Da Vinci Code -Thinking Activity
' The Da Vinci Code' represents truth
related to the Holy Grail. In addition it shows symbolism used in the
novel. Which in a way helps students to cultivate critical power.
Similarly, we got thinking activity, for further details related to the task click here...
1 - Brown states on his website that his books are not anti-Christian, though he is on a 'constant spiritual journey' himself, and says that his book The Da Vinci Code is simply "an entertaining story that promotes spiritual discussion and debate" and suggests that the book may be used "as a positive catalyst for introspection and exploration of our faith."
1 - Brown states on his website that his books are not anti-Christian, though he is on a 'constant spiritual journey' himself, and says that his book The Da Vinci Code is simply "an entertaining story that promotes spiritual discussion and debate" and suggests that the book may be used "as a positive catalyst for introspection and exploration of our faith."
It
seems that Brown tries to put himself in the category of a pagan. But
we can't deny that what he represents is quite true. Yes, there are so
many elements which portrays his novels as An anti - Christian. As per
my personal view what Brown represents is very much needed. Because as '
Religion' it self is a problematic thing to think. Because to live
such a life we doesn't need any religion. We can live spiritual life
without any suppression. But before that again one question arises in
our mind that : What is spiritual...!? So, our ideas related to faith
gets broken. Ultimately we can say that what religion gives you is not
quite true.
2 - “Although
it is obvious that much of what Brown presented in his novel as
absolutely true and accurate is neither of those, some of that material
is of course essential to the intrigue, and screenwriter Akiva Goldsman
has retained the novel's core, the Grail-related material: the sacred
feminine, Mary Magdalene's marriage, the Priory of Sion, certain aspects
of Leonardo's art, and so on[1].” How far do you agree with this observation of Norris J. Lacy?
Obviously yes, Almost most of the elements are true and accurate. To
create some effects, intrigue becomes necessary. Which makes this novel
more interesting. Same way Akiva Goldsman plays his role wisely by
screenwriting. This thing we can find through the mysterious elements.
Moreover, they have shown factual information related to Mary
Magdalene and Holy Grail.
3 - You have studied ‘Genesis’ (The Bible), ‘The Paradise Lost’ (John Milton) and ‘The Da Vinci Code’ (Dan Brown). Which of the narrative/s seem/s to be truthful? Whose narrative is convincing to the contemporary young mind?
3 - You have studied ‘Genesis’ (The Bible), ‘The Paradise Lost’ (John Milton) and ‘The Da Vinci Code’ (Dan Brown). Which of the narrative/s seem/s to be truthful? Whose narrative is convincing to the contemporary young mind?
Yes, in Genesis larger narrative gives wrong judgements. When we
see from gender discourse, it has so many loose tone. There are so
many examples like, Eve's birth, the fall of men is because of the
women and mainly the whole concept of God and etc. These all ideas fail
in larger context or rather we can say in this scientific world. In The
Paradise Lost Milton narrates the ideas are more convincing. We find
Adam and eve has more power, they both remains in the center. Where's
God stands on the periphery. When we read The Da Vinci code that time we
find wrong representation of the painting, relationship between Jesus
and Mary, and much more. As we have seen that reality and science has
more power to convince the reader. So, in conclusion we can say that
What Milton represents is quite true.
4 - What harm has been done to humanity by the biblical narration or that of Milton’s in The Paradise Lose? What sort of damage does narrative like ‘The Vinci Code’ do to humanity?
Many time person accepts literary narration as a fact. Which creates problem in living. Similarly, so many new things is being portrayed in the Paradise Lost and in The Da Vinci Code. In the characters of The Paradise Lost, we find more positive interpretation. Adam and Eve have a more power, how God is partial, character of Satan and etc. Most of the narrative is human centric, which provides human to think independently. Same way in The Da Vinci code, we see representation of Jesus, his marital life, his family background, and etc. When reader reads this kind of work they assumes that it is the right representation of Jesus. But they fails in assuming that it is a literary work. So, we can say that it has both pros and cons on human life.
