Talk:Tarzan/Archive 1

Appearance/abilities
Hello- I am a avid Tarzan fan and would like to add to this entry- I was thinking about at least adding an "appearance" (grey eyes) and "Abilities/skills"... Not sure how interested people are since it doesnt look like there has been much recent activity. I am interested in ideas/thoughts and plan to start in a couple days. Jbk 15:46, 26 June 2006 (UTC)


 * Excellent idea. Burroughs makes a big deal of Tarzan's physical characteristics. This should be mentioned. JamieNettles 18:25, 2 December 2006 (UTC)


 * Did a bit of this. Could be expanded. JamieNettles 01:19, 3 December 2006 (UTC)

I'm concerned that the new sections on appearance and abilities have no sourcing and treat fiction as fact. There may be some original research in them as well--did ERB really put a numeric figure on how enhanced Tarzan's abilities are? It would be great if we could cite passages in Burroughs' work where Tarzan is described--it would make the article a much more useful reference, and more fun, too, I think. Nareek 16:51, 5 December 2006 (UTC)

I copyedited the "skills/abilities" section quite a bit - it was rather amaturishly written. It may still need more editing. Personally, I feel it should be removed, but I won't do it myself. Helikophis (talk) 19:36, 17 January 2008 (UTC)

I am pretty sure Burroughs does sometimes use numbers- such as distance that Tarzan can sense an approaching party and his strength is meant to be nearly, if not, superhuman as most of us can not replicate his feats. I may try to find some citation in the Ulery Tarzan book. I like the "skills/abilities" section and wouldnt be able to do better. Although I can offer no proof, I always took Tarzan's impressive ability to learn to mean that he has something of a genius intellect or is extremely gifted- as that would explain justify some of his feats- language learning and reading. While I think of it- Tarzan knows an incredible array of languages, he learns one nearly every book for awhile- I dont know where to work that in...Jbk (talk) 19:18, 1 April 2008 (UTC)

Greystoke
What about the film Greystoke ?

Racism
Doesn't anyone think the early tarzan was atleast a wee bit racist?

Depends of what you mean by that. If you take into account today's standards and view towards racism, then yes, definitly. But I think it wasn't so borderline when first published - so Tarzan of the Apes is a product of its time. Most of the black people protrayed are either savage cannibals or stupid fat servants (Esmeralda, Jane's maid) that spend their time being afraid and useless, fainting in front of danger at almost every oppotunity. Their white masters almost make them a favour by taking them in their service ! There is, however, a reflexion towards the middle of the first book on how individuals can be different regardless of their specie - there are brave an cowards amongst lions, good and bad people amongst "the blacks". So Tarzan certainly feels strange now, with its prejudices towards race (but also class : all the prominent characters always come from "good stock", and Tarzan himself is a lord in his own right, rather than a product of the backstreets of London), but it is certainly because of the way the white dominant man was perceiving the rest of the world in those days - as in "Last of Mohicans" for example, where all the Indians are despisable, save Uncas and his father. -Fumble-


 * Also, my recollection is that Burroughs was quite jingoistic in his depiction of Germans and Japanese. "Huns" and "Japs" if I recall correctly, with all the racial and cultural stereotypes you might expect.  Fairly normal, I believe, for American writing during and after WWII.  I will research this. JamieNettles 01:19, 3 December 2006 (UTC)


 * I added "former" to the description of Oak Park, IL as a sun-down town. It hasn't been a sun-down community in decades. If you follow the link to the wiki description, you'd know the city is more than 22% African American.Chegitz guevara 16:40, 9 July 2007 (UTC)

Tarzan the character
Anyone else notice that the article doesn't actually talk about Tarzan /the character/? Nothing about his background, exploits, etc. Doesn't even give his real name.


