Forgot to mention this in class last Tuesday; all apologies. For next week, you need read only four of the books of The Odyssey. You can choose any of the listed books on the course webpage. Again, sorry.
The Odyssey and Contempt definitely both have a strong masculinity in the narrative. I think The Odyssey uses its masculinity more in a brute force kinda way, while Godard's Contempt is more demeaning towards women. As you said in your blog, Jack Palance's character is a perfect example. He is every bit a very controlling man and expects Camille to go with him every time he says it. I think Paul loses a lot of his masculinity throughout the film by letting his wife go with Jeremy every time and also letting her talk to him in the manner that she did. Palance's Jeremy was definitely the driving masculine force throughout the film.
I read the first two books of the Odyssey and the last two books. In the first couple of books, the narrations masculinity is fueled by Telemachus's desire to go and find Odysseus and bring him home to Ithaca. In the end it is Odysseus's fire and rage to get revenge over every Suitor that has wronged him and has insulted everything he knows. Odysseus speaks of his son Telemachus's bravery in the end saying "Telemachus, now you have come to a place where the battle shows who is bravest do not disgrace your ancestors' house." Then the final blood bath is engaged. If that doesn't speak masculinity, I don't know what does....
The Odyssey and Contempt definitely both have a strong masculinity in the narrative. I think The Odyssey uses its masculinity more in a brute force kinda way, while Godard's Contempt is more demeaning towards women. As you said in your blog, Jack Palance's character is a perfect example. He is every bit a very controlling man and expects Camille to go with him every time he says it. I think Paul loses a lot of his masculinity throughout the film by letting his wife go with Jeremy every time and also letting her talk to him in the manner that she did. Palance's Jeremy was definitely the driving masculine force throughout the film.
ReplyDeleteI read the first two books of the Odyssey and the last two books. In the first couple of books, the narrations masculinity is fueled by Telemachus's desire to go and find Odysseus and bring him home to Ithaca. In the end it is Odysseus's fire and rage to get revenge over every Suitor that has wronged him and has insulted everything he knows. Odysseus speaks of his son Telemachus's bravery in the end saying "Telemachus, now you have come to a place where the battle shows who is bravest do not disgrace your ancestors' house." Then the final blood bath is engaged. If that doesn't speak masculinity, I don't know what does....