I spotted this hockey mask hanging in the window of an old barn on my way home from goose hunting a week or so ago in Chicago’s western suburbs.
I instantly thought, “Jason,” then had my friend slam on the brakes, making the guy behind us wait while I jumped out to take a picture.
Now the confession of a grown man. I have never seen any of the “Friday the 13th” movies. I think there is a dozen of them, beginning back when I was in college. So I’ve had plenty of time to watch at least one.
Yet, I instantly thought, “Jason.” That name, that one word name for the fictional character Jason Voorhees, carries so much cultural weight any more that even somebody like me who has seen zero, zilch, of the franchise makes a connection from the image of a hockey mask hanging in a barn.
Hmm.
And I still don’t want to see a slasher movie. Never have seen, never intend to see a slasher movie. They just don’t do it for me. But then I also don’t look at the stupid cat or dog videos on Facebook either.
I find it interesting that somebody like me, who has not seen a slasher movie or real horror movie (they just don’t interest me), instantly made the connection. Correction I have seen one horror movie, went with two of our sons to see one of those demonic doll movies, “Annebelle,” a couple years ago.
Demonic dolls also sneak into our culture and stick.
More importantly, weighted images sneak into our culture. “Bambi” comes to mind. That movie has done more damage to the management of natural resources than any single thing in American culture.
But I digress. “Bambi” is for another “Bowman’s Bits.”
