HERE COMES THE SUNKEN PLACE: AN EXPLORATION OF THE FILM’S HISTORICAL ROOTS, AND THE ORIGINS OF VIOLENCE

The Nereids see with awe beneath the waves
Cities and homes and groves, and in the woods
The dolphins live and high among the branches
Dash to and fro and shake the oaks in play.
Wolves swim among the sheep, and on the waters
Tigers are borne along and tawny lions.
No more his lightning stroke avails the boar
Nor his swift legs the stag–both borne away.
The wandering birds long seek a resting place
And drop with weary wings into the sea.
The waters’ boundless licence overwhelmed
The hills, and strange waves lashed the mountain peaks.
The world was drowned; those few the deluge spared
For dearth of food in lingering famine died.

~Ovid, from Metamorphoses (8 CE)


“When the last tree is cut, the last fish is caught, and the last river is polluted; when to breathe the air is sickening, you will realize, too late, that wealth is not in bank accounts and that you can’t eat money.”

~Alanis Obomsawin


TABLE OF CONTENTS


MAIN PAGESITE MAPGLOSSARY


OTHER MAIN PAGES FOR SHINING ANALYSIS

THE MIRRORFORMTHE BEATLESTHE RUM AND THE RED
BACKGROUND ARTOVERLOOK PHOTOGRAPHSGOLDEN SPIRALS
PHI GRIDSPATTERNSVIOLENCE AND INDIGENAABSURDITIES
THE STORY ROOMANIMAL SYMBOLSTHE ANNOTATED SHINING

ABOUT EYE SCREAM