A few weeks ago, we watched the movie "Andrei Rublev" at the coffee shop on second street. We did not watch all of it, simply because it is a three hour movie.
The movie is about Theophane, a master painter, who needs help painting. He asks Kirill to help him paint, but Kirill promises to help only if Theophane sends a messenger to ask for him. The messenger asks for the wrong person and Theophane gets Andrei and Daniel instead.
The movie is very confusing, and names are hard to remember, but it was still kind of interesting. There is a scene where Kirill gets tied to a pole and watches all of these naked people running around singing, dancing, and making love. Its just a free for all lovemaking ceremony.
Another scene involves Kirill traveling the next day and sees two of the naked people getting arrested because they are pagans and were hiding from the religious law. It was weird, and kind of sad.
Later in the movie, Andrei is confessing to Daniel that he would rather go home and quit because nothing has been painted. They waisted all of this time for nothing, and everybody was bored. The prince they are supposed to be painting for hears about the group leaving, and that some of them are going to go paint for his brother. The prince orders his guards to go and gouge out all of the painters' eyes. He was one upset prince!
The last scene we watched was very confusing to end on. I think everybody was raiding some abandoned or beaten town. They were all on horseback, and some had flags with them too.
My two favorite lines in the movie were both spoken by Theophane right in the beginning of the movie.
"As long as something is beautiful, you can grasp its essence."
"He who increases his knowledge, increases his sorrow."
Beautiful lines!
Monday, April 19, 2010
Saturday, April 17, 2010
The Grail.... The Grail!
So.... I'd have to say this is one of my favorite comedies. It is so.... whimsical lol. There are so many random moments in this movie. I love the part with the black knight. He is so desperate to win, he keeps going even after all of his limbs are cut off. (Like that would ever happen!) The big and scary rabbit is pretty funny too. You got this innocent little bunny that pops out of the cave.... and then devours anything that tries to come near it.... That one makes me giggle.
I would have to say though, my favorite part hands down, would be how the soldiers traveled.... On coconut horses.... aka the soldiers themselves gallop as they walk and somebody gallops behind them clapping coconut halves together. That is the funniest element in the entire movie. I definitely would have never thought about that before.
I was very excited to see that we had to watch this movie for this class for a couple reasons. First, I knew I would have to work the night of the showing. Second, because I own the movie. Lastly, I haven't seen the movie in a few years, so it was passed due to be watched! lol
On top of comedy it does have some educational points. It is a midieval comedy, and it does follow the rules, so to speak. It is just funnier than the obviously serious movies set in this time. I like movies with happy endings, which is why I loved Gladiator until the end of the movie... Stupid ending...
Anyways, I do think it was funny that this whole movie, the main characters were on this search for this grail. Just because it was the ultimate of ultimate.
In the beginning of the play and the end, the script reader added several random things to the screen, and the narrator all stated how he was firing people for adding random things. That was pretty funny.
The reason I am jumping around, is because the movie jumps around kind of too. This movie is not meant to be serious at all, so this blog isn't meant to be serious at all (in the terms of following an order and being grammatical lol).
All in all, it is a great movie, and I love watching it. I always laugh, even if it's a stupid part, or I already saw it.
I would have to say though, my favorite part hands down, would be how the soldiers traveled.... On coconut horses.... aka the soldiers themselves gallop as they walk and somebody gallops behind them clapping coconut halves together. That is the funniest element in the entire movie. I definitely would have never thought about that before.
I was very excited to see that we had to watch this movie for this class for a couple reasons. First, I knew I would have to work the night of the showing. Second, because I own the movie. Lastly, I haven't seen the movie in a few years, so it was passed due to be watched! lol
On top of comedy it does have some educational points. It is a midieval comedy, and it does follow the rules, so to speak. It is just funnier than the obviously serious movies set in this time. I like movies with happy endings, which is why I loved Gladiator until the end of the movie... Stupid ending...
Anyways, I do think it was funny that this whole movie, the main characters were on this search for this grail. Just because it was the ultimate of ultimate.
In the beginning of the play and the end, the script reader added several random things to the screen, and the narrator all stated how he was firing people for adding random things. That was pretty funny.
The reason I am jumping around, is because the movie jumps around kind of too. This movie is not meant to be serious at all, so this blog isn't meant to be serious at all (in the terms of following an order and being grammatical lol).
