Monthly Archives: December 2010

Beauty: A femimine ideal but should it really be desired?

One of the most famous women in literature, Helen of Troy has been integrated from Greco Roman tradition to Anglo-Saxon culture. Although she “existed” (it’s a myth after all) thousands of years ago she is still a modern symbol representative of womanhood. The notion of a young woman being abducted by a charming prince is not a plea for woman’s rights and their subservient status in history but a tale of treachery.  Helen’s undoubting beauty seems to be her only blessing because her self loath is enormous. While there is uncertainty in whether she wanted to go to Troy the Iliad doesn’t paint the picture of her having any choice. She was a prize to Paris and countless times she expresses her yearning to be back in her home in Sparta. The Trojan War and its years of suffering were placed on her and the only person offering her reprise for this burden was Priam. Helen throughout the story does not place this burden on Paris or even the Gods but as herself, a whore. Her beauty was powerful enough to start a war against men and slaughter thousands but not powerful enough to give Helen strength. Out of all the blood and power thirsty men and petty Gods, Helen the center of it all diminishes and disappears to the back. Helen is just the first of many tales of the weakness and deceit that feminine beauty can bring and that image is repeated over and over in history. So with this in mind, why is beauty still so desirable?

Helen and her glory

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You Decide

This picture illustrates the morning of a sinful decision. I see Madea admiring her children before she decides to take their lives. What woman would ever take the life of such angles of youth?  That crazy woman would be Madea. I don’t think anyone can ever convince me otherwise. This lady is mental. You can’t get me to believe she did it in the interest of her own children. Or she was saving them from a life of turmoil. There isn’t anyone that could’ve decided the fate of those children, including Medea. The only way Medea would’ve been saving the lives of those children was if she took the life of Jason and herself. She could have left the children in the hands of the nurse. However, she didn’t, because she is selfish. Instead she selfishly takes the life of her children in spite of their father Jason’s actions. I believe the lady crying in the back is the nurse who cared for those children dearly. I’ll leave you with this last image of Madea and her children and you decide if this woman is mental or not.

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Almighty Beowulf

I enjoyed reading the poem as well as watching the movie adaptation of Beowulf. However, I must say I liked the movie adaptation more than the story told in the poem. As much as I liked reading Beowulf I loved how the movie took the story and with some twist made it into its own piece. I thought the connection made by the film makers between the first battle with Grendel to the final battle with the Dragon was brilliant, because it works and most importantly makes sense. However, it’s interesting how the writers gave Beowulf a weakness in the movie, because in the poem Beowulf does not possess any weakness. In the poem and the movie he comes, he boast, he sees then conquers. Except in the movie he is manipulated and deceived by a beautiful woman who in a way directed his fate. It was a bold move by the writers, giving the fact Beowulf is supposed to be this almighty demon killer who never fails and always accomplishes his goal. Although, it was very interesting and enjoyable to witness the direction the writers took with the movie. Beowulf is a true warrior, like he says, “I am Ripper… Tearer… Slasher… Gouger. I am the Teeth in the Darkness, the Talons in the Night. Mine is Strength… and Lust… and Power! I AM BEOWULF!”

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Gilgamesh

It’s amazing how such an old tale like the epic Gilgamesh can make its way to present day and still inspire and teach us today. The author describes Gilgamesh as such a Godly figure. His physique, beauty, strength, and wisdom are all contributed to his Godlike characters. Although, with all these Godly features in body and mind he was still cruel. He poorly ran and controlled his kingdom by treating the people with disrespect and hate. This Godly man would sleep with anyone he wanted and force the people to work for him. In my eyes Gilgamesh was selfish and probably homosexual. Just by the way he admired Enkidu. He was a selfish tyrant, because what he put his people through when he was ruling. Moreover, it took an epic journey of ups and downs for Gilgamesh to see the light. At the end he finally did come to a realization. By the end of his journey when he went back home he sees the wonderful kingdom he ruled and took for granted. However, with strength, wisdom, and love he acknowledged the closest thing to immortality a mortal can desire. Here is a link to a video that kind of summarizes the tale of the epic Gilgamesh in its entirety. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gopr-PrgMfw

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The Decision that Started it All

I see this picture as the first step towards the destruction of Troy. This image depicts Paris making a final decision in a beauty contest between Hera, Athena, and Aphrodite. The picture is called “the Judgment of Paris.” Because, Paris is given the power of making the final judgment of who’s the most beautiful of the three goddesses. In the picture you can all see Paris handing the golden apple to Aphrodite, and declaring her the winner of the contest and most beautiful of the three. In addition, Aphrodite does reward Paris for his decision and the reward does have a definitive impact. Aphrodite rewarded Paris with her helping hand in abducting Helen, who according to the mythology was the most beautiful mortal woman in the world.  Unfortunately, this Helen chick ended up being married to the one and only King of Sparta. It was like love at first sight between Helen and Paris. Therefore, their love for each other was so strong they couldn’t hold back anymore and live separate lives. Consequently their love would bring Helen to make a selfish move and go with Paris back to Troy. On the other hand, Paris makes a very stupid yet courageous move by making this rash decision. This love for Helen would decide the fate of the Prince and Troy.

