Rewatched Fury Road tonight and something that struck me was how decorated everything is. The Wives, obviously, are decorated both for Joe in their flimsy gauze, and also for themselves with tattoos and dyed hair. But everything else, too. The War Boys decorate their cars in skulls and war trophies. Immortan Joe’s mask has teeth and his sons and the People Eater are wearing jewelry. Furiosa’s prosthetic has what looks like a leather ribbing or slashing on the shoulder piece. The Vuvalini give Furiosa and the Wives blankets and headbands that are embroidered and woven with patterns. Even the War Rig has Immortan Joe’s crest embossed on the ceiling in a deliberately shiny metal.
Nothing here is purely utilitarian. Even when the majority of time is dedicated to fighting over enough water to survive, people still create art.