All in all, it is a great movie, and I love watching it. I always laugh, even if it's a stupid part, or I already saw it.
Saturday, April 10, 2010
Gladiator.... RawR!
So I finally got to watch Gladiator. It took me forever to get a hold of this movie. Seriously though... it did. I think I've seen this movie once before, but I never really paid attention, so I wasn't sure what was going on. Since I had to pay attention this time for a class assignment, I was able to figure out what was happening.
The theme of the entire movie is "The General who became a slave. The slave who became a gladiator. The gladiator who defied an empire." These words were spoken by Commodus, the King's son. Now Commodus was pissed off because the King was about to die and he was giving his kindship over to Maximus, who wasn't his son, just a general to his army. The King loved Maximus as his own son, because Maximus wanted to do the right thing for the people.
The King said before dying, "Will the King be remembered as a philosopher, a warrior, a tyrant, or an emperor who gave Rome back her power?" By this he meant that when he died he wanted the power to go to the Senate instead of a dictator. He wanted Maximus to be the head ruler because he is not yet corrupted by greed or power. Because of this, Commodus killed his own father by suffocating him as he hugged him. He was crying while doing it because he knew it was wrong, but he was jealous.
After the King's death, Commodus, also known as Caeser now, ordered for Maximus's arrest and execution. Maximus kicks everybody's ass and survives. He had a vision of his wife and son, which woke him up, but when he got to them they were burned to a crisp and hung. He broke down. He buried them and slept.
When he awoke he was being carried by a group of men with animals. He was sold to Proximo and was now a gladiator. Maximus refuses to fight anybody and he ends up cutting out his tattoo that signified he was a general of the Roman army.
For the people's enjoyment, Caeser orders day after day of gladiator games. He says that people will love him for victories and death. Maximus ends up killing everybody by himself during one of the games. He then yells at the crowd telling them their disgusting, and then they cheer for him. Proximo, his owner, was once a gladiator. He becomes friends with Proximo and is taught how to win his freedom. He simply has to "win the crowd."
With this, Caeser tries everything in his power to have Maximus killed. Nothing works. Maximus has all of the gladiators work together, and most of them end up surviving each game. After one game, Caeser's sister visits Maximus to make a plan for his escape. (She is worried about her son dying because Caeser threatened her.)
After Maximus beats the undefeated Champion Titus, who was retired for 5 years, he is now known as "Maximus the Merciful," because he refused to kill Titus when Caeser gave the thumbs down.
Caeser decides to fight Maximus himself. Right before he rasing them up to battle, he stabs Maximus in the lower part of the stomach. He then orders for his wounds to be hidden by his armor. (Dirty bastard) They then raise the platform and they begin their duel. Caeser sucks ass pretty bad, and Maximus ends up killing Caeser with Caeser's own hidden blade that he used to stab Maximus before the duel started. After he kills Caeser he dies peacefully because he can see his wife and son waiting for him on the other side.
This is the stupidest ending in the entire world. Why the hell did he have to die??? He totally liked the other woman and her son too. He should have lived and been able to rule, since he went through all of those hardships. Good movie. Stupid movie ending.
The theme of the entire movie is "The General who became a slave. The slave who became a gladiator. The gladiator who defied an empire." These words were spoken by Commodus, the King's son. Now Commodus was pissed off because the King was about to die and he was giving his kindship over to Maximus, who wasn't his son, just a general to his army. The King loved Maximus as his own son, because Maximus wanted to do the right thing for the people.
The King said before dying, "Will the King be remembered as a philosopher, a warrior, a tyrant, or an emperor who gave Rome back her power?" By this he meant that when he died he wanted the power to go to the Senate instead of a dictator. He wanted Maximus to be the head ruler because he is not yet corrupted by greed or power. Because of this, Commodus killed his own father by suffocating him as he hugged him. He was crying while doing it because he knew it was wrong, but he was jealous.
After the King's death, Commodus, also known as Caeser now, ordered for Maximus's arrest and execution. Maximus kicks everybody's ass and survives. He had a vision of his wife and son, which woke him up, but when he got to them they were burned to a crisp and hung. He broke down. He buried them and slept.
