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Aspects of spartan culture
Aspects of spartan culture
Aspects of spartan culture
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In utmost anticipation of the second part of the story about 300 Spartans, It is impossible not to mention the first movie dedicated to this topic, filmed by Zack Snyder in 2006. I’m yet to watch the second part, as it is hard to imagine what the continuation of the story would be like, considering that all the main characters in the first part died; however, I think it is safe to assume that it is going to be as epic as “300.”
Zack Snyder’s “300” has often been criticized a lot. For most part, it had been claimed that the movie can hardly be labelled credible, and that it only focused on entertainment and visual effects. We should consider the fact that the movie warns the audience that it had solely been based on a graphic novel. I started
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The Androgynous god-King Xerxes (well played by Rodrigo Santoro), displayed all kinds of weird freaks from his entourage and army, scenes displaying odd customs, rituals, or weird sexual activities. Snyder made the Persians look like aliens from outer space. On the contrary, the Spartans, led by King Leonidas (Gerard Butler’s amazing war cry, “This is Sparta!!!” has become a cult phrase), looked confident, brutal, and courageous. Such contrast helps to create a marvelous distinction, and appeals earnestly to the audience’s instincts; simply everything that is alien is evil. Snyder literally succeeded in making his audience feel disgust or hatred towards the Spartans’ enemies only due to the visual means that were used.
Everything else in the movie, except constant battles can be said to be mediocre. Characters appeared better looking than credible, and when they die in slow-motion, you just tend to feel almost nothing. Only the death of King Leonidas really made a difference. The only notable characters in the movie who make you feel something unexplainable; Leonidas’ bravery and unending wit, and Xerxes’ externality and devilish cunningness make them the only bright figures in the
After his army's victory in Thermopylae, King Xerxes fervently wanted more information on the rare soldiers that confronted his limitless army, those reckless Spartans that faced insurmountable odds and refused to surrender even though their only alternative was gruesome death.
Sparta, also called Lacedaemon, was a city in ancient Greece, and one of the most famous ancient Greek cities of the Peloponnesus. Found in the hills of Mount Taygetus many would consider was a brutal group of militaristic people. Although, this to some extent may be true most of the written information was derived from the ancient city-state of Athens, who were great enemies of the Spartan society.
Spartan culture is a great example of how a society’s infrastructure will directly affect both, its social structure and superstructure. It also serves as a warning that any society that becomes too rigid in its structure and too static in its values will not last long when confronted with more agile and adaptable cultures. This paper will explore why Sparta became the Hellenic army par excellence, how this worked to create a very specific social structure founded on martial values, and, finally, how that social structure would ultimately be the undoing of the culture.
In conclusion, the film was amazing, entertaining, and inspiring. It was difficult to catch anything educational out of the film, although as said before, there are major similarities between the Spartans and Asgardians. How they dress, train, and fight. Hopefully we will continue to see more films like this in the coming
Sparta was a key city state which was located on the Peloponnesian Peninsula in southern Greek, which today is referred to as Laconia. Sparta is historically known for their strong military training, warfare tactics, and numerous victories. This city state included full citizens known as the Spartans, the helots, and the Perioeci. The men of Sparta had a main obligation to become strong warriors, fight with their brothers, and protect against any invasions or attacks. The helots where owned by city state of Sparta. They came from Messenia and were forced into slavery after being invaded by the Spartans in c.735. The helot’s responsibilities included farming, being of help if needed during battles, used as nurses, and for any other task that need to be accomplished. Unlike many traditional slaves, the Messenia’s were given certain leeway. They had
Stanley Kubick's Spartacus In the 1960 film Spartacus, directed by Stanley Kubrick, the character called Spartacus is depicted as a revolutionary who leads an army of slaves against the oppressive forces of Rome during the first century B.C. Though the overall story is true, and most of the main characters are real, the presentation of their character is entirely fictional. Spartacus and the other characters have been split into groups epitomizing good and evil, and the story itself has been vastly romanticized. This essay will address the ways in which the story deviates from reality and finally will show how Kubrick and those before him have used such interpretations as a valuable tool for social change.
Film and literature are two media forms that are so closely related, that we often forget there is a distinction between them. We often just view the movie as an extension of the book because most movies are based on novels or short stories. Because we are accustomed to this sequence of production, first the novel, then the motion picture, we often find ourselves making value judgments about a movie, based upon our feelings on the novel. It is this overlapping of the creative processes that prevents us from seeing movies as distinct and separate art forms from the novels they are based on.
Sparta and Athens - Explain and Contrast Both Sparta and Athens were Greek city-states. Sparta was a strict military ruled city-state where the people established themselves as a military power early. However Athens was more of a political city-state that was more involved with their economical stature than their military forces. Still changes from the Persian wars would change the powers of the city-state and somewhat unite them.
