Thursday, November 17, 2016
Wednesday, November 16, 2016
Monday, November 7, 2016
Webpage Examples
Here are a couple of examples of webpages that students in my College Colloquium section created two years ago.
They left their webpages publicly accessible, so clearly don't mind sharing them with the world at large.
As you can see, some of my students developed a considerable degree of creativity even though that's not required. Most important is that your analysis is sound and interesting.
1. Ian Simon's page on "300" was created with Weebly, another free webpage design software that several of the 2014 students used with success:
http://wedineinhell.weebly.com/
2. Bryce Withy-Berry investigated the use of sound and music in "Gladiator":
http://aminotmusical.weebly.com/emotion.html
3. Felicity Helfand's page on "Hercules" was created with tumblr:
http://untilalongcamezeus.tumblr.com/
They left their webpages publicly accessible, so clearly don't mind sharing them with the world at large.
As you can see, some of my students developed a considerable degree of creativity even though that's not required. Most important is that your analysis is sound and interesting.
1. Ian Simon's page on "300" was created with Weebly, another free webpage design software that several of the 2014 students used with success:
http://wedineinhell.weebly.com/
2. Bryce Withy-Berry investigated the use of sound and music in "Gladiator":
http://aminotmusical.weebly.com/emotion.html
3. Felicity Helfand's page on "Hercules" was created with tumblr:
http://untilalongcamezeus.tumblr.com/
Thursday, November 3, 2016
Disney's Hercules
They didn't mention that he was half human. He didn't have the fits of madness brought on by hera because she loves him in the Disney film. They left out the cauterization of the hydra's necks. They hardly mentioned most of the 12 trials except for when Phil talks about Hercules' schedule for the day. I think they shouldn't have left out the fact that he wasn't immortal even to begin with, because he was only a demigod. Most of the other things that they left out made sense because it's a G rated movie and they would have definitely not been.
Disney's Hercules
The Disney interpretation of the myth of Hercules is very skewed from the original. The first disparity comes at the first scene of the animated movie when Hercules is introduced as the son of Zeus as well as Hera. From the original story we know that Hercules is the son of Zeus and a mortal woman. Most of his life was plagued by Hera's rage from Zeus's infidelity that she took out on him through curses and manipulation. Hercules performs the twelve trials informally in the film but does them none the less, killing the hydra, fighting Nessus (which was intertwined with him meeting Megara), and following the path to becoming a famous hero. In order to restore his immortality, Hercules needs an event that will prove to the Gods that he is worthy. The Titans being released by Hades doesn't occur in the original myth, but the restoration of his immortality does occur in a different fashion as he is made a God at the end of his journeys.
After reading the myth and how he treated Megara and killed her and their children, the conclusion of the Disney version upset me. I felt as if it glorified a relationship that was originally depicted as extremely abusive and unhealthy. Although Megara and Hercules end up together and Hercules gives up his opportunity to be a God to be with her, I felt as if Disney was glossing over factors that made Hercules what he truly was in the myth. Overall, the film's changes made it very fun and enjoyable for children; however, it was extremely different from the true myth.
3rd Paper: Webpage Design
For your final project, please select a film you really like and about which you would like to create a website.
This website will be like a paper in the sense that you should make defensible claims about each aspect of the film you discuss, back them up with reasons, and provide evidence for your claims.
Preferably the film you analyze should be one of those we have seen or will still watch in our Colloquium, and also one that you did not review for your second paper.
By next Tuesday, you should have some idea which aspects of the film you would like to address on your webpage. These could be features that you find particularly memorable or worth discussing in more detail, for example,
• the plot (How does the plot relate to other toga movies? What is original about it?),
• the acting (e.g., How does it fit to the movie’s themes or message?),
• the costumes (e.g., How do they support the film's message, characterization of roles, etc.?)
• set (maybe in terms of the way it is used to convey the movie's themes),
• cinematography and editing (talk, e.g., about the use of slow-motion in "Gladiator"),
• sound effects
• music (How does it support the story telling? Is there anything unusual about it?)
• leitmotifs or themes, recurrent imagery, etc., etc.
There are many ways to create a website for free without much technical knowledge:
If you have a Mac, you could try out your iWeb software.
