So you thought The Big Lebowski was the only movie that successfully and slyly snuck Taoism onto the silver screen, didja? Well, you know, some smarter fellers than ourselves have pondered this very subject. One special lady we just came across named Ren Adams not only smartly points out some interesting examples (Fight Club!), but also is a whiz at Chinese brush painting, Zen philosophy and writes pretty durn good too.
She’s raring to go write part 2, examining some other films as well and is asking for insights and suggestions. Let’s see if the Dude community can lend her a hand. Check out Part 1: Taoist Movies and then post in our comments section (below) to suggest ideas for the sequel article.
Of course, one of the main precepts of Dudeism is that it has existed throughout human civilization, and traces its earliest codified roots to Taoism, so it stands to reason that there will be a Dudeist/Taoist thread running through the assembled corpus of human creative thought.
If you’re innarested, why not expand on Ms. Adams’ angle and see if you can come up with any other great Taoist works (books, poetry, theater, painting, what have you) that might not actually seem to be expressly of the Tao and put them in the comments section below.
Of course, the great Tao is always hidden:
The Tao is hidden, and has no name;
but it is the Tao which is skillful at imparting
(to all things what they need)
and making them complete.
— Tao Te Ching, Chapter 41, Legge translation
And evokes laughter when revealed:
If it were not laughed at, it would not be the Way.
— Chapter 41, Beck translation
It’s no wonder that most of the movies that Ren points out happen to be comedies, parts anyway.
Of course, the Stranger doesn’t call this “the whole durn human melodrama” or “the whole durn human soap opera” or the “whole durn human action adventure.” Make no mistake. Life is of the Tao, and the Tao is a hoot and a holler (trans: yin and yang).
Thank you for mentioning my article in your Taoist movie post! I’m glad you did because I had no idea TheDudesPaper existed. What an awesome blog you have here!
Here are a few to ponder and enjoy……
OFFICE SPACE
“The thing is, Bob, it’s not that I am lazy, its that I just don’t care”
DAZED AND CONFUSED
“Just Keep Livin”
SURFS UP
“Just like you’re riding the wave, you let the wave do the work. You don’t fight the wave…”
AMERICAN BEAUTY
“….there’s so much beauty in the world. Sometimes I feel like I’m seeing it all at once, and it’s too much. My heart fills up like a balloon that’s about to burst. And then I remember to relax, and stop trying to hold on to it. And then it flows through me like rain. And I can’t feel anything but gratitude for every single moment of my stupid little life. You have no idea what I’m talking about, I’m sure. But don’t worry, you will someday.”
YOU ME AND DUPREE
“…some of you, are just going to float along.–Eating spicy foods, humming black people’s music into your thirties—well into your thirties….languishing. This group of pods is going to do a lot of languishing and you’re going to take some heat for it…sadly, you will. Europe is a little easier, it seemed to understand a little better, so did South America. I went to Argentina one time and everyone just seemed to be sitting around and it was beautiful. But that’s ok! Stay loose, stay liquid, laugh a lot–but be ready…”
Oogway is one far out, Dudely turtle man. Favorite character from the movie.
Don’t forget the movie “The Tao of Steve”
really good book: The Tao of Health, Sex and Longevity by Daniel Reed….a good read..check it out..
Jim Jarmusch- ghost dog
Fritz the Cat
Clerks
I would suggest Goodburger.
Big Trouble in Little China
Interstate 60
Clerks 2
Dogma
:)