(no subject)

[rebness]

I didn't get a chance to update my journal regarding the weekend before the operation came along, but it was indeed a fantabulous affair. I met up with jaffacakequeen in Manchester for festive goodness. We went to the European markets which were in town, and had that gluhwein and Dutch waffles and lo, they were good. It's so wonderful to hear the different dialects and accents about (and that's just the other Brits). There was a real sense of community and festiveness about as we rubbed shoulders with Germans, Spaniards, Italians, French, Dutch... I think Manchester is brilliant for hosting the markets. I also learned it's probably best not to trawl the market after that potent German wine because it makes a person make stupid and costly decisions.

At the French market:

Becky: (sees some nice pate) Ooh... c'est combien?
Man: Douze.
Becky: *Hands over £20, starts walking away* Wait... I... seem to have paid my life savings for that pate.
And then, somewhere in my drink-befuddled brain, I realise that douze is twelve. Twelve quid for pate! Uh-oh.

I think that'll be going towards my aunt's Christmas present.

We also went on the Manchester wheel, pics of which I'll post later. It was great to catch up with jaffacakequeen and just relax before this week came about. We also went to the Manchester Natural History museum or whatever it's called, and I picked up a gorgeous amethyst stone and some Egyptian ornaments before being struck by how impossible massive a T-rex was. And now, I shall talk about Narnia, which we went to see and which she knew I'd rant about.



I am a Roman Catholic, and feel comfortable enough in my faith not to care about the blitherings about OMGZ teh evul people who want to say “Season’s Greetings” instead of Merry Christmas, and I also feel confident enough to denounce something as Christian propaganda shite if I so feel moved.

Narnia, you’re Christian propaganda shite. I hate how Susan was lambasted by the others for thinking instead of just acting, even told she should stop “being clever” at one point. What kind of example is that to modern children? The Christian messages were more overt than covert, I thought, but the problem was it focusing on mainly aggressive takes on religion rather than a conciliatory Christianity.

The most cringe-worthy, annoying, stupid part was when Father Christmas appeared. Not the appearance itself, as fromage-laden as that invariably is, but when he hands Susan a present of a bow and arrow.

Susan: But I thought… war was bad?

Father Christmas: *Smiles condescendingly*

Now, yes. Narnia is a product of a different time, but when the world is awash with blood and the war on terror leaves a bitter taste in the mouths of so many nations, this was an insensitive and stupid take.

There were good things about Narnia. I can see why Tolkien hated the series, but I can also see why children would like it (though I despised the books as a child, ha!) There was the witch, for one. Scary and demure. Edmund was quite good. Nice special effects. I don’t think it will be gracing my films of 2005, though.

Comments

[fioredelmale.livejournal.com]

Why did Tolkien hate Narnia?
*curious*

[rebness.livejournal.com]

Apparently, there were a few reasons. He wasn't keen on the overt religious themes, but what really grated with him was the inconsistent "borrowing" from different cultures and canon to create Narnia. (Such as the use of the minotaur, the snow queen, griffins, elves, etc.) Tolkien spent a long while building up this world for Lord of the Rings that was carefully composed of its own language, mythology and such, and he felt that Lewis didn't put in the same thought about it.

There's a really good article about it here, and one in Italian, too: ;)

http://books.guardian.co.uk/departments/childrenandteens/story/0,,1657756,00.html

http://www.fantasymagazine.it/rubriche/125

[fioredelmale.livejournal.com]

Thanks!

[saffronlie.livejournal.com]

The early part of that Guardian article makes me want to vomit. Don't use children's fiction as a vessel for all kinds of religious-shoving-down-throats. I don't care if that's what Lewis intended. Just because the book is a religious allegory doesn't mean every single child ever has to read it. Why not bring back Pilgrim's Progress to the curriculum while we're at it?

But my real reason for replying was to say that Tolkien's a bit of a git to think that because he spent years and years perfecting a world then Lewis should do the same. Tolkien borrows just as heavily and at times inconsistently, but in the case of each book, it works.

Okay, a question: do you think the other Narnia books are now more or less likely to be adapted? This one gets so overdone. The others are less obviously Christian, although you will *hate* The Last Battle.