PC Users may have something similar, or you could use, for example, free basic website builders such as WiX or Weebly:
http://www.wix.com/?utm_campaign=vir_wixad_live&experiment_id=abtestbanner49310001.
https://www.weebly.com/signup
WAs are only
paid for appointments for which you show up. For that reason, no-shows or cancellations less than 24
hours before your meeting time will result in a reduction in grade.
Format:
• 1800-2400 words (ca. 6-8 double-spaced pages if you print out the text alone) • one illustration / still shot (or more, if needed) for (almost) all pages.
Deadlines:
• Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2016:
200- to 300-word abstract (1 page of text only) due in class. Summarize what central claim (thesis) you plan to make, which sub-claims, and how will you prove/defend them? Provide 2-3 images that can serve as evidence for your claims. Bring TWO hard copies to class, one for me, one for a classmate to peer review and give you feedback.
• Tuesday, Nov. 15, 2016:
Webpage draft due
–bring your laptop to class so your classmates can give you feedback!
• Thursday, Nov. 17, 2016, 9 A.M.:
Final Version due.
– List a link to your page on our blog!
This website will be like a paper in the sense that you should make defensible claims about each aspect of the film you discuss, back them up with reasons, and provide evidence for your claims.
Preferably the film you analyze should be one of those we have seen or will still watch in our Colloquium, and also one that you did not review for your second paper.
By next Tuesday, you should have some idea which aspects of the film you would like to address on your webpage. These could be features that you find particularly memorable or worth discussing in more detail, for example,
• the plot (How does the plot relate to other toga movies? What is original about it?),
• the acting (e.g., How does it fit to the movie’s themes or message?),
• the costumes (e.g., How do they support the film's message, characterization of roles, etc.?)
• set (maybe in terms of the way it is used to convey the movie's themes),
• cinematography and editing (talk, e.g., about the use of slow-motion in "Gladiator"),
• sound effects
• music (How does it support the story telling? Is there anything unusual about it?)
• leitmotifs or themes, recurrent imagery, etc., etc.
There are many ways to create a website for free without much technical knowledge:
If you have a Mac, you could try out your iWeb software.
PC Users may have something similar, or you could use, for example, free basic website builders such as WiX or Weebly:
http://www.wix.com/?utm_campaign=vir_wixad_live&experiment_id=abtestbanner49310001.
https://www.weebly.com/signup
Writing Consultant:
Our Writing Associate is Rachael Christman. For
full credit on your papers, you are required
to meet Rachael once per paper.
Sign up with
the Signup link on WISE either for a
30 min. brainstorming session or, once you have an abstract or a first draft,
for a 1-hour session to get feedback on how you have organized your ideas, etc.
Rachael will NOT proofread your paper, but may help you to polish it.
Format:
• 1800-2400 words (ca. 6-8 double-spaced pages if you print out the text alone) • one illustration / still shot (or more, if needed) for (almost) all pages.
Deadlines:
• Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2016:
200- to 300-word abstract (1 page of text only) due in class. Summarize what central claim (thesis) you plan to make, which sub-claims, and how will you prove/defend them? Provide 2-3 images that can serve as evidence for your claims. Bring TWO hard copies to class, one for me, one for a classmate to peer review and give you feedback.
• Tuesday, Nov. 15, 2016:
Webpage draft due
–bring your laptop to class so your classmates can give you feedback!
• Thursday, Nov. 17, 2016, 9 A.M.:
Final Version due.
– List a link to your page on our blog!
Disney's Hercules
Disney’s
Hercules is vastly different from the more traditional myths that we know. The
reason for this being that Disney is catering to a young audience that needs to
laugh and be inspired without any concepts that are too difficult for a child
to understand. I do like how Disney changed the beginning of Hercules’ story.
How he was born a god and then became mortal, no thanks to Hades. Although Zeus
having a child with a mortal is typical of a Greek myth, I did not mind this
version with Hera on his side. Hercules still has to learn lessons and no
innocent people have to be killed in the process. I do wish that Disney had
included more of the twelve labors. The whole musical note with quick scenes
that barely showed some of his great deeds was unsatisfying. At the same time a
counter argument could be made for Disney saying that they were making him a “true
Hero.” The whole idea of becoming a “true hero” was the best part of the movie
for me. Having a hero with the ability to make such a sacrifice, whether for
love or something else, is the best type of hero.
