Historical Truth Rools
I was delighted to hear assurances from a group of lawyers attempting to sue the makers of the new film about Alexander the Great that they are motivated solely by a desire to see films portray historical truth and that anti-gay prejudice has nothing to do with their legal action.
One wonders where they were when Dreamworks portrayed Professor John Nash as a heterosexual in A Beautiful Mind. Why did they not pressure Warner Brothers into going into somewhat more detail about what precisely Achilles was doing in his tent for four days with his close friend until he finally agreed to come out and fight? And why did the death of his aforementioned close friend leave him quite so cheesed off with the Trojans?
Indeed, this intrepid group of history-loving but not at all prejudiced lawyers have so much work to do in their quest for historical truth. They could harangue Mel Gibson for his hugely entertaining and historically almost entirely fictitious version of the life of William Wallace in Braveheart. They could have a go at the jokers who informed us that their film was the historical truth a few months ago in the unentertaining story of King Arthur (whoever heard of a Celtic tribe called the Woads - woads was a type of body paint).
Returning to the not prejudiced history-loving lawyers, one of the reasons they objected to the film is that there is, in their opinion, no documented evidence that Alexander in any way enjoyed the intimate company of men and therefore it is historically inaccurate to suggest that this was the case. Well, first of all, many historians would beg to differ. Indeed, one respected historian recently had to be escorted away by the police after attempting to claim such evidence did exist. A large group of unprejudiced truth seekers tried to stone him in the name of historical accuracy. Secondly, does the absence of evidence mean he must be straight? There's absolutely no documentary evidence that I like men so, in the unlikely event of future film makers wanting to make a film about a sad old ex-pat like me, should they automatically portray me as straight? Is straight the default option? Of course not. Especially if all you are interested in is historical accuracy.
Kαληνύχτα σε όλους and good night to all.
Jamie
posted by ronanj @ 11:02 pm
2 comments
2 Comments:
Not even to me does it seem possible that he turned out to be unlike any other human being without divine intervention. (Arrian)
Borges pointed out that the Koran was the Arabic text par excellence because not even once does it mention camels, and that if a non-Arab were to write a book taking place in an Arab country, camels would be the first thing he would put in it. An Arab would simply take them for granted.
What people like this don't realise is that the same could be said about ancient texts and bisexuality.
These lawyers, who don't ever stand a chance of seeing the inside of a courtroom with this case, don't seem to realise that not only do they have to see the film first, they also have to read their Arrian, Plutarch, and Curtius.
Once again Greeks have demonstrated that those of them who are the proudest of their heritage are also the most ignorant of it.
What's next? Changing the name of Lesbos?
When I first came to Athens many years ago, I remember seeing an advertisement on a bus. It was, my limited knowledge of Greek told me, an advertisement for a performance of "The Lesbian Choir of Athens." I was well impressed, in what I had been told was a conservative country, to see advertisements for an all-woman, all-gay choir, proudly displayed on the number 11 trolley. I was so disappointed when I discovered the choir was made up of ex-Mytilinean ladies who'd move to Athens. Never mind, I'm sure the performance was excellent.
Kalhnyxta kai kales giortes se olous
Good night and Merry Christmas, everyone
Jamie
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