User:Farai Jey Mushangwe

The reception of Greek mythology in contemporary films had been a huge success for most of the directors in Hollywood .Greek myth were narratives related to ancient Greek religion ,often concerned with the actions of gods and other supernatural beings and heroes who transcend human bounds. Also the following movies whom I studied such as Crimes and Misdemeanors ,Clash of titans (2010),Hercules ,Troy  and wrath of titans .From the above movies one will be convinced that the reception of Greek mythology is great and these films  are really a source of Greek mythology because most of the characters are drawn from ancient sources such as Homeric epic, tragedies of Aeschylus ,Sophocles and Euripides .One should note that since films had options in modifying the myth to fit the contemporary world which means that mistakes can be found in the above films but the fact that Greek mythology is the foundation of their creativity proves that the reception of Greek mythology is great. The Wrath of titan’s film is one of the movies which have been influenced and is a source of Greek mythology .The Wrath of titan’s traces the relationship of gods before Zeus was born because Kronos had defeated his father and likewise defeated by Zeus his son. After them the youngest was born ,crooked –schemer kronos ,most fearsome of children ,who loathed his lusty father according to Hesiod .Therefore from Theogony came the wrath of Titans since the story was based on grievances the gods have titans versus Olympian gods. Also Wrath of Titans is a source and this can be proved by the names such as Zeus, Hades, Kronos Ares, Tartarus and Cyclops. Wrath of titans brings the battle back to the mythical land of gods and monsters in a fight of cataclysmic proportions, bigger and bolder than ever before. Although Greek gods did not behave in such a way .But what is important is the use of gods who are suffering because people are no longer worshiping them. Homer concurs that’s god’s need worship by stating that, thus all day long the young men worshipped the god with song, hymning him and chaunting the joyous paean, and the god took pleasure in their voices .In Greek mythology the gods always neglect their human families and very selfish but Perseus (Wrath of Titans ) is dedicated to raising his kid. Therefore one argue that wrath of titans had been influenced by Greek mythology and also is a source for Greek mythology because of use of Greek god’s.