Disney's Hercules
I think that the directors should have not changed the majority of the original myth the way they did. I dislike the fact that they had Hades and Zeus feuding in the movie which never happened in the real myth. I also think that Hera should not have been cast as Hercules's mother, simply because this is in direct contradiction of the entire myth in which Hera is jealous that Zeus had a kid with a mortal woman and since then had tried to kill Hercules as way of exacting revenge on Zeus. Hercules in addition was never a god in the myth but they portray him a such in the movie. They also mention later in the movie that Hercules killed the Minotaur and the Gorgon Medusa. This never happened in Greek mythology. The Gorgon Medusa was slain by Perseus and the Minotaur was killed by Theseus. The directors also do not mention the twelve trials that Hercules went through in the actual myth. Lastly they portray Hercules as a hero to every one but in the actual myth he was hero and a villain to many. He saved as many lives in the myth as he killed. All of these plot twists were something added in by the directors to give the story a greater flair to it than it would have had otherwise. While the movie itself was highly entertaining, I wish they had kept it more accurate and in sync with the plot of the myth itself.
Disney's "Hercules" tweaked the actual myth of Hercules to fit the screen for children. It may have tweaked it a bit too far. It did include a lot of Hercules' 12 labors but not all. I think it should have at least skimmed over every labor because that would make it much more interesting of a movie for me and I'm assuming others who enjoy mythology. Some parts of the movie were left out with good reason. They made Hades the bad guy in this movie instead of Hera. Children wouldn't be able to understand why someone's own mother would hate her child. Also the adultery of Zeus is way too much for kids to handle. It's not accurate to the myth but I do think it's a good alternative for a kids movie. I don't think this movie was aiming for accuracy, like most Ancient Greek and Roman movies, but rather give a moral. The moral of this story is you can start from bottom and reach the top if you believe and work hard enough for it.
Disney's Hercules
Disney's movie Hercules lacks several major components of the Greek myths of Heracles. In the myths Heracles was the product of an affair Zeus had with a mortal. Hera was also his nemesis and made Heracles go into fits of madness. In the movie however, Hercules was the offspring of Hera and Zeus and was born a god. Hercules also does not face the twelve labors to become immortal in the film, instead he must accomplish a task of heart. The film only briefly has some of the twelve labors. Hercules also does not kill Megara and their children. Instead Meg provides a love story with Hercules throughout the film. Considering this is a children's film that is for the best. I think Disney should have made the twelve labors a bigger part of the story. It fits with plot where Hercules is trying to regain immortality while still staying closer to the myths.
Disney's Hercules fanfic
Disney’s Hercules is a very interesting film. In contrast to the many violent stories of redemption Hercules embarked on, Disney’s Hercules is basically 80% of a Superman story and 20% of the training montages of sports movies such as Rocky and Karate Kid. While it's understandable that Disney wouldn't want to have a murderous sociopath as their hero, the story and main character they came up is incredibly generic. The Disneyfied Hercules is a super strong hero whose quest to selflessly help people and discover his true path brings him into conflict with Hades, an intelligent and scheming villain who seeks to gain absolute power. During his journey, Hercules falls in love with a sarcastic woman named Megara who Hades kidnaps in order to control Hercules. This story arch is the bread and butter of comic books. While it can be argued that superheroes are the modern versions of Greek myths and have certainly been inspired by numerous Greek myths, I think Disney could have made a more original story instead of making a Superman film with a Rocky/Karate Kid style training montage. While I dislike the generic story, I do find Disney’s version of Hades to be hilarious. James Wood’s version of the God of Death proves to be a very entertaining supervillain due to his catchphrases and snarky attitude. Although different from the traditional version, I welcome Disney's version due to how funny he is. Other than that, Disney’s Hercules is nothing special. Like Disney’s Aladdin, there are a ton of references to pop culture and homages to other Greek myths such as the Iliad, the Odyssey, and the tragic tale of Orpheus. I’m very surprised that Disney was able to throw in an Oedipus Rex reference in a family film. However, these references don’t compensate for the way the film ignores the original myths such as portraying Hera, as the caring mother of Hercules. The film even ignores many of Hercules’s actions such as taming the man eating horses of King Diomedes. Other feats such as his battle with the Erymanthian Boar are quickly depicted in a montage. While I don’t blame Disney for toning down the blood and violence of the original myths, I would have welcomed a film that respected the source material more.
