The amount of Christian iconography and references in Thor: Ragnarok kinda… confuse me. You have halos in painted depictions of Odin and his family. You have the Ark. Why. In previous films, you got Captain America asserting there’s only one god and Thor and his people demoted to demi-gods and/or aliens, who aren’t “immortal.” Like… ??? ??? ???? ????? ? ? ? ?
is not that complicated. Is symbology, the halos are simply depicting everyone as saints, as good people, and yes is mostly used in Christian religion and kinda had me a bit confused but I don’t think it had anything to do with gods, just burrowing references, such as the murals that look Church-ish and the ark, they don’t call it an ark tho, do they? is just on the script. It’s simply a huge spaceship used to save an entire population.
That’s an explanation that on the surface, “makes sense,” but that’s not what I’m asking or why I’m asking it. I’m well aware of what Christian iconography means as I was raised Roman Catholic. I’m more-so asking why it’s preferenced, when there is a wealth of symbolism behind Thor as a god, as well as the mythos and religion(s) and their practices that inform Marvel’s Thor.
Good question, I too wonder why use Christian symbols when there’s plenty to borrow from Norse mythos
Because Christian symbolism is the easiest way to connect with Thor’s intended audience of ppl raised on Western films – which the movie-makers care about way more than fidelity to Norse lore. That’s all.
In surviving written and archaeological sources, the iconography of Thor has ALWAYS been intertwined with Christian symbolism. “Norse mythos” and early Christianity in Scandinavia are not exclusive of each other.
People who do medieval Scandinavian studies nowadays are constantly having to make this point.
this whole conversation is missing some really important information:
Christianity did not invent halos and halos are not exclusively Christian.
the concept of divine beings emanating light from their bodies is, like, really popular across time, geography, culture, and religion. and when attempting to represent that in 2d painted art, there are only so many solutions to the problem. circular halos around the head are currently the going theme for Christians, but it’s just not correct to equate them exclusively to Christianity–other cultures use the imagery and Christianity uses other imagery to represent the same concept.
but as for why Taika Waititi chose that particular iconography? i bet he’s cognizant of what i’m talking about above, AND ALSO deliberately engaging current western association with Christian colonialism/imperialism.
so, like. it’s both less and more problematic than OP seems to suggest.
I’m also not sure what the problem is with “demoting” the Asgardians to very long-lived aliens. Is that not what they were in the comics? I don’t think Cap’s “there’s only one God” remark should be read as Marvel Studios somehow plumping for Christianity; it’s just a reminder that Steve Rogers was raised Catholic (Irish immigrant family, remember) and probably still believes in God, even if not all that devoutly (he’s no Matt Murdock). What would be incredibly weird is if Marvel Studios decided to stand behind the truth of Norse pagan religion. Instead they’re going with the fairly common fantasy/sci-fi trope that powerful, technologically advanced aliens were interpreted by a less advanced human society as gods.
Loki is the Philosopher King 