In addition, Wrath of Titans tracing ancient influence on the film one will be amazed in the sense that since kronos attacked his father and became the ruler by means which are not accepted in the god’s realm or on earth. His son reached out from the ambush with his left hand and with his right hand he took the huge sickle with its long narrow teeth and quickly cut off his father’s genital according to Hesiod. Therefore in the film kronos wanted to destroy the Olympian ruler his son as way of taking the power back. Zeus cast out Hephaestus out of heaven, because he came to the rescue of Hera in her bonds according to Appollodorus .The son of Zeus Perseus was forced to intervene in the battle and was able to defeat Kronos with the help of Hephaestus. Therefore one can concurs that Wrath of Titans film had been influenced to a great extent by Greek mythology and that the film is a source in the fact that issues which are discussed or dealt with are similar to those in Theogony by Hesiod. Furthermore, Wrath of Titans in much respect is a source because the powers which are used by gods correspond to those in ancient sources .Zeus used thunderbolt and Poseidon used a fork like tool plus was a god of the sea. Pegasus flow away and left the earth, the mother of flocks and came to the immortals according to Hesiod. This Pegasus was similar to that which Perseus ride waging war with kronos in the film which means that the film had been influenced by Greek mythology .Also the rise of kronos in the film means that the humanity race was endangered and this was proved by the win of Perseus the earth was saved .Therefore the Wrath of Titans to a greater extent had been influenced by Greek mythology this is supported by the ancient sources which point out the relationship between Titans and Olympians was not good In addition, Troy film had been known over the world as an epic movie which had captivated the hearts of many around the world .Troy movie was adapted from the Iliad an epic poem by Homer who was Greek great contributor of Greek mythology. The principal change is that Agamemnon’s motive for invading Troy is explicitly stated to be a desire to expand his empire, enrich him, this seem fine the self fish, self aggrandising streak Agamemnon character in Iliad according to Edith Hall. Also the conflict between Achilles and Agamemnon is shown which means that Troy film is a great source of Greek mythology and has been influenced to a great extent. Homer concurs, there is no king here so hateful to me as you are, for you are ever quarrelsome and ill affected .Even though some critics have noted that the roles of gods have been minimized in Troy the film but after all the characters copied those from Iliad which proves that Greek mythology played an important role in the film. More so in the Hollywood Greek mythology had continued to surpass other mythological movies which people are no longer remembering. In addition, the film Hercules Unchained has also been influenced by Greek mythology because even the title itself shows that film had used ancient sources to come up with movie like that. Hercules unchained as we shall see entails the adventures of a hero who journey home after a foreign expedition is about to encounter serious obstacle ,including a journey to the underworld ,loss of identity and suitors eager to take his wife –a veritable Odyssey according to J.J.Clauss. Therefore one can concur with the above scholar that ancient source Odyssey had played a bigger role as a source and influence in the making of the movie. Also to a greater extent the film had Greek mythology had depicted the epic poem of Homer which is also an ancient source because the story line is clear one and was borrowed from Homer which explains the influence of Greek mythology in media. One can argue to a greater extent that Hercules unchained film had been influenced and is also Greek mythology source because replicate of Homer epic poem Odyssey can be traced. Furthermore, Clash of titans (2010) the film had Greek mythology because the names of the characters represents those in ancient Greek. The story focuses on Perseus as the main character who was son of Zeus. Also the film shows reception of Greek mythology in modern era cause even modern days people still enjoy old stories retold. The most famous adventures of Perseus son of Zeus and the mortal Danae, as he defeats the Gorgour Medusa before rescuing Andromeda from the gigantic sea monster and the basic details of those mythical adventures can be found in ancient sources according S.J. Green. This means that since the film had been influenced by Greek mythology and also a source of Greek mythology since mythical adventures can be found in ancient sources. Therefore to a greater extent clash of titans is a source of Greek mythology and had been largely influenced by Greek mythology.In addition Hercules which had been produced by Disney in 1997 was also influenced by Greek mythology which shows the reception of Greek mythology. Hercules is Disney second attempt at depicting the mythology of Ancient Greece  and Hercules is no longer the half mortal son of Zeus and Alcmene ,but the son of Zeus with his wife the queen of gods Hera according A.O’Daly  .This film even though influenced by Greek mythology had twisted the mythical story as writers had an option to re-write to suit one’s idea and this was the same in ancient Greek when poets like Homer recites or create myth stories because creativity in film had been borrowed from the ancient Greek .For when Hercules had taken Troy and was at the sea ,Hera sent a storm after him ,so Zeus hung her from Olympus according Appollodorus .However this movie just shows the how great the reception of Greek mythology in the film industry .More so series of Hercules had been produced by Disney shows that Greek mythology had influence and ancient sources had been used to come up with captivating ideals. The reception of Greek mythology had been for a long time shaping the media industry and films which have Greek mythology had a ready market. The Oedipus Rex context allows me to reveal in Crimes and Misdemeanors film the tension between illusive image and reality as well as a meditation on arts capacity to demonstrate tension according to O.S. Savenkova. This means that this brought the tension between image and reality which is the same Oedipus Rex therefore one can support the view that this film is a source and is influenced by Greek mythology. The comparison of Allen’s protagonist, Judah ,to Oedipus shows that they both are criminals who live in the illusion of their heroic image according to O.S.Savenkova .Therefore tracing the influence of Greek mythology in the film Crimes and Misdemeanors one agree that it’s not a matter of influence only but also the issue of source that one will conclude that Oedipus rex had played an important role .The story had been retold in such a way that Greek mythology had an impact on the media. All in all although in this case the film was adapted by changing many of the myths and super natural things into more down to earth but that does not change anything because other films like Clash of the Titans,Wrath of the Titans and Troy have Greek mythology this is supported by ancient sources such as Homeric epic and Appollodorus .Therefore to a greater extent Greek mythology have influenced the film industry and also the films are a source of ancient tales. This supported by the use of epic poems such as the Iliad and Odyssey to create screenplays used in films. Also it means that since the film had been influenced by Greek mythology and also films are a source of Greek mythology since mythical adventures can be found in ancient sources.

Bibliography Clauss.J.J,A Course on Classical Mythology in Film ,The classical Journal ,Vol.91,no.3(1996).

Frazer.J.G(trans), Appollodorus, Harvard university press ,London,1954.

Hall. E, Homer’s Iliad via the movie Troy 2004, Gresham College, 23 November 2017.

http://www.wrathofthetitans.com

Homer The lliad,(trans. Samuel Butler)Orange Street Press ,1998.

Green .J.S, Perseus on the Psychiatrist’s Couch in Leterrier Clash of the Titans (2010): Harrryhausen Reloaded for 21 century ,University of Leeds. West.M.L (trans),Theogony and Works and Day ,Oxford University press,1988. O’Daly.A ,Animated Adaptations : A study of Disney Animation as Modern Mythology and Forklore, A research paper submitted to the university of Dublin ,In partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of master of Science interaction Digital Media,University of Dublin ,2013, Savenkova .O.S ,Reception of Classsical Mythological in Woody Allen’s Dramas: Crimes and Misdemeanors ,Match Point and Cassandras Dream ,A Thesis submitted to the faculty of The university of Utah in Partial fulfilment of the Requirements for the degree of masters of Arts ,University of Utah ,2013