Hercules in a Disney Formula
The film Hercules leaves out some of the most crucial aspects to the original myth in order to adapt it to family-friendly. The presence of adultery is avoided by making Hera his mother rather than trying to kill him because he is the offspring of Zeus' affair with a mortal. Then baby Hercules is found by poor farmers bearing the names of his parents in the myth that were actually a king and queen. The changes in his origin contribute to a coming-of-age story as Hercules grows as a poor farm boy; He then discovers he is of divine origins and that he must become a hero, simply typical of Disney movies. For the sake of PG the movie neglects to show Hercules with temper issues that cause the deaths of his teacher, Megara, his children, and countless others. Instead, he is reduced by Disney to a teenager that cannot control his strength and accidentally destroys the town center when he is with his father. The 12 labors that he pushes through are scattered events in the movie rather than his redemption from guilt for murdering his family in madness. For example, the Amazons are absent and cleaning the stables of Augeas is a small comment by Phil when reading a schedule to Hercules.
Several entire incidents were left out that could have contributed to the movie even with a Disney happy ending. In some versions of the myth, Theseus is a good friend to Hercules and would have only added positive images to the film if it had included him. Additionally, setting up The Pillars of Hercules would have added the montage of his great feats to illustrate how far he had come as a hero. To illustrate the low point of the hero before he matures, Disney could have included his attempt to fight with Apollo over the Oracle's reply. Zeus' intervention could mark a turning point in his motivation similar to the scene in the movie where he tells Hercules he is not yet a true hero.
Several entire incidents were left out that could have contributed to the movie even with a Disney happy ending. In some versions of the myth, Theseus is a good friend to Hercules and would have only added positive images to the film if it had included him. Additionally, setting up The Pillars of Hercules would have added the montage of his great feats to illustrate how far he had come as a hero. To illustrate the low point of the hero before he matures, Disney could have included his attempt to fight with Apollo over the Oracle's reply. Zeus' intervention could mark a turning point in his motivation similar to the scene in the movie where he tells Hercules he is not yet a true hero.
Wednesday, November 2, 2016
Disney's Hercules
However popular, Disney's Hercules is a poor depiction of the true myth. A major detail left out was that he killed his family. understandably, Disney left out this detail however there were ways they could have more accurately displayed his childhood. Rather than having our main character a murderer they could have created a back story of his family being killed and not due to him. Hercules still could have been without a family but in a way that was more accurate. Although this is far from the myth it did make it a more enjoyable movie and made our main hero character one easy to support. Had this movie been more factual it would be harder to want him to win in the end. likewise Hercules love for Meg was something that goes great with the theme of being a children's movie. It sends hidden messages about true character and being genuinely good as a person. Messages like these are great when we consider this movie is meant for kids.
Disney & Myth
The Disney film was not an accurate depiction of the myth, this is understandable since the context and audience is changed. One of the things in the myth that was left out of the film was the birth of Hercules' children, I think this should have been included. The film did a great job developing the relationship between Hercules and Meg and ended with them living together on Earth, this could have been improved with adding the starting of their own family at the end. It would make the characters have a greater sense of togetherness and future happiness. The film also had a strong beginning of the story with the birth of Hercules, a strong ending would have been with the birth of Hercules' own children. This would make a loop from beginning to end and strengthen the whole plot. The adding of this scene would also make the theme of family more predominant, this would be beneficial in a children and family film. I welcome the change of Hera to Hades. Because Hades is the iconic Greek and Roman mythology bad guy, by enforcing that stereotype it made the film more familiar. It also created a more extreme fight between good and bad since Hades represented the most deadly and evil God and Hera is generally associated with marriage through Greek and Roman mythology.