When he awoke he was being carried by a group of men with animals. He was sold to Proximo and was now a gladiator. Maximus refuses to fight anybody and he ends up cutting out his tattoo that signified he was a general of the Roman army.
For the people's enjoyment, Caeser orders day after day of gladiator games. He says that people will love him for victories and death. Maximus ends up killing everybody by himself during one of the games. He then yells at the crowd telling them their disgusting, and then they cheer for him. Proximo, his owner, was once a gladiator. He becomes friends with Proximo and is taught how to win his freedom. He simply has to "win the crowd."
With this, Caeser tries everything in his power to have Maximus killed. Nothing works. Maximus has all of the gladiators work together, and most of them end up surviving each game. After one game, Caeser's sister visits Maximus to make a plan for his escape. (She is worried about her son dying because Caeser threatened her.)
After Maximus beats the undefeated Champion Titus, who was retired for 5 years, he is now known as "Maximus the Merciful," because he refused to kill Titus when Caeser gave the thumbs down.
Caeser decides to fight Maximus himself. Right before he rasing them up to battle, he stabs Maximus in the lower part of the stomach. He then orders for his wounds to be hidden by his armor. (Dirty bastard) They then raise the platform and they begin their duel. Caeser sucks ass pretty bad, and Maximus ends up killing Caeser with Caeser's own hidden blade that he used to stab Maximus before the duel started. After he kills Caeser he dies peacefully because he can see his wife and son waiting for him on the other side.
This is the stupidest ending in the entire world. Why the hell did he have to die??? He totally liked the other woman and her son too. He should have lived and been able to rule, since he went through all of those hardships. Good movie. Stupid movie ending.
Friday, April 9, 2010
On the Shortness of Life
Seneca wrote a book called "On the Shortness of Life." In 41 C.E. he was exiled in Corsica. And exiled person should feel two things: 1. Shame (towards himself and his family) and 2. Fear for his life, and fear for his family.
Now in this book, he writes a letter to his mother. He writes to her because he is worried that she is worried about him. He writes about how she might have arguments against exile, and and he tries to respond to all of them. Two examples would be that she could say how it is unbearable to be deprived of one's country. To this he would say that there are more foreigners than natives living in the empire, and that everthing is in motion. (Why is there anything bad about somebody moving to a new place?) She could then say that an exile would miss his clothes and his house. Well to this, he simply says that the human body needs as little coverings as he needs food. It's simplicity to the fullest. (No pun intended)
This book can make somebody feel very sympathetic for him. And when they find out how he really lived, then they can get pissed off. This man lived nothing like he did in the book. He is technically a hypocrite.
I thought this book was sort of bland, and kind of boring. I am glad we did not have to focus on it that much!
Now in this book, he writes a letter to his mother. He writes to her because he is worried that she is worried about him. He writes about how she might have arguments against exile, and and he tries to respond to all of them. Two examples would be that she could say how it is unbearable to be deprived of one's country. To this he would say that there are more foreigners than natives living in the empire, and that everthing is in motion. (Why is there anything bad about somebody moving to a new place?) She could then say that an exile would miss his clothes and his house. Well to this, he simply says that the human body needs as little coverings as he needs food. It's simplicity to the fullest. (No pun intended)
This book can make somebody feel very sympathetic for him. And when they find out how he really lived, then they can get pissed off. This man lived nothing like he did in the book. He is technically a hypocrite.
I thought this book was sort of bland, and kind of boring. I am glad we did not have to focus on it that much!
Friday, April 2, 2010
A Tale of Two Cities...
Just kidding, kind of. We really read about two cities, but not the same as the book itself. We read about the Earthly City and the Heavenly City. One city glorifies itself, while the other city glorifies God. They each have their own nature, and cannot agree upon laws or religion.
The first city, the Earthly City, focuses on itself, and it's assets. It loves to rule itself and seeks profit for it's own glory and praise. They are possessed by pride and think that they are wise. They have corrupted the thought of God and made it into man. This city will not be everlasting, but the people here rejoice in the things they have. They believe in power, money, and fame. They want it all for themselves, and thank nobody but themselves when they get it. This city is divided by wars and hatred for each other, because everyone is self-serving. They are in a sense bonded to their earthly goods. When they are victorious, the victory is prideful and life-destroying. Unfortunately, since they are so focused on earthly goods, they constantly wory about any coming disasters that may befall them. The Earthly City believes in multiple gods. They even assigned every aspet of human nature to a god. There is one for the body, one for the soul, one for parts of the body, onr for each feeling or emotion, and one for every action. They are very full of gods.
