10-16-2006, 08:14 PM
My! What a deal of discussion! I've made it clear elsewhere that I fear this film will be very unsatisfying for people who would like to see a version of the battle that is as historically accurate as possible. However, I seem to remember one Greek who was quoted as giving thanks to the Gods, "First, that I am a human and not an animal; second, that I am free and not a slave; third, that I am a man and not a woman; but, above all, that I am Greek and not a Barbarian." (Perhaps someone can provide a more exact version).
This speech encapsulates all the frightfully non-PC notions that people are objecting to in "300" (with the exception of the one about ugliness and evil nature going hand-in-hand). It has always struck me that the Ancient Greeks had a deep-seated notion of their superiority to all other nations, rather like my own countrymen in the days of Empire, which we find hard to swallow today, but which must have been part-and-parcel of one's love of country in times when war was about nation against nation.
I don't think we can blame the film for reflecting such attitudes, since it would appear they are among the most historically-accurate aspects of the production. On the other hand, I'm surprised to find Victor Davis Hanson defending the film as he does. I've aready decided I will go to see it, whatever people say or my own misgivings - I'll be interested to see whether Hanson has any good reason for his stance on it.
This speech encapsulates all the frightfully non-PC notions that people are objecting to in "300" (with the exception of the one about ugliness and evil nature going hand-in-hand). It has always struck me that the Ancient Greeks had a deep-seated notion of their superiority to all other nations, rather like my own countrymen in the days of Empire, which we find hard to swallow today, but which must have been part-and-parcel of one's love of country in times when war was about nation against nation.
I don't think we can blame the film for reflecting such attitudes, since it would appear they are among the most historically-accurate aspects of the production. On the other hand, I'm surprised to find Victor Davis Hanson defending the film as he does. I've aready decided I will go to see it, whatever people say or my own misgivings - I'll be interested to see whether Hanson has any good reason for his stance on it.
