buddhisminsnowpiercer

[buddhisminsnowpiercer]

Welcome to My Final Project!

A Note: On the left, you'll find links to each of the major pages in this project. Clicking the black box to the far left will bring you back to this page. In theory, the best way to view this project would be to read the introduction here, then in order, visit 'Plot', 'Symbology', 'Confucianism', and 'Bodhisattva', and then to come back here to read the conclusion and references!

Introduction

Snowpiercer (2013) is an internationally acclaimed action film directed by South Korean director Bong Joon-ho and based on the French graphic novel Le Transperceneige (1982) by Jacques Lob, Benjamin Legrad, and Jean-Marc Rochette (Scott, 2014). Grossing nearly $100 million worldwide, the film is best known for its graphic and gritty visuals as well as star-studded cast featuring Chris Evans, Song Kang-ho, Octavia Spencer, and Tilda Swinton, among others (Pomerantz, 2014). The film, Bong’s first English language work, has been received exceedingly well with critics on Rotten Tomatoes giving the film an overall 94% positive rating (Rotten Tomatoes, 2020). Snowpiercer, with its numerous grisly and stomach-turning scenes, would perhaps be the last film in which one would look for Buddhist themes. However, underneath the violence and gore, Bong’s film displays clear Buddhist and Confucian influences that elevate the film from being yet another dystopian action film to a philosophical one that criticizes humanity’s obsession with obtaining and maintaining power.

Conclusion

On the surface, Snowpiercer appears to be yet another reimagining of a dystopian future, filled with all the violence and gore that one would expect from such a film. However, below the surface, Bong’s work is much more complex and contains many themes that can be attributed to both Buddhism and Confucianism. These themes, illustrated through both the characters and the visuals, transform the film into a harsh critique of today’s modern, materialistic society and leave viewers with a tangible sense of uneasiness, forcing us to reevaluate our own desires as well as our complicity in a system that is built on injustice.

References

Bong, J. (Director). (2013). Snowpiercer [Motion picture]. The Weinstein Company.

Kweon, D. (2013). Buddhism: A Very Short Introduction. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Kyoto National Museum. (2020). Huike Offering His Arm to Bodhidharma. Retrieved June 09, 2020, from https://www.kyohaku.go.jp/eng/syuzou/meihin/suibokuga/item06.html

O'Brien, B. (2018, July 14). Guide to the Buddhist Hell Realm. Retrieved June 09, 2020, from https://www.learnreligions.com/buddhist-hell-450118

Pomerantz, D. (2014, September 08). What The Economics Of 'Snowpiercer' Say About The Future Of Film. Retrieved June 09, 2020, from https://www.forbes.com/sites/dorothypomerantz/2014/09/08/what-the-economics-of-snowpiercer-say-about-the-future-of-film/

Rotten Tomatoes. (2020). Snowpiercer (2014). Retrieved June 09, 2020, from https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/snowpiercer

Sadakata, A., Nakamura, H., & Sekimori, G. J. (2009). Buddhist cosmology: Philosophy and origins. Tokyo: Kōsei.

Scott, A. (2014, June 26). Stuck in Steerage for the Postapocalypse. Retrieved June 09, 2020, from https://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/27/movies/in-snowpiercer-the-train-trip-to-end-all-train-trips.html?partner=rss

Simpson, E. B. (2020, March 30). Week 1: Introduction to Buddhism and Other Continental Traditions. Lecture.

Strong, J. (2008). The Life Story of the Buddha and Its Ramifications. In The Experience of Buddhism: Sources and Interpretations (pp. 1-48). Belmont, CA: Thomson/Wadsworth.

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