As for the Heavenly City, it is a city that glorifies God. They do not care for worldly assets, they care for the eternal and the everlasting. They seek to worship and praise God in everything they do. There is no human wisdom in this city. There is only godliness, which seeks to worship God and gain reward in the society of the saints, holy angels, and men. This city lives by faith, and makes use of earthly peace only because it must, until the mortal condition will pass away. They believe in the worship of one God, and one God alone. To God alone can a service the Greeks called latreia be done.
These cities never agreed on laws or religion, and therefore the Heavenly City had to dissent and become obnoxious to those who thought differently than them. They needed to force it. There was much insight in this reading, and I think it's crazy how to the beginning of time, there was always a heavenly and an earthly something or other.
The first city, the Earthly City, focuses on itself, and it's assets. It loves to rule itself and seeks profit for it's own glory and praise. They are possessed by pride and think that they are wise. They have corrupted the thought of God and made it into man. This city will not be everlasting, but the people here rejoice in the things they have. They believe in power, money, and fame. They want it all for themselves, and thank nobody but themselves when they get it. This city is divided by wars and hatred for each other, because everyone is self-serving. They are in a sense bonded to their earthly goods. When they are victorious, the victory is prideful and life-destroying. Unfortunately, since they are so focused on earthly goods, they constantly wory about any coming disasters that may befall them. The Earthly City believes in multiple gods. They even assigned every aspet of human nature to a god. There is one for the body, one for the soul, one for parts of the body, onr for each feeling or emotion, and one for every action. They are very full of gods.
As for the Heavenly City, it is a city that glorifies God. They do not care for worldly assets, they care for the eternal and the everlasting. They seek to worship and praise God in everything they do. There is no human wisdom in this city. There is only godliness, which seeks to worship God and gain reward in the society of the saints, holy angels, and men. This city lives by faith, and makes use of earthly peace only because it must, until the mortal condition will pass away. They believe in the worship of one God, and one God alone. To God alone can a service the Greeks called latreia be done.
These cities never agreed on laws or religion, and therefore the Heavenly City had to dissent and become obnoxious to those who thought differently than them. They needed to force it. There was much insight in this reading, and I think it's crazy how to the beginning of time, there was always a heavenly and an earthly something or other.
Monday, March 29, 2010
Senecen Tragedy
Senecen (Greek) Tragedy is very different from Roman Tragedy. These types of tragedies are not meant to be performed. The Greeks, really didn't have drama or plays. They preferred Colosseum-type entertainment (such as gladiators). In Greek dramas, there is no humanity. Readers cannot identify to any character, and they do not learn anything by the end of the play. It is pretty much pointless.
Thyestes is the last tragedy that we have to read this semester. It is actually the most violent and most gruesome drama every created by an ancient playwright. It is a critic of Nero's reign. Nero is supposed to be Atreus, and Seneca is Nero's advisor in the play. (Seneca put himself into the play.)
In the House of Atreus, there is a history of repeat canabalism and insest. A really gross part was when Pelops was cut up by Tantalus, his father, and fed to the gods. All of the gods knew what was going on, except Thetis, Achilles' mother, who actually ate his shoulder. (Sick!) The gods then pieced him back together. Every part is accounted for, except for his shoulder, so they made him a new shoulder out of ivory. (This shoulder is the equivalent to Achilles' heel.)
This was a crazy story to read. It was greusome, pointless, and violent. Who cuts up theirr own child just because they want to trick the gods? The only one who is fooled is Thetis.... but luckily she only ate the shoulder. I am very glad we didn't have to read very many of these types of tragedies. It is good literature, but bad at the same time.
Thyestes is the last tragedy that we have to read this semester. It is actually the most violent and most gruesome drama every created by an ancient playwright. It is a critic of Nero's reign. Nero is supposed to be Atreus, and Seneca is Nero's advisor in the play. (Seneca put himself into the play.)