[rebness.livejournal.com]

I think that's what infuriates me most; months of "study" courses for children seems like a nefarious way to indoctrinate infants. When I didn't like the books as a child, I was able to just put them back on my shelf and then ask my mother to give them to the charity shop while I concentrated on the amazing adventures of the Redwall mice. I don't think it's right to shove an ostensibly religious work down childrens' throats. Let them make up their own mind.

Well, you know I'm not really a Tolkien afficando, either, so I'll accept you point on that.

I do think the other films will stand a good chance of adaptation. Lion, Witch and the Wardrobe has been successful enough to warrant a sequel (or several, as the case may be) and the studio evidently thinks it has the next LotR or Harry Potter on its hands. Also, the rightwing Christian groups seem to have put a lot of lobbying power behind it, so yeah. I really do think that there will be decreased interest in Europe as the series continues, though. Well, at least in Britain.

Ah, The Last Battle. I remember that one, vaguely. It may be the first book I ever threw across the room.

(This isn't to say I was Demon Secular Child. I had a copy of a Ladybird Childrens' Bible and I loved it something hard. Hee.)

[tsaress.livejournal.com]

CHRISTIAN STUFF WAS A LOT MORE CALMED DOWN THAN IN THE BOOK. Sorry caps
I liked it but I can understand why you didn't.

[rebness.livejournal.com]

True, but you have to remember that the film is for a modern audience, whereas the original was just a product of its time. Therefore, viewing it as a contemporary piece of film makes the Christian stuff a lot more noticeable and hard to digest.

CAPS, however, suck regardless. ;)

[tsaress.livejournal.com]

so at work and trying to type fast today.

[wiebke.livejournal.com]

I could never get beyond 50 pages of the first book as a kid and the old TV movie scared me, but I really liked the movie. I did catch on to the very obvious Christian allusions, but it didn't spoil a think for me. Really enjoyed the movie. What I esp. liked was that the movie was quite complicated and not dumbed-down at all for kids, Americans, or whatever. Most people won't understand it, IMO.

[rebness.livejournal.com]

It just seemed so right-wing to me, but I might just be looking at that from a jaded European perspective. I think it's a great adventure for children, but I have to disagree about it being complicated. As a child, I found the storyline and the morals of the story too simplistic, and the film didn't dispel those feelings but merely amplified them for me. There wasn't really enough layering for me (I don't mind that so much; it is, after all, for children). I think it was the cavalier attitude towards conflict and death, most of all. In the end, children were spared the reality of war because all their favourite characters had life breathed back into them; I found that rather trite and dishonest.

Still, I did enjoy some things about it and yeah, it's a worthy film. I can see why so many people have enjoyed it and why it's successful, but something about it just grates with me. I'm not really sure why, to be honest.

[wiebke.livejournal.com]

Well, we all know I hate the IwtV movie, grates on me like HELL, even though I can see why people would like it :)

[rebness.livejournal.com]

Ha! Yeah, that's a point. I adore parts of that movie, but some I have to skip because they make me cringe. :p

[ladydaydream.livejournal.com]

probably best not to trawl the market after that potent German wine

Not to mention the great beers they do as well. Glad you enjoyed going round the European markets. It's been really nice having the one in Birmingham and being able to potter round it at lunch time.

I find your comments and those who have already replied about Narnia interesting. I haven't seen it yet but I was wondering whether to go or not. I didn't particularly enjoy the book as a child but I wanted to see the imagery and effects in the film.

[rebness.livejournal.com]

Oh, yeah! Was this the first year for Birmingham? I heard they've been really good there this year. They had about five in Liverpool, but it's not the same as walking through a faux-Germanic setting in Manchester, with all that Gothic architecture. ;)

The effects in Narnia are really good. There are some poignant parts, but if you don't like Christian allegory shoved down your throat, approach with caution.

[ladydaydream.livejournal.com]

Birmingham's been having a German market for a number of years now and it's become really popular. It's in Victoria Square (which is one of the main squares in Birmingham) in front of all the Victorian municipal buildings and it does look really nice and festive as you go round.

[fadedacolyte.livejournal.com]

Narnia makes my eyes go a little screwy, it's sad. o.o

(most unconstructive comment ever)

[rebness.livejournal.com]

Well, maybe. But do I appreciate the icon? Oh, yes!