Navajo designs which I think are relevant to the film are The Twins, The Sun and The Man Trapped In The Maze designs which anyone who knows The Shining will understand as key elements within the film.
The Twins and the Great Mother
The Navajos trace descent through the mother, and their families centers around the grandmother. This is another evidence of their cult of the Great Mother, which is a feature of Dravidian Hinduism. The Navajo rites, chants and dances are based entirely on the characters, incidents and places of their mythology and ritual designs. The dancers wear masks and dresses according to exacting standards, and impersonate the gods and heroes (Kachina) of their mythology.
Foremost among these ancestral heroes of the Navajos are the Twins, the sons of Sun and Earth-Mother. These Twins are also called "Little War-Gods", a name which closely evokes that of the Hindu Ashvin Twins and, more exactly, the two brothers Skanda and Ganesha, respectively the generalissimos of the gods and of the devils in Hindu mythology.
The Twins free the earth from all sorts of monsters, creating order out of the prevalent chaos. The Navajo Twins closely correspond to the ones of the Pueblo Indians and those of the Mayas and even the ones of the Indians of South America.
Indeed, the Navajo Twins are the counterparts of those of the Old World, pairs like Castor and Pollux, Atlas and Gadeiros, as well as the Ashvin Twins of Vedic India. In all cases the function of these Twins was ridding the world of monsters and pests, including diseases and vermin. This is true on both sides of the world. Hence, it is naive to think that such perfect correspondences can be the result of chancy coincidences.
A close comparison of these and other mythological personages discloses the fact that Amerindian religion is very much the same all over the three Americas, particularly insofar as their Cosmogony is implied. However, as is so often the case with the oppressed races, the Indians disguise their true religion under a heavy veil of allegories and symbolisms that have to be deciphered before the underlying unity and purpose become evident.
The Man In The Maze
Life's Choices. "The-man-in-the-maze" is a very popular design that was originally created as an illustration of an emergence story by the Tohono o'odham or Papago Indians of the Central Valley in Arizona. The little man is named "U'ki'ut'l" in their language. It has been adopted by many other people. It is significant of life's cycles and eternal motion and also of the choices we are always confronted with. Correct choices lead us to harmony with all things, no matter how long & hard the road can get.
The Sun
Sun symbols are seen in some shape or fashion in every Native American tribe. This should be a clear indication of how much the sun was revered for its power. Views and beliefs surrounding the sun symbols vary according to region.
Unanimously, the sun was of great importance. Provider of warmth, facilitator of crops, and the great bearer of light - it is no wonder this symbol finds its way on so many Native American artifacts and artwork.
Compare for instance the maze design to the Navajo symbols. There are clearly references to these symbols in the design of the maze construction. I also believe that the design of the maze represents a sun symbol shape - with the diagonal, horizontal and vertical lines with an abstract face at the centre very similar to Navajo designs.
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