In the House of Atreus, there is a history of repeat canabalism and insest. A really gross part was when Pelops was cut up by Tantalus, his father, and fed to the gods. All of the gods knew what was going on, except Thetis, Achilles' mother, who actually ate his shoulder. (Sick!) The gods then pieced him back together. Every part is accounted for, except for his shoulder, so they made him a new shoulder out of ivory. (This shoulder is the equivalent to Achilles' heel.)
This was a crazy story to read. It was greusome, pointless, and violent. Who cuts up theirr own child just because they want to trick the gods? The only one who is fooled is Thetis.... but luckily she only ate the shoulder. I am very glad we didn't have to read very many of these types of tragedies. It is good literature, but bad at the same time.
Saturday, March 27, 2010
The Song of Roland
This is a poem telling the story of the betrayal by Ganelon towards Roland by selling him out to the pagans. The man's only request: he gets to kill Roland. This guy comes up with a plan to split Charlemagne's army up, half would go through the mountain pass towards home, and the other half would stay. In reality, only Roland and 11 other barons stay with 20,000 men fighting under them.
When they realize they are against an army with over 200,000 men, they really only need to kill the other 12 leaders from the opposing army. Once a leader is killed, there is no need for his followers to stay and fight. (There is 20,000 followers per leader) So after killing off 10 out of 12 leaders, Roland's group of 20,000 is now only facing 40,000 people. Not as bad of odds.
The way these people fought in these days was by jousting to the death. (What a weird way to battle!) The leaders joust it out with others just standing around watching!
Now the story itself is cut into three main pieces. The first part is Ganelon's treason. He betrays Charlemagne by setting up the plan to split up the army. He sells out Roland to the opposing army only for the pormised price that he alone gets to kill Roland.
The second piece is the battle itself. This is where Roland's army kicks the opposing army's ass. Each leader from the opposing army was killed off, one by one, by Roland's leaders. They fought by jousting. The most gruesome death is in section 109. This is where Roland kills Chernubles.
The last part of the poem's story is Roland's death. We haven't read that section yet, but it is supposed to be the most climatic part of the poem. In section 110, Roland's death is actually fortold. (One thing that was crazy was the unexplained solar eclipse and a storm with an earthquake at high noon.)
This poem is actually Christian allegory. Charlemagne is supposed to be Christ. Ganelon is Judas. Roland is Peter. Charlemagne is like Jesus by leaving the fighting group and coming back later with vengance. Ganelon is like Judas because he betrays Charlemagne by selling him out to the pagans. (Just like Judas sold out Jesus for 30 pieces of silver.) Roland is like Peter because he denies calling Charlemagne back to fight three times. (The only difference, is Peter denied Jesus because of shame and fear, Roland denies Charlemagne out of honor.)
When they realize they are against an army with over 200,000 men, they really only need to kill the other 12 leaders from the opposing army. Once a leader is killed, there is no need for his followers to stay and fight. (There is 20,000 followers per leader) So after killing off 10 out of 12 leaders, Roland's group of 20,000 is now only facing 40,000 people. Not as bad of odds.
The way these people fought in these days was by jousting to the death. (What a weird way to battle!) The leaders joust it out with others just standing around watching!
Now the story itself is cut into three main pieces. The first part is Ganelon's treason. He betrays Charlemagne by setting up the plan to split up the army. He sells out Roland to the opposing army only for the pormised price that he alone gets to kill Roland.
The second piece is the battle itself. This is where Roland's army kicks the opposing army's ass. Each leader from the opposing army was killed off, one by one, by Roland's leaders. They fought by jousting. The most gruesome death is in section 109. This is where Roland kills Chernubles.
The last part of the poem's story is Roland's death. We haven't read that section yet, but it is supposed to be the most climatic part of the poem. In section 110, Roland's death is actually fortold. (One thing that was crazy was the unexplained solar eclipse and a storm with an earthquake at high noon.)
This poem is actually Christian allegory. Charlemagne is supposed to be Christ. Ganelon is Judas. Roland is Peter. Charlemagne is like Jesus by leaving the fighting group and coming back later with vengance. Ganelon is like Judas because he betrays Charlemagne by selling him out to the pagans. (Just like Judas sold out Jesus for 30 pieces of silver.) Roland is like Peter because he denies calling Charlemagne back to fight three times. (The only difference, is Peter denied Jesus because of shame and fear, Roland denies Charlemagne out of honor.)
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