5 - What difference do you see in the portrayal of 'Ophelia' (Kate Winslet) in Kenneth Branagh's Hamlet, 'Elizabeth' (Helena Bonham Carter) in Kenneth Branagh's Mary Shelley's Frankenstein or 'Hester Prynne' (Demi Moore) in Roland Joffé's The Scarlet Letter' or David Yates's 'Harmione Granger' (Emma Watson) in last four Harry Potter films - and 'Sophie Neuve' (Audrey Tautau) in Ron Howard's The Da Vinci Code? How would justify your answer?
It is a vital question to think on it. Because, representation of women in literary works tells so many hidden points. The character of Ophelia is ruled by male dominant society. Like she can't do anything without the permission of her father and brother. In her relationship with Hamlet also she is shown as just a tool. The representation of the character Elizabeth is also the same as Ophelia. Most of the time she remains inferior in the whole story. She is portrayed as a girl who always thinks about marriage life. Hester has some good qualities as she rebels against the society but there are so many intimate scenes, which shows how women's body becomes more serious than her mind. Compared to these all above character she is more intelligent, but she is shown as an emotional, jealous, which indicates women identity. But when we see the character of Sophie Neuve, she represents more intellectual things, even not a single time we find her as a male gazing. She is portrayed as a rational thinker, who always remains in the search of knowledge. Thus, we can see the difference in women characters.
6/7 - Do novel / film lead us into critical (deconstructive) thinking about your religion? Can we think of such conspiracy theory about Hindu religious symbols / myths? Have you come across any similar book/movie, which tries to deconstruct accepted notions about Hindu religion or culture and by dismantling it, attempts to reconstruct another possible interpretation of truth?
Yes, there are so many books which tries to show what is religion. And we can't deny that it helps reader to deconstruct the suppressed notion of religion. By reading such a literary text we can look into religion from critical angle. As we all know that the idea of religion is not at all reliable. It leads people into darkness. There should be books on the religion, as how people can be fooled by the name of religion. In Indian web series called The Sacred Games, we find clear cut definition of religion. That how religion becomes the tool for separating people. There are so many scenes which shows that there is nothing like God, it is kinds of a group who uses religion as their selfish motives.
8 - When we do traditional reading of the novel ‘The Da Vinci Code’, Robert Langdon, Professor of Religious Symbology, Harvard University emerges asprotagonist and Sir Leigh Teabing, a British Historian as antagonist. Who will claim the position of protagonist if we do atheist reading of the novel?
As we all know that historians see the things with a proper evidence. Similarly, in the Da Vinci Code, Sir Leigh Teabing remains in the search of an evidence. Who works with scientific temperament and he doesn't believe in any religion, so we can interpret that what he suggests would be more reliable. Furthermore, Teabing tries to find real DNA of Jesus and Mary. So, we can interpret that he claim the position of protagonist when we look from atheist angle.
9 - Explain Ann Gray’s three propositions on ‘knowability’ with illustrations from the novel ‘The Da Vinci Code’.
a. 1) Identifying what is knowable
b. 2) identifying and acknowledging the relationship of the knower and the known
c. 3) What is the procedure for ‘knowing’?
In the Da Vinci Code, we can address an idea of Ann Gray. We can apply the concept of 'Knowability.'
1 - When we look the definition, we can define that from the symbol of pentacle whole story moves to the end. So this thing stands in the category of knowable.
2 - It shows the relationship between the knower and the known. Character of Teabing knows reality. As he himself knows the history. So he becomes success in decoding the things. Characters like, Langdon and Sophie also stands in it.
3 - In this concept whole process takes place. Like, in the beginning Langdon and Sophie looks everything from various perspective and reaches at the end.
4 - What harm has been done to humanity by the biblical narration or that of Milton’s in The Paradise Lose? What sort of damage does narrative like ‘The Vinci Code’ do to humanity?