The Myth of Heracles vs. Disney's Hercules
I noticed that quite a lot of the mythology was cut out of Disney's Hercules. For one, Hera didn't hate him in the Disney version, instead she was his mom, and Hades hated him. So, Hercules didn't have fits of anger, which made him a more stable guy. However, he still didn't really know his own strength in the beginning of the movie, which leads into point two: in the Disney version, it is very clear that the people who knew Hercules didn't like him for fear of his strength. Another fun difference is that is that Hercules is depicted as having been originally a god, and that he has a Pegasus. As Hades is depicted as the antagonist to Hercules' protagonist in this version, he's the one who caused Hercules to become mortal the first time. Hades is in some way resposible for like all of the fights that Hercules was supposed to encounter in the myth: the centaur, the Hydra, the cyclops, etc. Finally, instead of him killing Megara, in the Disney version, he is first betrayed by her and then sacrifices his own life for hers. On the other hand, I liked that Disney left out the parts of the myths that made Hercules a problematic guy. However, it's hard to say what to keep since the movie is honestly so different from the original myths. Despite that, I'd say you probably could've still included the part in mythos where Hercules visited Delphi, and also the part where he had to do the twelve labors for King Eurystheus.
Disney's Hercules
The disney redemption of Hercules' epic life was very simplified for the sake of the intended audience. A lot of his story was changed, including the fact that he murdered his wife and family which in my opinion was for the better because this is a children's movie. However, the fact that he was cast out of Olympus because of a completely new tangent with Hades, was probably unnecessary. Hera was not his true mom and it would not have caused too much of a plot change to keep that little detail in, making the tale more realistic. Hera could have helped Hades get rid of him instead of Meg, and the happy go lucky Disney movie would've survived with Hercules only having a dad. Meg could have still been his love interest, just in a different way.
Disney's Hercules
The Hercules that Disney presents is a very dulled down version compared to that of Greek mythology, justifiably so. Disney's youth audience is incapable of understanding concepts of adultery and lust and would therefore lack an appropriate audience. Some changes, such as, Hercules birth and the killing of his family are welcomed because of their graphic content. However, I feel that such a brief and trivial depiction of Hercules's twelve labors is an insult to the myths. There are only minute glimpses of what made Hercules such a powerful hero and to be replaced by a music number does not support the legacy of Hercules. If the Disney movie were to expand the depth of Hercules and the magnitude of his power and capabilities as a hero the film would be better off.
Tuesday, November 1, 2016
Heracles/Hercules
Hercules is definitely a problematic hero because of his penchant to randomly go crazy if hera felt like it. Sure, he was great and beat up a bunch of monsters and stuff, but he was a constant danger to anyone around him at all times. He is similar to any tortured hero in a story, as they often are dangerous and realize it so they try to stay away from others.
Hercules
Hercules is a problematic hero due to his fits of rage caused by Hera. As a result of these mental break downs Hercules kills innocent people including his own wife and children. Hercules is a great hero but unfortunately he is plagued by Hera's curse. Although the Hulk did not begin to act in a way that benefited society until the Avengers, in my opinion he is the most relatable to Hercules. The obvious similarity is the uncontrollable fits of rage that can cause immense amounts of destruction.
A Problematic Hero
Hercules was a problematic hero because he had no sense of self control. his aggression levels would peak often and result in another being person dead. He strides for the simplistic approach to get a job done which goes against what we think of when we read the word hero. Hero's do not cut corners and yet Hercules constantly does this. On top of this he uses trickery to get what he wants. in doing this he puts others at a disadvantage like we see with the case of atlas having to hold the world. Hercules is a monster with good intentions, his resemblance is that of Hancock, the hero in reality who destroys nature in his attempts to do the right thing.
Hercules is a problematic hero because Hera had made him such. Hera would cause Hercules to have fits of madness and rage, she did this through her magic and powers as a goddess. These fits by Hercules did not just affect himself, they also harmed people and things around him. By not being able to control his mentality and actions at times Hercules was a tool for death and destruction towards the undeserving. A hero would not harm or kill a person that does not deserve it. His lack of consistent stability, and his strength of arms but not of mind also makes Hercules a problematic hero. The character Hercules can be compared to the character Hulk from Marvel Comics.
Heracles: a true hero?
Heracles was a problematic hero. This is because he constantly gets fits of rage ending up in an innocent person or creature dying. He also solves his problems through trickery and deception. When you think of a hero you think of someone who would do the right thing in an honorable fashion. Heracles takes the easy way out of most situations. With the Ceryneian Hide he was not suppose to harm the animal but he takes the easy way out and shoots the deer with an arrow. An example of his decept is when he tricks atlas into holding the world again. He directly lied to atlas to get what he wanted. A modern hero who is very similar to Heracles is The Incredible Hulk. They both have god like strength and both have extreme fits of rage that end up in innocent people dying.
