Among the objects that surround us, few possess such powerful evocative power as the cigar. A symbol of luxury and success for some, an archetype of arrogance and power for others, this "little roll made of tobacco leaves" is associated with numerous representations that feed the common idea we have of this object. Between stereotypes, caricatures and symbolism, the cigar takes on multiple meanings in popular culture. Yet this collective imagination is often far removed from the way cigar enthusiasts actually perceive it.
Film representations of cigars
According to Jung, the collective unconscious "consists of pre-existing forms, the archetypes, which give meaning to psychic content". Represented in symbolic form, these archetypes contain a universal theme that structures our psyche. They enable us to associate our emotions with immediately perceptible symbols to guide our choices and actions. Transposed into an archetype, the cigar thus enables us to express the emotions inspired by the smoker.
The cigar: a symbol of wealth and power
As a representation of the mind through images, cinema uses the archetypes of the collective unconscious to link the real and the imaginary. From the very beginnings of silent cinema, cigars have enhanced the legibility of characters by accentuating the codification of roles to the point of caricature. This attribute can be found, for example, in many of the films of Charlie Chaplin as "The Kid (1921), "The Gold Rush (1925) and Modern times (1936). It reinforces the confrontation between the humble, full of virtue, and the oppressors, devoid of any moral sense, by accentuating the despicable nature of the latter. Many later filmmakers drew inspiration from Chaplin's work, and these stereotypes became part of popular culture.
In this way, modern cinema maintains the image of the cigar as a symbol of wealth and power. In Scarface (1983), for example, the size of the Cuban puros smoked by Tony Montana increases with his rise to fame. In Django Unchained (2013), the infamous Calvin Candie, played by Leonardo DiCaprio, tastes his module with a cigar smoker to reinforce the image of an all-powerful man who doesn't like to get his hands dirty.
The cigar: a symbol of virility
After the Second World War, historical films developed a new image of the cigar. In turn, it became a symbol of virility and an attribute of command. In Patton (1970), General George Patton is frequently depicted as a H. Upmann No.2 to the mouth. In the film Predator (1987), the character of Major Dutch Schaeffer, played by Arnold Schwarzenneger, smokes a cigar from the very first scene of the film. This attribute lends the character a certain charisma and helps reinforce his "alpha male" image. In this setting, the cigar becomes a tool for asserting virility and acquires a martial significance. The man who smokes it is a courageous warrior who will stop at nothing to win the battle.
The cigar: a symbol of spirit
In other films, cigars are also used to suggest reflection. In the image of Freud smoking his cigar to stimulate intellectual activity and promote concentration, it becomes a tool for reinforcing the image of a reasoned or meditative being. In the famous Columbo (1968-2003), Lieutenant Columbo smokes a cigar while leading an investigation. The wisps of smoke reinforce the idea of a character in deep thought.
In many films, the cigar symbolizes not one but several character traits at the same time. In the series " The A-Team (1983-1987), cigars are used to reinforce Hannibal Smith's character traits of authority, virility, insubordination, impertinence and reflection. When asked by his sidekick Futé why he smokes a cigar, Smith replies: "A cigar helps me think better".
Cigar representations in the music industry
Our collective idea of the cigar has also been reinforced by its representation in the world of music. Many singers use this attribute in their music videos to set the scene for their lyrics. Jay-Z can be seen smoking a cigar in clips such as " Show me what you got ". Successively depicted at the wheel of his Ferrari, his yacht or around a Monegasque casino table, the singer uses cigars to reinforce the image of a rich, seductive man to whom everything succeeds.
Since the 1990s, and the sultry appearance of Madonna smoking a Hermosos 4 Añejados de Hoyo de Monterrey on the set of the American TV show The Late ShowMany female performers have also taken up the cigar to convey different messages. In the clip " Can't Remember to Forget You "For example, Shakira and Rihanna smoke cigars to reinforce the erotic nature of their lyrics. In " The Man "Taylor Swift takes on the role of an arrogant businessman, using cigars to represent male domination in a patriarchal society.
Representations of cigars in popular culture: myth or reality?
The way cigars are portrayed in films, music videos and the media has its origins in the clash of values that pitted the industrial bourgeoisie against the working classes throughout the 19th century. Historically, cigars were initially the preserve of wealthy men before becoming a widely commercialized product. This was due to its provenance and artisanal production methods, which made it a rare and expensive commodity. Over time, some cigar enthusiasts came to see it as a means of reinforcing the bourgeois elite's sense of exclusivity. They began to codify its use as an accessory of social status.
For their part, socialist gazettes began to use the image of the cigar to denounce the arrogance and greed of businessmen and bankers, seen as figures of capital's domination and exploitation of the working class. These caricatures are still used today, notably in works by Plantu and in satirical newspapers such as Charlie Hebdo. And yet, current cigar sales bear witness to consumption that is indifferent to social class. Rising living standards, coupled with the opening up of the market to a wide range of terroirs, have made cigars accessible to the widest possible audience. While certain brands such as Cohiba, Trinidad or even Davidoff remain luxury products due to their high prices, many premium cigars are marketed at affordable prices. What's more, today's cigar aficionados are far more attracted by the aromatic qualities and hedonistic dimension of cigars than by any quest for social recognition. Above all, cigars are objects of pleasure, seduced by their intrinsic characteristics and not by what they represent.
