12/3/19 Martin Zeng PD1

12/3/19

Martin Zeng PD 1

Aim: How does Oedipus’ self-mutilation highlight the tragedy of metaphorical blindness?

“Who is truly at fault for the fall of the house of Oedipus?”

Kyle - Laius is at fault because he raped a boy which cursed his family and it's future generations and also Jocasta was in denial the whole time instead of informing Oedipus.

Everyone - it's the parents’ fault

Greek Violence

In Greek plays they don't show violent scenes and instead there would be messengers telling the audience what had happened, i.e Oedipus gouging his eyes out.

Paulina - Certain shows and movies like slashers have a lot of shock factor and usually we feel like the effects are cheap and also Greeks to an extent were right for not displaying the violence and were ahead of their time. 

Kyle - In the play you know what happens but on TV you don't know what happens beforehand so violent scenes are important to contribute to the story. - very interesting point

13 Reasons why had a suicide scene that sparked outrage and the movie Hostel was overly violent

“Is violence present in our shows today?” 

There definitely is violence from the examples Nafi and Kyle gave, i.e. gore and murder in superhero shows

The Appeal of Oedipus by Dr. Eva Cybulska, Psychiatrist

Available in the Syllabus.

Blindness and Irony

Matt - The appeal is our assumption that something is going to happen and when something else happens it's unexpected and is part of the appeal.

Paulina - Physical blindness teaches people a lot because it causes them to appreciate things more and really think about things that people with sight wouldn't understand

The Gallery Walk - Each group gave textual evidence about one of the themes below and then took turns walking around until each group had seen each paper

1. Fate v.s. Free Will
2. Vision and Blindness
3. Self-Mutilation
4. Ambition and Pride
5. The Role of Women
6. Family Dynamics

What did I learn?

Today, I learned to think about the violence present in our media and understand the role that it plays. Kyle brought up a very good point that the Greeks knew what was going to happen in the plot but in our movies and TV shows we don't know the whole story which allows violence to contribute to the plot. I also learned about the importance of irony in stories amit subverts expectations and keeps the audience on their toes, making the story so much more entertaining.

Why did I learn it?

I learned it because it's important to grasp the behind the scenes and question why things are the way they are. For example we’ve all watched movies with violence in it, but did we ever stop and think “What does violence add to this form of media?” Or “Why is violence an important plot element?”. Thinking deeper about the ideas behind media we consume allows us to understand the structure that supports it and appreciate it.

How will I use what I learned?

The next time I see examples of blindness, irony, and violence I will stop and think about what they contribute to the story. I will expand on these skills by looking for other circumstances that the author, producer, or director impose on their characters or the plot. By applying this skill I can evaluate proper uses of these ideas and learn to appreciate media on a level past the surface.

Martin Zeng #17 Modern Mythology 2020