The EpicConnecting the Ancient

with the Modern

vs.

What Makes an Epic?What Makes an Epic?

• Traditionally an EPIC was a long, narrative Traditionally an EPIC was a long, narrative poem.poem.– The IliadThe Iliad– The OdysseyThe Odyssey

Modern literature has moved away from poetry and Modern literature has moved away from poetry and now uses the more popular prose format.now uses the more popular prose format.

Media has also moved away from the poetic dialogue Media has also moved away from the poetic dialogue in exchange for more conversational and realistic in exchange for more conversational and realistic dialogue.dialogue.

What Makes an Epic?What Makes an Epic?

•An EPIC addresses universal An EPIC addresses universal concernsconcerns– Good vs. EvilGood vs. Evil– Life and DeathLife and Death– Sin and RedemptionSin and Redemption

•BraveheartBraveheart

•The Lord of the RingsThe Lord of the Rings

•GladiatorGladiator

What Makes an Epic?What Makes an Epic?

• An EPIC is set in many locations (real An EPIC is set in many locations (real or imaginary)or imaginary)– Lawrence of ArabiaLawrence of Arabia

•The Arabian DessertThe Arabian Dessert

– StarWarsStarWars•A whole galaxy far, far awayA whole galaxy far, far away

– Doctor ZhivagoDoctor Zhivago•RussiaRussia

What Makes an Epic?What Makes an Epic?

• The hero is traditionally of high The hero is traditionally of high importance.importance.– Modern epics tend to down play the hero’s Modern epics tend to down play the hero’s

statusstatus•TitanicTitanic –Rose (the true hero) is of high social –Rose (the true hero) is of high social

classclass

•GladiatorGladiator – Maximus was once a great general – Maximus was once a great general before becoming and mere gladiatorbefore becoming and mere gladiator

•BraveheartBraveheart – William Wallace is but a farmer, yet – William Wallace is but a farmer, yet he gets raised to legendary statushe gets raised to legendary status

What Makes an Epic?What Makes an Epic?

• The hero is pitted against The hero is pitted against overwhelming odds and must be overwhelming odds and must be courageous and strong in an EPICcourageous and strong in an EPIC– The Ten CommandmentsThe Ten Commandments – Moses must lead – Moses must lead

the people out of Eygptthe people out of Eygpt– StarWarsStarWars – Luke must fight against the evil – Luke must fight against the evil

empire and Darth Vadarempire and Darth Vadar– Gone with the WindGone with the Wind – Scarlett must support her – Scarlett must support her

family while the Civil War ravages the Southfamily while the Civil War ravages the South

What Makes an Epic?What Makes an Epic?

• Traditionally an EPIC included Traditionally an EPIC included supernatural events and beings supernatural events and beings playing an important role.playing an important role.– Modern epics have moved away from the Modern epics have moved away from the

supernatural to focus on reality.supernatural to focus on reality.– Even Even TroyTroy, based on Homer’s , based on Homer’s The IliadThe Iliad, ,

removes the active roles of the Greek gods removes the active roles of the Greek gods such as Athena and Apollo.such as Athena and Apollo.

So what does remain of the So what does remain of the traditional epic in modern film?traditional epic in modern film?

• Most epic films contain at least three Most epic films contain at least three or four of the traditional or four of the traditional characteristics.characteristics.– Address universal concernsAddress universal concerns– Set in a variety of locationsSet in a variety of locations– Hero must overcome obstaclesHero must overcome obstacles– Hero is still often of high statureHero is still often of high stature

What has been lost from the What has been lost from the epic?epic?• The Poetic FormThe Poetic Form

– Poetic dialogue in now considered old Poetic dialogue in now considered old fashioned and unrealistic.fashioned and unrealistic.

– Writers and directors attempt to create Writers and directors attempt to create dialogue that sounds “old,” but not “old-dialogue that sounds “old,” but not “old-fashioned.”fashioned.”

– Audiences often call poetic dialogue Audiences often call poetic dialogue “corny” and claim it takes them out of the “corny” and claim it takes them out of the action and disturbs the flow of the film.action and disturbs the flow of the film.

What has been lost from the What has been lost from the epic?epic?

• The Variety of LocationsThe Variety of Locations– Some films that are considered epic Some films that are considered epic

have very few settings. The “journey” have very few settings. The “journey” has been reduced to mentally growing has been reduced to mentally growing and maturing.and maturing.•TroyTroy includes a few different settings, but includes a few different settings, but

90% of the film takes place right outside of 90% of the film takes place right outside of Troy.Troy.

What has been lost from the What has been lost from the epic?epic?• The Supernatural Playing an Important The Supernatural Playing an Important

RoleRole– Epic films are practically devoid of the Epic films are practically devoid of the

supernatural.supernatural.– Again, the writers and directors prefer to be Again, the writers and directors prefer to be

realistic.realistic.– There are references to the gods, ghosts, and There are references to the gods, ghosts, and

religion, but they rarely make a physical religion, but they rarely make a physical appearance.appearance.•One exception is One exception is Jason and the ArgonautsJason and the Argonauts..