 * We certainly need to work on that. I'll make a start. Rick Norwood 17:43, 26 December 2005 (UTC)
 * Something rarely noticed is that ERB doesn't give his real name: Clayton and Greystoke are pseudonyms. Check the prologue to Tarzan of the Apes. CFLeon 05:23, 3 January 2006 (UTC)


 * I've added a bit about Tarzan's character. More could be added, such as his lifelong friendship with Tantor. JamieNettles 01:19, 3 December 2006 (UTC)

Tarzan in anime
I think it would be important to include information about the Tarzan revival in anime. It seems I've read about Tarzan anime in Japan/Korea as well as maybe in India. Does anyone know more about this? --Markkidd 02:58, 6 May 2006 (UTC)

Link to Tarzan of the Apes
Fiddled with and then removed an alternate link to 'Tarzan of the Apes,' the original text, because there is a seperate entry for that book. The Gutenberg version is probably sufficient at any rate.--Markkidd 03:45, 16 May 2006 (UTC)

Immortality
Why does it say that Tarzan and Jane are immortal? Who ever said they're immortal? Tarzan's just big, strong, fast, and lucky, so he kills lions, but that doesn't make him immortal. 194.225.62.74 05:43, 1 August 2006 (UTC)


 * It says they're immortal because Tarzan's creator Edgar Rice Burroughs said they're immortal. Tarzan underwent an immortality treatment from a witch doctor early in life, as stated in Tarzan and the Foreign Legion. Much later, Jane received immortality pills in Tarzan's Quest. It should be noted that both treatments make them immortal only in the sense that they do not age; they could still (in theory) be killed. BPK 06:14, 1 August 2006 (UTC)


 * Fully agree- Burroughs did a very good thing here in ensuring that his character(s) could continue on. Tarzan himself notes that someday he could be just a little too slow and still meet his end...but we know that wouldn't happenJbk 16:01, 9 August 2006 (UTC)

First Appearance
Just noted the change of the novel publication from 1912 to 1914. This is technically correct--the honest-to-God novel was released in 1914, however, the text of the novel had appeared whole in a 1912 issue of "All Story," a pulp magazine. Should this be noted? Sir Rhosis 01:59, 24 August 2006 (UTC)

Tarzan "Wannabes" and "Young Tarzans"
I disagree with listing Clint Walker in the official list of actors to have played Tarzan. He may have played a "Tarzan"-like character, or knock-off, but he was not in an officially licensed film. Hell, several actors have played "knock-offs." What next, are we going to list Carol Burnett? If no one objects, I'm gonna remove his name. Sir Rhosis 19:54, 31 August 2006 (UTC)

Also, I think I will create a separate subsection of the actors for those who have played younger versions of Tarzan in the films, that way we won't have the nitpicky listing of Gordon Griffith as the first Tarzan, etc. (besides, there was a baby who played Tarzan in the film before Griffith appears on screen, why isn't he listed if we want a 100% accurate list). I'll title the lists as "Actors Who Have Played Tarzan (Adult)," or something like that, and "Actors Who Have Played Younger Versions of Tarzan." In the latter list, I'll note which film starring the adult actor the youthful actor appeared in. There are several more besides Griffith, and if we're going to list him, we might as well list them all. If no one objects, I'll start work on the list in a few days. Sir Rhosis 19:14, 26 September 2006 (UTC)

A request
I was wondering if someone might create basic, better-than-nothing articles on The Return of Tarzan and Tarzan and the Jewels of Opar--to fill in some red links on a page I'm working on ("Arthur Jermyn"). And it seems like Tarzan's an important enough character for all his books to have their own articles. Nareek 05:44, 19 September 2006 (UTC)


 * Done, for the first one. I've been planning to write it for some time, and this seemed a good opportunity. I will do the other another time, if no one else beats me to it. I previously filled in most of the text for the Tarzan of the Apes article and wrote the Tarzan the Untamed article as well. So that's three of the novels now articled. Plenty to go, though. BPK 07:56, 19 September 2006 (UTC)


 * Thanks! That's great! Nareek 12:03, 19 September 2006 (UTC)

Neutrality dispute
Yes, it was me. I was reading through the Tarzan article, and noticed there were many opinions scattered through it, particular to note was those on the 2003 WB Tarzan series and the direct to video Tarzan and Jane. If I interpret what wikipedia is, it's to report the facts, not whether in the author's opinion it was good or not. In other news... the Tarzan article is just generally really shoddy. I'd pitch in and help, but I'm already working on two other sections. --Modeset 14:12, 30 September 2006 (UTC)