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Pygmalion

So we have a man named Pygmalion who is so disgusted by the women in society that he is ends up making a female statue and falling in love with it. Lucky for him, the goddess of love hears his prays and turns the statue into life. This story kind of reminds of the idea of the price charming. Pygmalion had this idea of his perfect women who he falls in love with. For girls, it the idea of price charming who’s features of course vary from girl to girl, but still its a perfect flawless individual that we shape, much like Pygmalion shaped the girl. While reading the story it occurred to me that nobody asked he girl if she chooses Pygmalion as her husband and what would happen if the statue never turned human or better yet, what would of happened if it accidentally shattered. Although judging from Pygmalion’s actions I think he would of eventually went mad.  Never the less, referring to the image, the statue is turning into a woman. I think this this the climax of the story. It image is the exactly correlating with the text but I like it because it captures the transition of going from a statue into a woman.

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Ramayana

  The Ramayana of Valmiki is a story  about a loyal wife named Sita who is married to Rama. This is a woman who cherishes her husband, yet her husband cannot accept her anymore because he thinks she is unfaithful. This story is in many ways used or once used as a tool from a feminist point of view. It displays the unjust treatment of a man towards his wife who has done absolutely nothing wrong. Sita complied with her husband’s every wish, she accepted the treatment and was even exiled by her husband and still did nothing. Although many would agree she is way too passive, one could argue she has reason to react like Medea did, but it is in this passiveness that one sees the true savagery in a man. It is in this passiveness that she inherits a level of admiration Medea is not worthy of. Sita is the most valuable charcter in the Ramayana.

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Beowulf

           Beowulf is a story about a great hero. The story begins by the kingdom is being attacked by a demon called Grendel. The demon has eaten a lot of people and killed a lot of people. The kingdom has been living in horror for years . There was no hope for them . Not until Beowulf came. After hearing about the story, Beowulf goes to aid the people. He has won a lot of great and difficult battles. So he has come to kill the demon. After having a big feast , people are relieved and are hoping Beowulf will kill the demon. The demon has appeared. After a long and difficult battle, Beowulf has killed the evil demon and everyone thinking that peace has finally come.  But that is not the case, there is another demon, Grendel’s mother. Beowulf has another battle to fight. Because of Beowulf being a great warrior, there are games and movies based on the story of Beowulf. One is where the movie is a cartooned 3D form, so it would not be as bloody as it would be. And the major difference is that Grendel’s mother is being portrayed as a beautiful woman. And that Beowulf had sex with her and they have a son that is a dragon.  Beowulf killed him in order to protect his people, but Beowulf also died. Below are some things that are based on the story of Beowulf.

 

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The Ramayana of Valmiki

 

       The Ramayana of Valmiki a story about Rama and his wife Sita. Rama is the one that is suppose to be the next king, but his father’s other wife wants her son to become king and tells Rama that he can become king if he goes to live in the forest for certain years. Rama agrees and accepts , but he tells his wife to stay even though she wants to go with him. Sita says to him that he is her husband so she will go with him to anywhere just so she can stay with him. She finally convinces him to let her go. After they have lived in the forest for a long time, the evil king appeared and kidnapped Sita. Rama then went to go save Sita. After rescuing Sita, Rama became not trusting Sita being pure. After they returned to the kingdom , Sita soon became pregnant. But Rama has doubts about her pregnancy, so she sends her away. Sita became heart-broken, crying all day. After years, Rama came to see her. He ahs finally returned to her. In the cartoon” Sita Sings the Blues (animated film by Nina Paley)  “, it shows us how the story can relate to the modern times. The author is being abandoned by her husband. Here are some pictures of the film.

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Gilgamesh

                Gilgamesh is a story about a half-human and half-god king. He thinks he is the most powerful person so he does whatever he wants and gets whatever he wants. He takes every woman there is, even the ones that are getting marry. Because of he is very arrogant and does not care about his people, the people complain to the gods. So what the gods created is an equal of Gigamesh,Enkidu . He is half-human and half-animal. So he is just as strong as Gilgamesh. After they became friends, they went to forest to kill the monster called Humbaba. After killing the monster, soon Enkidu is cursed. After Enkidu died, Gilgamesh realized he is afraid of death. He does not want to die yet, so he goes on a journey to search for eternal life. He is not satisfied with what he has right now. After he found the wise man, he tells him how to have an eternal life. He has to stay awake for days, but he failed. So he is planning to go back to Uruk, but the wise man’s wife tells him that there is a plant that can restore youth. But he lost it on his way back, but he finally learns to treat his people the right way after this journey.Below is some pictures of Gilgames and Enkidu.

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