Megan Howard Cold Fever Nov. 13

Cold Fever was a difficult movie to follow. Using mainly visuals to depict one man’s journey, I quickly understood how it related to the ULLC Wilderness as A Sacred Place. This movie was much like the journeys we had previously discussed in class. Like a hike up the Appalachian Trail or a trek across Scotland this man was undergoing a spiritual wilderness experience but in a less obvious way. Most of the journeys discussed in class involved the direct decision to undertake a physically challenging hike through the woods for many miles with the intent to undergo an emotionally awakening through a spiritual connection with the wilderness. In this man’s case however he decides to go to Iceland not for spiritual or superstitious reasons but for the purpose of properly respecting his parents in the afterlife. Although he originally decided to not go to Iceland but Hawaii Lane’s 4 axioms began to take an active role in his life and after several mystical and supernatural moments he changes his mind. Throughout the movie Lane’s 4 axioms of Sacred Place is not chosen it chooses, Sacred Place is ordinary ritually made extraordinary, Sacred Place can be tread upon without being entered and the impulse of Sacred Place is both centripetal and centrifugal local and universal play a key role in the Japanese’s man spiritual reawakening and the experience of wilderness as a sacred place.
Sacred Place is Not Chosen it Chooses
In the film Cold Fever the main character embarks on a journey to Iceland in order to perform a ritual for his deceased parents. The country Iceland chose the Japanese businessman in several ways. First, he was originally intending to go to Hawaii for a golf retreat but had to give up his tickets to go to Iceland. He then was in his home and the TV flipped on and had a message from his parents asking him to go to Iceland. Also, he continually encountered people praising the country and telling him he would love it. Although he originally chose Hawaii Iceland chose him and thus the sacred place was not chosen by him but chose him.
Sacred place is ordinary ritually made extraordinary
Although Iceland was not a particularly significantly sacred through the Japanese businessman’s actions it became extraordinary such as when he performed the culminating activity of performing a ritual for his parents. Although the river was already special in its location by being unusually far north and treacherous to get to it then became extraordinary through the ritual the man performed and the spiritual moment he experienced there.
Sacred Place can be tread upon without being entered
The Japanese businessman experienced a Sacred Place without entering it when he traveled through the area, which was inhabited with “fairies” while passing through on his dangerous journey. Although he saw the “fairies” and saw the lake he never entered the mystical and spiritual place and experienced the sacred place.
The impulse of Sacred Place is both centripetal and centrifugal local and universal
The presence of Iceland was felt everywhere in the main character’s life. He was not even in Iceland yet felt the sacred place calling him through TV messages, his grandfather and random strangers who praised the country. He did not have to be in the country to feel its sacredness thus the Sacred Place was universal without him physically being there. Once he was there, he still experienced the spirituality of the island and the sacredness continued during his journey. He did not undergo one sacred moment but a sacred journey his venture the Icelandic wilderness.