Influence of Tarzan, e.g., Jane Goodall
I know that Jane Goodall mentions Tarzan as being a major influence on her career choice. Are there other influences that can be cited? JamieNettles 18:25, 2 December 2006 (UTC)


 * I put in something to this effect. I will have to dig up a reference.  It is mentioned at http://www.janegoodall.org/jane/study-corner/Jane/bio.asp but I believe one of her books goes into more detail. JamieNettles 01:19, 3 December 2006 (UTC)

Analysis of Tarzan's Philosophy
As expounded by Burroughs, Tarzan has a very clear, if somewhat simple philosophy. I can articulate this philosophy based on the original texts, but I wonder if anyone has ever done a more thorough analysis of Tarzan's philosophy, something we could cite? JamieNettles 18:25, 2 December 2006 (UTC)

Does Edgar Rice Burrough's Tarzan have anything to do with the movie Tarzan?
Yes, I know the latter is derived from the former, but the resemblance is superficial. In particular, the intellectual and cultural capabilities of most movie Tarzans differ markedly from the literary Tarzan. This is mentioned in the article, but my concern is that they are different enough that they deserve different articles. Maybe if the literary Tarzan part of article were meatier? JamieNettles 18:25, 2 December 2006 (UTC)

actors foreign tarzan films?
Should be added to Tarzan? TerraFrost 05:09, 10 December 2006 (UTC)


 * I'd make it a separate list. One list being actors playing Tarzan in films officially licensed/sanctioned films by the Burroughs' estate, the other foreign/unlicensed films.  That would be my preference.  Sir Rhosis 05:29, 10 December 2006 (UTC)

Ownership edits
See Talk:Bran Mak Morn. Nareek 12:25, 28 January 2007 (UTC)

First appearance of the comic
Denis Gifford says in his "International Book of Comics" (London 1990) that Foster's Tarzan comic was published in the UK three months prior to the first appearance in the US, which would change the year of its first appearance to 1928. Does anybody know more about the British edition? --Martin de la Iglesia 14:20, 20 July 2007 (UTC)

Changes made
This article needs to be cleaned-up. I have identified many places where citations are needed (and there are many more such places).

I have also moved the "Primal Skills and Abilities" to the top of the article, right after "The Tarzan Character", which I think is a more appropriate location.

Also, I have created a section for "Works Inspired by Tarzan", and have moved the entries on Tarza and Starzan there. Personally, I think those entries should not be in this article at all...after all, this article is about Tarzan, not his immitators, of which there are many. Once we start mentioning these ersatz Tarzans, where do we end? Should we include Marvel's Ka-Zar? How about Sheena, Queen of the Jungle? And I'm sure there are many more possibilities. If no one objects, I will remove this section in a few days. Jimtrue 23:19, 20 July 2007 (UTC)


 * Most articles on famous characters, e.g. Sherlock Holmes, mention rip offs and parodies. I think they belong here.  If not here, where? Rick Norwood 12:25, 21 July 2007 (UTC)


 * Well, personally, I don't believe a list or accounting of the rip-offs, parodies, homages, etc. belongs in an encyclopedic article, other than a statement that the work is popular enough to inspire such efforts. But if you believe it does belong here, then I have no real objection.  But why limit the list to just these two rather obscure attempts?  There are a few more famous imitators that should be listed.  The list could get quite large. Jimtrue 14:00, 25 July 2007 (UTC)

Ongoing vandalism
This is merely to serve notice to XenaLite and TheOuterLimits that their ongoing efforts to vandalize this page with trivial and irrelevent links and categories will continue to be vigorously reverted. Wikipedia is supposed to be a source of information, not a display for fetishes and clutter. Thank you and good afternoon. BPK 14:12, 10 August 2007 (UTC)

Sir Rhosis's liverish remark
Now, now, Sir, vandals thrive on our anger, wither when we revert without comment. Rick Norwood 12:44, 19 August 2007 (UTC)