The hero's journey trope is very present in Equal Rites, Esk's call to adventure comes when her powers become unmanageable and Granny Weatherwax takes her to the Unseen University.
Wednesday, February 25, 2015
Week 6- The Hero's Journey- Equal Rites
Terry Pratchet's Equal Rites was my first introduction to both his writing and to Discworld. I have to say I was pretty reluctant to read it at first, although honestly after reading it I can't figure out why. I found it to be inventive, interesting, and funny. As far as following the hero's journey, Eskarina is an interesting protagonist. The rules and differences surrounding the magic of witches vs. the magic of wizards was interesting in that it didn't matter the sex of the individual (although all wizards are men and all witches are women) but the way the person accessed their powers and also the way they went about learning magic. Also- Granny Weatherwax is awesome and I wish she was my grandma.
The hero's journey trope is very present in Equal Rites, Esk's call to adventure comes when her powers become unmanageable and Granny Weatherwax takes her to the Unseen University.
Her supernatural aide is clearly Granny Weatherwax as the only way she is allowed at the university is as a servant. This could be seen as her initial breakthrough and crossing the first threshold into the world of wizards.
Her attempt to help Simon and ending up in the other dimension could be seen as the belly of the beast. And her return to the University and continuation to discover a new kind of magic is her victorious return. Pratchett's Discworld gave me an entirely new universe to explore and allowed for me to dive right in without having to have read his many other books in this universe.
The hero's journey trope is very present in Equal Rites, Esk's call to adventure comes when her powers become unmanageable and Granny Weatherwax takes her to the Unseen University.
Week 5- Witches!
Ahhhh finally, the week I have been waiting for. I admit that out of all my horror, fantasy, and sci-fi favorites, that witches are at the top of the list (werewolves are cool too, but i mean theres just something way cooler about witches- maybe just the word? Not sure). I think there is a lot to be said about witches, women, magic, and the idea of harnessing nature and natural energy that the archetype of the witch can bring up. Not only that, but the different way that witches are depicted has changed over time and is a lasting figure in many stories.
I personally like to look at the way witches and magic are depicted in different books and movies, with different rules and sources of power etc. For example in Bewitched, witches are both female and male (sometimes called warlocks) who possess immense powers, able to alter the world at the flick of a wrist (or twitch of the nose) and a few silly words. Looking at the way female power is represented by Samantha Stevens, we see that it also clearly reflects the issues of the times (late 1950's-1960's). Samantha, a witch of a few hundred years of age, marries Darren, a mortal man who works in advertising. She is seen willingly giving up her powers in order to make Darren happy but also using them in every episode in order get out of a jam. Here we see the issues of women giving up their power to a man and also Darren being played by two completely different people.
Endora provides an interesting voice throughout the show, often scolding Samantha for not using her natural gifts and making fun of Darren for wanted to live a life free of magic. In the show she is also a "separated" woman from her warlock husband and lives a free life doing as she pleases.
I personally like to look at the way witches and magic are depicted in different books and movies, with different rules and sources of power etc. For example in Bewitched, witches are both female and male (sometimes called warlocks) who possess immense powers, able to alter the world at the flick of a wrist (or twitch of the nose) and a few silly words. Looking at the way female power is represented by Samantha Stevens, we see that it also clearly reflects the issues of the times (late 1950's-1960's). Samantha, a witch of a few hundred years of age, marries Darren, a mortal man who works in advertising. She is seen willingly giving up her powers in order to make Darren happy but also using them in every episode in order get out of a jam. Here we see the issues of women giving up their power to a man and also Darren being played by two completely different people.
Endora provides an interesting voice throughout the show, often scolding Samantha for not using her natural gifts and making fun of Darren for wanted to live a life free of magic. In the show she is also a "separated" woman from her warlock husband and lives a free life doing as she pleases.
Similarly in Bell, Book and Candle we see a witch Gillian, played by Kim Novak, living a free (barefoot) life, reveling in her powers, creating storms and generally doing as she pleases with her witch brother and aunt as supporting characters. The only rule seems to be that if a witch ever truly falls in love they will lose their powers. After a multitude of different mishaps and a cancelled wedding- Gillian realizes she loves Shep and ends up losing her powers and reuniting with him in the end (only after she has lost her powers of course as he spends the entire movie unaware or completely terrified of her). A common theme I've seen in many movies centering on witches is the idea of witches as husband stealers (Bell, Book and Candle, So I Married a Witch, Practical Magic)
(I sit on my couch like this all the time- dont you?)
Looking at Practical Magic, the witches here take on a more quaint and old school feel. Set in a small seaside town (possibly in upstate NY) the Owens witches are more natural, with plants and gardens, and herbs abounding in their victorian home. Even their powers come about in a very natural way (Sally's coffee stirs itself, the aunts turn on appliances just by looking at them), although they do end up raising a zombie back from the dead and releasing a powerful spirit (the protagonist of the story) But also a deeper understanding of nature and magic and also Sally's acceptance of her power is needed in order to save the day, as well as the banding together of a group of women.
