Since we didn't have class on Monday, all we really talked about was romanticism, and I didn't want to return to "El sí de las niñas" just yet. But what to say about romanticism? I've been marinating on this all day, and came to this: although literature critics place literary movements between this year and that year, romanticism still is a large part of our pop culture realm today (although it seems weird to think that Beethoven and Goya were the "pop culture" of 19th century).
So... I began to think... what is an iconic "romantic" work of today's pop culture canon? The romanticism we talked about in class: the passion, the naturalism, the power of revolution, even the return to focusing on God or multiple gods... this is all present in what most likely will be regarded as one of the most groundbreaking--if not influential--cinematic works of our generation: Avatar.
This 4-minute clip, narrated by Sigourney Weaver (and sort of a part of the mythology of Avatar), hits a lot of these themes, and is a good jumping-off point for anyone who hasn't seen the film. Some parts are a little cheesy, but the visuals are amazing. Pay attention to the emphasis on the connection* of the Na'vi ("the blue people" for the uninitiated) and nature...pretty romantic if you ask me.
*: For the record, I do think it's really jamming the "connection" between humans and nature down the audience's throat when a Na'vi literally CONNECTS their braid into an animal like some weird USB port. If you've seen the movie, you know what I'm talking about. Just sayin'.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
1 comment:
"Connections"
Professor Haidt said that Spanish Romanticism explores the interest for the exotic like the literature about Moors and this movie is a synonym of exotic, what Prof. Haidt said reminds me Dr. Grace's (Weaver) restless curiosity after the vegetation, the Na'vi culture, Na'vi language-the exotic.
After reading your post I began connecting our class discussion with what you wrote, for instance we talked about how night, dreams and love are all part of El estudiante de salamanca, and so they are part of Avatar too.
Also...Did you ever relate the connection of the Na'vi and nature with our Native Americans and their love and protection for nature? That was the first thing that hit my mind about the Na'vi people. The way the Na'vi people respected nature, it is sacred for them, just like our Natives Americans.
Post a Comment