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DeppInTheHeartOfTexas
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Post subject: Joanne Harris Q&A #8  Posted: Tue Aug 01, 2006 8:23 am |
Joined: Mon Jun 21, 2004 10:43 pm
Posts: 10375
Location: Austin
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One of my favorite topics in our discussion was that of symbolism, in particular your use of color imagery. Can you comment?
Because I always visualize very strongly when I am writing I find that colours get mentioned very often. You will find in Chocolat I tend to associate certain people with certain colours but the colour red has particular importance here (the film picked up on this quite strongly as well). In this story red is the colour of magic (the red sachets that Vianne hangs up); of individualism (Vianne’s red shoes); and of freedom. It’s no coincidence that Roux has red hair and that Armande’s gesture of defiance against old age and widowhood involves the wearing of red petticoats as opposed to black, which is the colour of the church and the priests robes, of widowhood and of general conformity in a place where to wear bright colours is thought of as slightly deviant.
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Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming -
Wow! What a ride!
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DeppInTheHeartOfTexas
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Post subject: Posted: Tue Aug 01, 2006 8:25 am |
Joined: Mon Jun 21, 2004 10:43 pm
Posts: 10375
Location: Austin
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I have to say that in our discussion of the symbolism it never occurred to me that is why Roux had red hair! 
_________________________________________________________
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming -
Wow! What a ride!
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Raven
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Post subject: Posted: Tue Aug 01, 2006 9:14 am |
Joined: Tue Jul 06, 2004 11:47 am
Posts: 1504
Location: This is Bat Country!
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DeppInTheHeartOfTexas wrote: I have to say that in our discussion of the symbolism it never occurred to me that is why Roux had red hair!
Me two DITHOT  The color of the clothes never in my mind connected with the color of hair......
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"In my experience, those who do not like you fall into two categories: the stupid
and the envious."
John Wilmot, the 2nd Earl of Rochester in The Libertine by Stephen Jeffreys
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fansmom
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Post subject: Posted: Tue Aug 01, 2006 12:19 pm |
Joined: Sat Jul 10, 2004 4:50 pm
Posts: 2059
Location: Olney, Maryland
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Could that be because we had an actor who isn't a redhead in our minds as we read about Roux?
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Liz
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Post subject: Posted: Tue Aug 01, 2006 1:57 pm |
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Joined: Thu Jun 24, 2004 2:13 pm
Posts: 12112
Location: The Left Coast
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That could be, Fansmom. However, I did wonder if there was some significance or symbolism behind Roux's red hair. I just didn't think about red being such a primary color in this book.
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You can't judge a book by its cover.
The only thing that matters is the ending. It's the most important part of the story.
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QueenofKings
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Post subject: Posted: Tue Aug 01, 2006 2:16 pm |
Joined: Wed Dec 29, 2004 2:36 pm
Posts: 7732
Location: Edge City On the Road
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And of course Roux means red in French.
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There is more treasure in books than in all the pirates' loot on Treasure Island and at the bottom of the Spanish Main... and best of all, you can enjoy these riches every day of your life.
~~Walt Disney~~
*** my avatar courtesy of the talented mamabear
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Liz
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Post subject: Posted: Tue Aug 01, 2006 8:18 pm |
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Joined: Thu Jun 24, 2004 2:13 pm
Posts: 12112
Location: The Left Coast
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QueenofKings wrote: And of course Roux means red in French.
Such an obvious thing--that went right over my head.  
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You can't judge a book by its cover.
The only thing that matters is the ending. It's the most important part of the story.
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Betty Sue
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Post subject: Posted: Tue Aug 01, 2006 11:25 pm |
Joined: Fri Mar 25, 2005 7:37 pm
Posts: 1424
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Wow! I hadn't considered the symbolism of Roux's hair either (except for thinking of the usual stereotype of a redhead being fiery and temperamental), but now I wonder what was wrong with making him a redhead in the movie, especially when it was important to the author.  And since his name is Roux! (Good point, QueenofKings!) Johnny went for it in WEGG....
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"I never wanted to be remembered for being a star."
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Liz
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Post subject: Posted: Tue Aug 01, 2006 11:41 pm |
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Joined: Thu Jun 24, 2004 2:13 pm
Posts: 12112
Location: The Left Coast
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Betty Sue wrote: Wow! I hadn't considered the symbolism of Roux's hair either (except for thinking of the usual stereotype of a redhead being fiery and temperamental), but now I wonder what was wrong with making him a redhead in the movie, especially when it was important to the author. And since his name is Roux! (Good point, QueenofKings!) Johnny went for it in WEGG....
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You can't judge a book by its cover.
The only thing that matters is the ending. It's the most important part of the story.
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