Practical Magic does differ from some in that the women in this family are definitely the dominant ones- any man who falls in love with them meets an untimely death due to a long standing family curse (if I had a nickel).
Week 4- THE OLD WEIRD AND THE NEW WEIRD
I think what separates "weird" purely from fiction or fantasy is the base setting of a real world that it does not let go of. In fantasy books the reader is either dropped into a completely different world (Tolkein) or perhaps starts out in the normal world and then quickly escapes into a wild fantasy world (Harry Potter, Narnia). I feel that what keeps the weird, weird is that it is based in the real world and no matter how many fantastical, supernatural, or scary elements it brings it it still keeps a tight hold on reality or at least the every day realities that take place within the story, nothing is glossed over and the nothing is glamorized. This, I feel, keeps the reader/viewer grounded in the story and allows the fantastical elements to become more believable and can sometimes make them seem almost commonplace.
In Troll Hunter- yes the students find out that trolls exist and that they can be killed by sunlight (fantastical!) they also discover that there is not only a man who's sole job is to hunt dangerous trolls but that there is also an entire government department dedicated to keeping the troll population in check. This includes the bureaucracy, paperwork, forms, low pay and some of the dirty work involved in regular everyday, regular jobs. This, accompanied by the fact that the troll hunter must routinely cover himself in troll excrement in order to mask his scent to the trolls, makes for an unappealing job description. Not to mention the dark ending including a government cover up of students discovering trolls exist.
While Cabin in the Woods takes the fantastical and horror elements to a higher level, it still keeps the film grounded in the monotony and heirarchy of a large multinational business. The ancient rituals meant to keep these monsters at bay gave rise to a business meant to keep humanity safe by sacrificing 5 youths every year (whore, athlete, scholar, fool, virgin)- the archetype thing I found interesting and weird at the same time but again, making the sort of every day archetypes we see and making them supernatural.
In Troll Hunter- yes the students find out that trolls exist and that they can be killed by sunlight (fantastical!) they also discover that there is not only a man who's sole job is to hunt dangerous trolls but that there is also an entire government department dedicated to keeping the troll population in check. This includes the bureaucracy, paperwork, forms, low pay and some of the dirty work involved in regular everyday, regular jobs. This, accompanied by the fact that the troll hunter must routinely cover himself in troll excrement in order to mask his scent to the trolls, makes for an unappealing job description. Not to mention the dark ending including a government cover up of students discovering trolls exist.
While Cabin in the Woods takes the fantastical and horror elements to a higher level, it still keeps the film grounded in the monotony and heirarchy of a large multinational business. The ancient rituals meant to keep these monsters at bay gave rise to a business meant to keep humanity safe by sacrificing 5 youths every year (whore, athlete, scholar, fool, virgin)- the archetype thing I found interesting and weird at the same time but again, making the sort of every day archetypes we see and making them supernatural.
Week 3- Asian Horror
When I first began to delve into "Asian Horror" I'll admit I did not know what to expect. I had seen the American remake of The Grudge when it originally came out in theaters but to put it lightly, I was a novice in the genre. Beginning with film version of Kwaidon I was first taken with the look and overall feel of the movie. Having been made in the 60's and entirely on a sound stage it really had a look that I responded to. It was theatrical and a little bit too perfect, which made it feel dated but also, in my opinion, added to the otherworldly quality of the story.
I think the thing that I picked up most on throughout all the films and stories is that there is not necessarily a BIG BAD to be defeated or afraid of. These supernatural elements, spirits, ghosts, nature spirits, etc, all seems to simply exist in nature and more than anything seek to restore something that was sent out of balance. Going along with the lack of sinister evil would be the lack of a morality tale told by the protagonist. Nothing irks me more in a horror film than the only couple to be seen getting frisky gets murdered within the next 30 minutes. It was refreshing that not only is there no punishment for a "immoral act"- instead, these spirits exist and are simply trying to put nature back the way it should be and to be left alone.
I think the thing that I picked up most on throughout all the films and stories is that there is not necessarily a BIG BAD to be defeated or afraid of. These supernatural elements, spirits, ghosts, nature spirits, etc, all seems to simply exist in nature and more than anything seek to restore something that was sent out of balance. Going along with the lack of sinister evil would be the lack of a morality tale told by the protagonist. Nothing irks me more in a horror film than the only couple to be seen getting frisky gets murdered within the next 30 minutes. It was refreshing that not only is there no punishment for a "immoral act"- instead, these spirits exist and are simply trying to put nature back the way it should be and to be left alone.
