Groundhog Day and Judaism -- follow-up and answers

Saturday, January 26, 2008, 1:09 PM
Thoughts by John

A few days back I posted a blog entry about a Google search query that came into one of my websites, PunxsyPage.com. The query was seeking information about 'Groundhog Day and Judaism'.

So, I did some research and I can now officially say I have an explanation for what Groundhog Day and Judaism could possibly ever have in common.

The answer is that some pop culture academics, professors who are trying waaaaay too hard to be hip, impute a degree of religious significance into the film Groundhog Day.

Advertisements

In the film, Bill Murray's character experiences the same day, Groundhog Day, over and over again until he makes an effort to right the ship of his life and be a better man. He also gets the girl.

With that in mind, some academics use the movie as reference material for explaining religions. Not a wholly stupid concept. Some religions take on the movie's themes very well. It isn't a giant leap from dharma and karma to Groundhog Day. So, naturally, this academic trend extends itself until you are discussing all religions through the filter of the movie Groundhog Day.
I don't what it is about Bill Murray that inspires this outpouring of ongoing mysterious interest in his films. There are still people running the movie Lost in Translation through sound filters trying to figure out what he said to Scarlett Johansson (my money has always been on, 'Really? You didn't hang out with ... and you know... with me out of pity?').

So, anyhoo... Bill Murray inspires mystery. The kind of mystery that people build academic courses around.

Don't think it's legit?

Check this article out.

Quote:

Some theologians see much less Buddhism in the story than Judaism.
Dr. Niles Goldstein, rabbi of the New Shul congregation in Greenwich
Village and author of 'Lost Souls: Finding Hope in the Heart of Darkness'
(Bell Tower, 2002), said he finds Jewish resonance in the fact that
Mr. Murray's character is rewarded by being returned to earth to perform
more mitzvahs — good deeds — rather than gaining a place
in heaven, which is the Christian reward, or achieving nirvana, the
Buddhist reward. He has not used the movie as an allegory for his congregation,
he said, but he might now. 'The movie tells us, as Judaism does, that
the work doesn't end until the world has been perfected,' Rabbi Goldstein
said.

I admit, I'm a pragmatic realist. It isn't in my nature to impute these sorts of bold initiatives into any film starring Bill Murray (although the end of The Life Aquatic, as with most Wes Anderson films, begs for it). But, it makes sense. Communication is a touchstone. Marketplace of ideas. Sell, sell, sell.

Anyhoo... TADA!

I have a quick explanation for what at first felt like an overwhelmingly odd question.

Mail article to a friend

Tools

Check Google PageRank

Recent articles

Welcome!

Wonder where to start with your web design business?

This blog follows along with my efforts to build and grow a website design business, Pro Content and Design.

The goal of this blog is to fill in blanks that may be empty as you get your business rolling.

This blog, particularly the source code section, is not intended for beginners. If you are not comfortable with databases, Ajax, DOM objects and other advanced methods, I strongly suggest you go take a look over at W3 Schools before even reading -- let alone tinkering with -- any of the code here.

I hope this blog has some value to web designers as they attempt to get their businesses going.

Good luck, and happy reading.

Thank you,
John Crawford
Pro Content and Design