There is one Epic There is one Epic Characteristic that Characteristic that

can be found in can be found in almost every epic almost every epic

film…film…

The HERO!The HERO!

• The majority of epic films have The majority of epic films have retained the hero, one character who retained the hero, one character who rises above the rest and overcomes rises above the rest and overcomes great obstacles. great obstacles.

• So what makes a hero a… hero?So what makes a hero a… hero?

What makes a Hero?What makes a Hero?

• The Hero is the main characterThe Hero is the main character

• He/she undertakes a “journey” in search of He/she undertakes a “journey” in search of identity and wholeness which involve…identity and wholeness which involve…– LearningLearning– GrowingGrowing– Taking RisksTaking Risks– Making SacrificesMaking Sacrifices– Overcoming ObstaclesOvercoming Obstacles

• He/she has human flawsHe/she has human flaws

Let’s Look at a HeroLet’s Look at a Hero

• Rose from Rose from TitanicTitanic– Main character of Main character of TitanicTitanic– Takes a literal journey on the Takes a literal journey on the TitanicTitanic as well as a mental as well as a mental

journey from spoiled rich girl to free spiritjourney from spoiled rich girl to free spirit– Learns that money and status are not more important Learns that money and status are not more important

than love and freedomthan love and freedom– Grows from an immature brat into a mature womanGrows from an immature brat into a mature woman– Takes risks by associating with Jack and the other Takes risks by associating with Jack and the other

passengers “down below” as well as refusing to get on passengers “down below” as well as refusing to get on the life boat without Jackthe life boat without Jack

– Overcomes the obstacle of pandering to her mother, Overcomes the obstacle of pandering to her mother, breaking away from her abusive fiancé, survives the breaking away from her abusive fiancé, survives the drowning of the drowning of the TitanicTitanic, and creates a whole new life for , and creates a whole new life for herself.herself.

– Rose's flaw is her inability to make choices on her own. Rose's flaw is her inability to make choices on her own.

Let’s try another…Let’s try another…

• Luke Skywalker from Luke Skywalker from StarWarsStarWars– Luke is the main character of the films.Luke is the main character of the films.– Luke takes a literal journey across the galaxy to several Luke takes a literal journey across the galaxy to several

planets as well as a mental journey from young boy to planets as well as a mental journey from young boy to grown man.grown man.

– Luke learns how to fight for good against evil, who his true Luke learns how to fight for good against evil, who his true father is, and how to forgive his father.father is, and how to forgive his father.

– Luke grows into his Jedi skills.Luke grows into his Jedi skills.– Luke risks his life by joining Obi-wan Kenobi, saving Princess Luke risks his life by joining Obi-wan Kenobi, saving Princess

Leia, fighting with the Jedi, and fighting with Han Solo.Leia, fighting with the Jedi, and fighting with Han Solo.– Luke unknowingly sacrifices his aunt and uncle as well as Luke unknowingly sacrifices his aunt and uncle as well as

his low-key life on planet Tatooine.his low-key life on planet Tatooine.– Luke must overcome the temptation to join the dark side Luke must overcome the temptation to join the dark side

like his father.like his father.– Luke’s flaw is his impatience to grow up and become a Jedi.Luke’s flaw is his impatience to grow up and become a Jedi.

Now it’s your turn.Now it’s your turn.

• Choose a film that you believe to be Choose a film that you believe to be an EPICan EPIC– Does it address universal concerns? Does it address universal concerns? – Is it set in a variety of locations?Is it set in a variety of locations?– Is the hero has high status?Is the hero has high status?– Is the hero pitted against overwhelming Is the hero pitted against overwhelming

odds?odds?– Are there any supernatural beings?Are there any supernatural beings?

Now let’s look at the hero.Now let’s look at the hero.

• Is he/she the main character?Is he/she the main character?

• Does he/she go on a literal or mental journey?Does he/she go on a literal or mental journey?

• Does he/she learn anything?Does he/she learn anything?

• Does he/she grow in any way?Does he/she grow in any way?

• Does he/she take risks?Does he/she take risks?

• Does he/she make sacrifices?Does he/she make sacrifices?

• Does he/she overcome obstacles?Does he/she overcome obstacles?

• Does he/she have any flaws?Does he/she have any flaws?

Why has the EPIC lasted for so Why has the EPIC lasted for so long?long?

• It addresses issues that are universal, It addresses issues that are universal, can apply to any time and culture.can apply to any time and culture.

• It is considered a “classic.”It is considered a “classic.”• Everyone wants to be a “hero.”Everyone wants to be a “hero.”• An epic includes adventure which An epic includes adventure which

appeals to a variety of ages.appeals to a variety of ages.• The epic is often a “blockbuster” that The epic is often a “blockbuster” that

draws in audiences and money!draws in audiences and money!

Now a little something Now a little something extra…extra…

• One thing a lot of epics have… One thing a lot of epics have… PARODIES!PARODIES!– SpaceballsSpaceballs– Monty Python and the Holy GrailMonty Python and the Holy Grail– Epic MovieEpic Movie