Another aspect I enjoyed about the stories and films discussed was the contrast in action from the characters- either they are completely contained and docile, or exploding into action with energy. The snow spirit in Kwaidon for example, is completely calm and walks slowly through the snow- and then suddenly uses her ice breath to freeze that poor old man to death. Not to mention Asami's character in Audition. I'm going to be totally real with you- I COULD NOT FINISH THIS MOVIE. Too gruesome for me, and frankly nothing creeps me out more that needless gross violence (like in Saw or Hostel) I did however see that same contrast in action in all the stories read in one way or another and while Audition might not be my kind of movie I can definitely see how it fits into the Asian Horror genre. (The man in the bean bag did it for me, NOPE NOPE NOEP NOEP NOPE NOPE NOPE).
Tuesday, February 10, 2015
Vampires
When I think about vampires portrayed in modern fiction I am given a multitude of options to choose from. Do I want sparkling, broody teens trapped in a forever chaste high school romance? (the answer is no by the way), do i want true bloods hyper sexual, red and black clad muscle boys with a taste for fairy blood? (honestly sometime yes). Or maybe the dark, creepy, victorian era egyptian style nosferatue looking vampires of penny dreadful? (hell yes). My point being that modern fiction both in literature and film/television has given us a wide variety of vampiric characters each given their own mythology, rules, aesthetic etc. But I think one of my favorite is still the characters found in Ann Rice's universe in Interview with a Vampire.
Rice's characters are essentially the prototypes for which many vampire characters of modern fiction will be based on. They have lived, stuck in time, on the fringes of society, hidden in the shadows and blending into the night around them. The thing I enjoyed most about Interview was the way Ann Rice treats her characters and their relationships with one another. They are anything but one dimensional and given the fact that vampires usually live hundreds of years, she gives their relationships nuance by describing the way they change throughout the different decades and eras. Claudia in particular was an interesting character to me- stuck in a childs body while her mind and tastes mature, Rice does not glamorize the lives these creatures lead but rather describes how many of them have to deal with their own issues in their own ways.
It seems that in many pieces of vampire fiction the main good character (if there is one) is more often that not tortured by their state of existence. In Interview with a Vampire Louis is often tortured by the fact that he must survive of the blood of others and hates killing, many times surviving off of animals. In Twilight Edward too is tortured by his vampiric nature and won't have sex with his girlfriend for 4 books (sorry I just really dislike those books). In Buffy the Vampire Slayer Buffy's first and only love is Angel- a vampire cursed with a soul.
Conversely there is often a vampire in these books who fully embraces their nature and sees themselves as a higher form of being, above mortals and almost god like. While the vampire story may be a bit played out in many ways, it does make those creating vampires stories put new and inventive twists on them, or go back to the classics.
Something interesting about the relationships in Interview as well as many of the other vampires stories is the fluid sexuality given to many of the vampiric characters. While it is sometimes implied rather than boldly stated, there is definitely some sexual tension between Louis and Lestat and indeed many of the characters in other vampire fiction are at least shown to be no stranger to same sex relationships.
What I think is so great about vampires in fiction is the way they can be described as these genteel, all knowing creatures evolved past social standards, and also as base, monsterous creatures who feast on blood. This to me is what makes both vampire fiction and the relationships within so interesting and fun.
Rice's characters are essentially the prototypes for which many vampire characters of modern fiction will be based on. They have lived, stuck in time, on the fringes of society, hidden in the shadows and blending into the night around them. The thing I enjoyed most about Interview was the way Ann Rice treats her characters and their relationships with one another. They are anything but one dimensional and given the fact that vampires usually live hundreds of years, she gives their relationships nuance by describing the way they change throughout the different decades and eras. Claudia in particular was an interesting character to me- stuck in a childs body while her mind and tastes mature, Rice does not glamorize the lives these creatures lead but rather describes how many of them have to deal with their own issues in their own ways.
It seems that in many pieces of vampire fiction the main good character (if there is one) is more often that not tortured by their state of existence. In Interview with a Vampire Louis is often tortured by the fact that he must survive of the blood of others and hates killing, many times surviving off of animals. In Twilight Edward too is tortured by his vampiric nature and won't have sex with his girlfriend for 4 books (sorry I just really dislike those books). In Buffy the Vampire Slayer Buffy's first and only love is Angel- a vampire cursed with a soul.
Conversely there is often a vampire in these books who fully embraces their nature and sees themselves as a higher form of being, above mortals and almost god like. While the vampire story may be a bit played out in many ways, it does make those creating vampires stories put new and inventive twists on them, or go back to the classics.
Something interesting about the relationships in Interview as well as many of the other vampires stories is the fluid sexuality given to many of the vampiric characters. While it is sometimes implied rather than boldly stated, there is definitely some sexual tension between Louis and Lestat and indeed many of the characters in other vampire fiction are at least shown to be no stranger to same sex relationships.
What I think is so great about vampires in fiction is the way they can be described as these genteel, all knowing creatures evolved past social standards, and also as base, monsterous creatures who feast on blood. This to me is what makes both vampire fiction and the relationships within so interesting and fun.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)