The Battle of Thermopylae began in 480 BC and was a product of the Greeks attempt help defend the Ionians from the Persians. This irritated the Persian Emperor, Xerxes, because he thought of Greece as a small kingdom that had no place revolting against the Persian Empire. The Athenians sympathized with the Ionians because the Persians had also tried to invade Greece on multiple occasions. The Athenians provided feeble help to the Ionians and in retaliation the Persians struck at athens (23B). Xerxes was known to be irrational with his temper, and may have thought of his invasion as retaliation for the fact that his father, Darius the Great, was defeated at the Battle of Marathon against the Greeks. His temper was so great that at Hellas Point he had the water whipped because it would not obey him (E49). One of several Greek war leaders in the Battle of Thermopylae was Leonidas, the second born son of King Anaxandridas. It was not until his half brother was killed under controversial circumstances that Leonidas rose to power (G72). Apart from misconceptions spread by the popular film “300,” the three hundred Spartans did not go into battle alone, and were accompanied by over eight hundred allies. Nevertheless, the Persians still outnumbered the Greeks ten to one, which is why it is incredible that the Greeks were able to hold them for three days before eventually losing that specific battle. Despite losing the battle in terms of soldiers and defending greece, the battle of thermopylae was somewhat successful in that it was a demonstration of the courage of greek soldiers, impressive battle tactics,
I know movies are supposed to be exciting, but I felt as if some parts were boring. There would probably be 5 minutes of just a CGI animated ship being tossed about in a CGI animated ocean. Throughout the movie, I’d end up doodling. The movie never really caught my attention until you had the narrator (Odysseus) say something that basically was a transition from one scene to another. When you’re reading, you can’t doodle at the same time (audiobooks nowadays counter argue that, but that's not the point here) . You actually have to concentrate and be able to process what is going on , and with descriptive adjectives, I caught onto the reading. In the movie, you don't have random adjectives being shouted to describe how the waves felt, or how brutal the battle
“No man ever proves himself a good man in war unless he can endure to face the blood and the slaughter, go against the enemy and fight with his hands.” The preceding was quoted from “The Spartan creed” by the poet Tyrtaeus. There are two authors in this primary resource reading which include Tyrtaeus as well as Xenophon, whom authored “The laws and customs of the Spartans”. These two works give great detail to the Spartan society. As history has presented it, Sparta was a smaller polis and yet was one of the most, if not most, influential societies in history. What we know of this culture comes to us from excavation of its heritage as well as literary works such as these. But are these “eyes” into history factual and creditable enough to base our own interpretations of such a masterful race? These writings are great resources for Spartan’s war enhanced values and societal customs, but lack in evidence of governmental affairs and religion. This lacking may have been due to both writer’s motives for their work.
Good afternoon, I’ve been asked to speak with you about the historical accuracy of recent popular culture incarnations of both Spartan and Persian ideology and in particular I’ve chosen to evaluate Zack Snyder’s 2007, movie 300 in order to demonstrate to you it’s compatibility between ancient sourced depictions of both Spartan and Persian philosophy.
The movie Shutter Island is an excellent movie presenting memorable twists and not to mention, many aspects from a psychological point of view. The suspense thriller movie exceedingly measured up to its genre, providing the action and adventure to keep the audience at the edge of their seats. Shutter Island not only made the audience speculate, but the script had an apprehensive and steady flow. I argue that Shutter Island be considered art, based on the criteria of the plot and script. Throughout the storyline, there were instances presented that are believable. The characters, not to mention, are believable as well in an authentic sense. Although some critics would say Shutter Island is a bad film, and not considered artistic, I think it is a brilliant film. Unlike other films, Shutter Island’s entire structure is well written and has no holes in the plot.
The movie made the play a lot easier to imagine the script instead of picturing it myself, what I did not like was the fight scenes, it was like WWE, really bad acting and fighting, it was not what I had in mind, especially the fight scene with Tybalt and Romeo, usually if you are a prince, you are usually taught how to fight with swords, but no one bothered to teach Romeo apparently.
Most people believe that graphic novels are just an art book with minimal text. They believe it is just for entertainment for kids or young adults. They think that graphic novels are just like comics. But to get to the point, graphic novels are just like all the other novels. They are a piece of literature that tells a story and pulls out the reader’s imagination, so that they feel that they are a part of the story or can even relate to the story. Graphic novels have changed and developed into such remarkable pieces of literature and should be accepted by all scholars to be placed in that category. According to John Ridley, “There are still some people out there who believe comic books are nothing more than, well, comic books. But the true cognoscenti know graphic novels are-at their best-an amazing blend of art, literature and the theater of the mind”.