For Tuesday, November 8, please elect to do the following:
(1) Watch Jason and the Argonauts (Nick Willing, 2000), taking notes as you see fit. In addition to the DVD being reserved at the library, the film is also streaming on Amazon.
(2) Perhaps not unsurprisingly, there's not much worthy scholarship available on this screen text. Given that fact, and because the film is long, please just consider the following questions as you watch:
- How does this version pay homage to and/or self-consciously correct the 1963 version?
- What is this version's conception of heroism vs. that of other screen texts?
- How does Medea in this version compare to Medea in the 1963 film?
(3) Remember by noon on Tuesday to comment on this post with your choice of a sequence from Jason and the Argonauts to view in class.
DC
I would like to watch the scene with Hera and Eros 1:25:00 - 1:25:47
ReplyDeleteI like the way that Eros is portrayed as a flaming figure and I think it's funny how the actor tries to further emphasize the burning nature of a flame by wiggling the upper half of his body. And then Zeus mirrors Hera's actions to a certain extent except he holds water in his hand and instead of blowing it away like Hera did to Eros he swallows and gargles it. It shows the competitive side to Zeus and Hera's relationship. Also, because Hera is portrayed as always having to submit to Zeus (to an extent) the way she orders Eros around without explanation reminds us that she is still queen of the gods. --Willa
I'd also like to look at these scene for a couple of reasons. It's been a while since we've seen the gods so involved to this extend. I also appreciate this scene because it gives a little explanation as to why Medea falls in love so quickly with Jason; I wasn't cringing as much at the early "I love you"-gaga eyes. Lastly, I think the interaction between Hera and Zeus is funny; she always looks at him with such disdain (except for at the end when everything is, for some reason, totally fine between them...)
DeleteI would like to re-watch the brief introduction to Medea in the first episode around 00:38:03. This scene wasn't particularly spectacular in any way but it got my hopes up for Medea only to have them crushed later on. I thought Medea was actually going to be portrayed as a villain in this movie because, when she is first introduced in the movie, there is ominous music playing. Also, the shot of Medea raising her head to look up past the camera created a sense of mystery and power surrounding her. Her makeup and headdress clearly distinguish her as exotic. The focus on her face highlights that she is very beautiful so I thought she was going to be the "femme fatale" figure. Lastly, since the directors first show Medea in a desert with the golden fleece, I thought there intention was to show that she will be a dangerous obstacle that must be overcome in order to obtain the fleece.
ReplyDelete~Sophie
I would also like to re-watch this scene. I think that it is instrumental in setting up ideas of Medea, as well as more general ideas of women in mythology. In another way though, it distances us from Medea. While we are used to a particular conception of classical women in films, this depiction of Medea defies the standard.
DeleteI would like to watch the scene at 1:42:14 - 1:45:00 after Jason sows the dragon teeth and fights the monsters they spawn. It is interesting to compare this scene to the original Jason and the Argonauts by Harryhausen. Though not as dynamic as the original, this version stays more true to the myth, in which Jason tricks them into fighting each other.
ReplyDeleteI would like to watch the scene where Zeus tries to seduce Medea. It begins at 2:16:52 and ends at 2:21:12. Medea's line "Whatever may come, remember our love," to Jason interests me. If Jason were to follow this advice, would the events of Euripides' Medea be avoided? I find that this miniseries likes to hint at the tragic events to come, or insinuate that Medea or Jason is not a "good guy," but always pulls back at the last second, preferring to go with the "and the heroes lived happily ever after" story. Analysis aside, Zeus' attempt at seduction makes me laugh, and that too-long, overzealous teen make out between Medea and Jason makes me embarrassed for them.
ReplyDeleteI would like to look at the first episode, about 22 minutes in, where Jason assembles the argonauts. I think this is obviously an important scene, but it is also a strange departure. Not only can we look at a bunch of mythological characters as the miniseries imagines them, but we can also examine the "Under Dog" nature of these argonauts, which is VERY different from the norm.
ReplyDeleteI would like to watch the scene in which Jason fights the Harpies (1:09:45–1:14:45). I think that the special effects are very successful in capturing the fear that the specific mythical monster would bring to any warrior. It is an important moment for Jason, because he gets the change to proof his skills as a leader, and clam his position of power, not only by royal descent, but because of his achievements in the battle field.
ReplyDelete-Frini
I would like to look at the Argo's departure, from about 34:40 to 36:20. I think it's interesting to see the unusual crew that Jason has assembled, because it demonstrates Jason's values and perception of humanity and his leadership over this variety of characters. This scene differentiates Jason from our previous heroes, Perseus and Hercules, because Jason does not achieve his feats through his own strength, but by managing the strengths of his companions.
ReplyDeleteI wanted to look at the scene where we see Poseidon, about 42:10 to 47:00. This portrayal of a god (along with the other gods we see) uses some conventions we've seen but also strays in some ways. It would also be interesting to look at how the scene was influenced by Harryhausen's film. Poseidon here could almost be a conflation of the sea god and Talos from Jason 1963.
ReplyDelete