Tuesday, September 22, 2009

Seasons in Bambi

During any animated movie, or any movie for that matter, visual aids play a huge role in the viewer’s experience. The colors really show a parallel to what is happening in a particular scene. In particular, seasons play a huge role in Bambi, showing how different parts of the life cycle typically occur during different time periods.
            Bambi takes place over many years, thus passing through many seasons. Bambi is first born in the spring, which is typically viewed as the season for birth and re-growth. He is growing up in a safe environment with few natural predators or other roadblocks to hinder his growth. Bambi meets his friends in the winter, including Thumper the rabbit and Flower the skunk. Still in his first year, the first reference to the sublime occurs as winter draws near. A thunderstorm begins as Bambi is frolicking with Thumper. Thumper, although very young, knew that is was time to go back to his mom. This fear of the sublime has been engraved upon these animals so that they are aware of the fear even close to birth when they have not been taught to be scared of it yet. The coming of spring usually represents danger, especially out in the wild. However, Bambi’s first winter is rather uneventful. He realizes what snow is for the first time. In this instance, the snow is only on the ground; it is not flurrying down, as it will later in the movie. In this case, the snow is peaceful and playful, thus representing pastoral nature, despite the common belief that snow and winter are always sublime. Despite occasional glimpses of sublime, Bambi’s early childhood is filled with pastoral nature, even with the passing of all four seasons.
            As Bambi matures, tragedy strikes. Man kills Bambi’s mother. While Bambi is still calling for his mother, snow begins to fall heavily, signifying winter. The fact that the tragedy of a child losing a mother occurs in the winter is very fitting. Winter is the time for catastrophe, if there ever is a time. The entry of man, although the viewer never actually sees him, represents a shift to the sublime. Generally, sublime refers to a higher power intervention, often God. However, in this case, the sublime is man having the power over the animals. It is also interesting that man only is mentioned during the winter. This seems like Bambi and the other animals don’t worry about things during the seasons that appear to be peaceful.
            The movie progresses, and as Bambi continues to grow, the seasons keep changing.  Spring arrives, and although they are each disgusted by the thought at first, Flower, Thumper, and Bambi all find love. The newly “twitterpated” animals are finally happy in the springtime when unexpected sublime hits. A fire breaks out, caused by man. Bambi and the others race out of harms way, escaping being harmed by the forest fire. Generally, such a disaster like this would not be expected in springtime, the time of birth. Rather it would be expected in the winter. However, this fire was not caused by nature, but rather by man. This shows that the typical seasonal stereotypes of disasters are only applicable when it comes to natural events that are not influenced by man. When humans become involved, they throw off the entire circle of life to benefit themselves, thus altering the typical views of pastoral and sublime, and mixing elements of each.

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