Heracles was a problematic hero. This is because he constantly gets fits of rage ending up in an innocent person or creature dying. He also solves his problems through trickery and deception. When you think of a hero you think of someone who would do the right thing in an honorable fashion. Heracles takes the easy way out of most situations. With the Ceryneian Hide he was not suppose to harm the animal but he takes the easy way out and shoots the deer with an arrow. An example of his decept is when he tricks atlas into holding the world again. He directly lied to atlas to get what he wanted. A modern hero who is very similar to Heracles is The Incredible Hulk. They both have god like strength and both have extreme fits of rage that end up in innocent people dying.
Heracles: Not Hercules But Previously Alcides
Heracles is attributed with heroic status even to this day and yet he was one of the most destructive 'good' guys to exist. The classic image of the hero is in his feats where he saved cities and damsels from wild boars and sacrifice. However, the very need for him to complete the 12 labors is rooted in guilt for killing his entire family. Modern authors must leave out their heroes murdering and 'accidentally' harming everyone they meet from their formulaic stories. Yet, the theme of a hero that is regarded as such despite horrific actions persists through characters even though it deviates from the ideal. While a Disney movie may not reflect Heracles killing his teacher and children, Watchmen (2009) partially revolves around The Comedian, a maniac possessed with violence in the costume of a hero. On a general scale, several if not all hero movies show the destruction of towns and cities in the hero's fight to defend it. How many people really die when Superman throws the villain through a building? Therefore, the case of accidental harm on part of heroes is more common than it seems. Heracles is just a myth that aims for a tragic hero by attributing his negative actions to rage that is made out to be a burden that he suffers through not his own responsibility.
Hercules: Superman or super flawed?
Greek myths often feature flawed heroes. Oedipus accidentally married his mother, Jason betrayed his lover Medea, leading to the murder of his new wife and his exile and Odysseus’s pride and adulterous ways prevented him from returning to Ithaca for more than twenty years. These flawed heroes are either redeemed through heroic journeys or are meet with tragic fates. Hercules falls into the first category. As the mortal son of Zeus, Hercules possess immense strength. His godly strength is matched by his violent temper, leading to many accidental murders such as the death of his music tutor. In addition to his violent temper, Hercules is the victim of the wrath of Hera who hates Hercules due to him being the product of Zeus’s adulterous ways. In her quest to punish Hercules, Hera forces Hercules into one of his rages, causing him to murder his wife and children. To atone for his crimes, Hercules completes twelve labors such as killing the Nemean Lion. Hercule’s violent temper is ignored in Disney’s animated Hercules film. Instead, Hercules is portrayed as a Superman type character. While Hercules and other Greek myths have influenced comic characters such as Superman and Spider-Man, the flawed character of Hercules is more similar to characters such as Wolverine of the X-Men comic series and Max from the Mad Max series. These characters have tragic backstories, usually involving the deaths of their loved ones. Wolverine in particular has accidentally murdered several of his love interests and children, often due to being manipulated into a blind rage by his enemies. To redeem themselves, these characters must undergo trials, similar to the twelve trials Hercules underwent. Ultimately, Hercules is by no means a perfect character due to his violent temper and numerous accidental murders.
Heracles: The Problematic Hero
Heracles is a problematic hero because of his use and abuse of his power. While his strength and his curse put him in a position where his help was necessary to aid others, it also put him in positions where it could be utilized for harm. His powers came as a blessing and a curse, helping him defeat several monsters and save many lives, however, in the process he needlessly took several others. His reckless actions perpetuated themselves. As he destroyed monsters people began to worship his as a hero and glossed over his reckless and dangerous actions. We see Heracles glorified as a hero in these tales because people tend to overlook the bad in favor of the good. We see this concept with vigilantes tales in our modern day, while they aren't exactly the same as Heracles, we still choose to overlook the bad deeds that people commit due to the good ones that they perform as well. In the tale of Robin Hood, he steals from the rich to give to the poor. While it is morally wrong to steal from anyone, Robin Hood is seen as a hero due to the good actions that he performs when giving to the poor. Many other tales such as all modern day superhero stories, namely the Hulk, show us heroes that leave destruction in their wake while ultimately performing a good deed.
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