Topic: Bear Symbolism

Fulton explains Sean Montgomery’s "Subliminal Bears" theory, which claims Kubrick hidden bear imagery throughout "The Shining" to register on a subconscious level. Examples include Danny sitting on a bear pillow with eyes matching the elevator’s floor indicator and the word "BEAR" appearing in the lighting during a pivotal scene. The theory suggests these images function like a "Magic Eye" book, revealing a hidden narrative beneath the visible film.

The shift from polar to solar symbolism is framed as a potential "occult war" where the Church demonized polar symbols like the bear in favor of the solar lion. Clockwise rotation, associated with the number 12 and solar time, is described as expansive and externalizing, leading people away from their center. Conversely, counter-clockwise polar rotation is viewed as a path toward unification and the reconciliation of opposites.