Many time person accepts literary narration as a fact. Which creates problem in living. Similarly, so many new things is being portrayed in the Paradise Lost and in The Da Vinci Code. In the characters of The Paradise Lost, we find more positive interpretation. Adam and Eve have a more power, how God is partial, character of Satan and etc. Most of the narrative is human centric, which provides human to think independently. Same way in The Da Vinci code, we see representation of Jesus, his marital life, his family background, and etc. When reader reads this kind of work they assumes that it is the right representation of Jesus. But they fails in assuming that it is a literary work. So, we can say that it has both pros and cons on human life.
5 - What difference do you see in the portrayal of 'Ophelia' (Kate Winslet) in Kenneth Branagh's Hamlet, 'Elizabeth' (Helena Bonham Carter) in Kenneth Branagh's Mary Shelley's Frankenstein or 'Hester Prynne' (Demi Moore) in Roland Joffé's The Scarlet Letter' or David Yates's 'Harmione Granger' (Emma Watson) in last four Harry Potter films - and 'Sophie Neuve' (Audrey Tautau) in Ron Howard's The Da Vinci Code? How would justify your answer?
It is a vital question to think on it. Because, representation of women in literary works tells so many hidden points. The character of Ophelia is ruled by male dominant society. Like she can't do anything without the permission of her father and brother. In her relationship with Hamlet also she is shown as just a tool. The representation of the character Elizabeth is also the same as Ophelia. Most of the time she remains inferior in the whole story. She is portrayed as a girl who always thinks about marriage life. Hester has some good qualities as she rebels against the society but there are so many intimate scenes, which shows how women's body becomes more serious than her mind. Compared to these all above character she is more intelligent, but she is shown as an emotional, jealous, which indicates women identity. But when we see the character of Sophie Neuve, she represents more intellectual things, even not a single time we find her as a male gazing. She is portrayed as a rational thinker, who always remains in the search of knowledge. Thus, we can see the difference in women characters.
6/7 - Do novel / film lead us into critical (deconstructive) thinking about your religion? Can we think of such conspiracy theory about Hindu religious symbols / myths? Have you come across any similar book/movie, which tries to deconstruct accepted notions about Hindu religion or culture and by dismantling it, attempts to reconstruct another possible interpretation of truth?
Yes, there are so many books which tries to show what is religion. And we can't deny that it helps reader to deconstruct the suppressed notion of religion. By reading such a literary text we can look into religion from critical angle. As we all know that the idea of religion is not at all reliable. It leads people into darkness. There should be books on the religion, as how people can be fooled by the name of religion. In Indian web series called The Sacred Games, we find clear cut definition of religion. That how religion becomes the tool for separating people. There are so many scenes which shows that there is nothing like God, it is kinds of a group who uses religion as their selfish motives.
8 - When we do traditional reading of the novel ‘The Da Vinci Code’, Robert Langdon, Professor of Religious Symbology, Harvard University emerges asprotagonist and Sir Leigh Teabing, a British Historian as antagonist. Who will claim the position of protagonist if we do atheist reading of the novel?
As we all know that historians see the things with a proper evidence. Similarly, in the Da Vinci Code, Sir Leigh Teabing remains in the search of an evidence. Who works with scientific temperament and he doesn't believe in any religion, so we can interpret that what he suggests would be more reliable. Furthermore, Teabing tries to find real DNA of Jesus and Mary. So, we can interpret that he claim the position of protagonist when we look from atheist angle.
9 - Explain Ann Gray’s three propositions on ‘knowability’ with illustrations from the novel ‘The Da Vinci Code’.
a. 1) Identifying what is knowable
b. 2) identifying and acknowledging the relationship of the knower and the known
c. 3) What is the procedure for ‘knowing’?
In the Da Vinci Code, we can address an idea of Ann Gray. We can apply the concept of 'Knowability.'
1 - When we look the definition, we can define that from the symbol of pentacle whole story moves to the end. So this thing stands in the category of knowable.
2 - It shows the relationship between the knower and the known. Character of Teabing knows reality. As he himself knows the history. So he becomes success in decoding the things. Characters like, Langdon and Sophie also stands in it.
3 - In this concept whole process takes place. Like, in the beginning Langdon and Sophie looks everything from various perspective and reaches at the end.
Comments
Post a Comment