Idylls of a Student

Avalon High was an interesting take on King Arthur…felt like the ending was awkward. I simply didn’t like the “happily ever after” ish ending. Other than the ending, I enjoyed reading the book. It was entertaining, silly and a very light read. *sighs* So this is the end of King Arthur, an end of an interesting class and end of a semester…the last semester of my college career. It’s a weird feeling to be graduating, like…hmm, what’s next? In a weird way I feel like me finishing college and the Idylls of a King story have something in common. The way it ended with Bedievere looking over the ocean and once the sight of Arthur disappeared, he felt that that was the end of a previous life and the sun rising was a new world… Yeah this is definitely corny. Yeah, ending college is kinda like that. Nostalgic, confusing, at first terrifying… Well it’s been a really interesting class, so thanks everyone for the intriguing conversations. this is 5 out of 5

Mists of Incest

I very much enjoyed the Mists of Avalon readings and especially I loved getting to see more of Avalon itself.  I feel like we really didn’t read much at all about Avalon.  I remember at the beginning of the semester, we talked about our then perceptions of the King Arthur world and I brought up Avalon-how I had no idea if it was a place on the map, or a “heaven” or what.  So I liked that I got to see that in this reading (and in the world of king Arthur) that it was in fact a physical place.  However, Lancelot/Galahad of course claims that it isn’t of their world-that is really isn’t real. 

Another reason why I liked the first Avalon reading was because it was focusing a lot of the priestesses.  When do we really get to see women of power in king Arthur readings?  I mean, it feels like anytime a woman is written about in our past readings, she’s presented as an inferior/subordinate person, sexualized object or an obstacle in a quest. 

Can we talk about Morgaine for a sec?  *Relating this to modern feminism*  I think there is definitely something to Morgaine being empowered and identifying with her  inner “goddess”  (did you just think of 50 shades of Grey too??).  She feels both wanting to be her goddess-self and give in to her desire for Lancelot (who doesn’t like how female dominated Avalon is).  Doesn’t this sound similar to some situations today- in some hetero circumstances I mean.  A woman who thinks of herself as an equal/not subordinate wanting to be with man who doesn’t think of her as an equal….the power dynamic seems uneven and a lot of the time the woman may feel the pressure to “give up” one side of her or the other.  Just some food for thought.

OKAY so the incestuous Mists of Avalon reading…I wasn’t grossed out when I was reading it.  I was actually really intrigued with this reading because of a few reasons (besides the fact that I enjoy reading fucked up shite):

1)  The ritualized the priestess giving her virginity to the half animal man (sophisticate name, I know) is very…animal themed.  Why is this so?

2) I find it interesting how insect comes up a lot in Arthurian readings…I mean, why does that keep coming up?  Makes me think…
3)  We finally got a sex scene

I simply wasn’t grossed out that they were brother and sister.  I have to admit, I wasn’t surprised that they were related because this isn’t the first incestuous instance that we’ve read in past texts. 

This is 4 out of 5

"Arthur, I Am Your Father," said Merlin, but not really

I have to say, I really loved the beginning of chapter 3 in the first book, where Arthur as a boy (Wart) is introduced into the story. The description of his surroundings may seem superfluous, but I argue that those details are vital. Clearly, White wanted to create this innocent and vulnerable environment that Wart is originating from in this story. I think without these lengthy descriptions, I don’t think this reading would’ve had the angle and appeal to it. It’s easy to see how Disney was able to make a movie based on this story and used MUCH of details (compared to other Disney films).

 I think this was especially necessary because Wart was an orphan, and the origin of the relationship he has with Merlin really needs to be explained. In past readings we only see the tip of the iceberg with their bond and the history of it (when they met, how, etc), and even though Merlin is Arthur’s tudor/guide…I really argue that he’s more of a father figure to Arthur. I think this vulnerability in the beginning of this reading was perfect to lead into the beginning of Merlin and Arthur’s relationship (Merlin taking him in, teaching him things, taking care of him…).


 And like I mentioned in class earlier, I think this reading is trying to show how really the round table, King Arthur’s ideals and his foundation for ruling was all based on Merlin’s teachings- which is exactly why I think this reading is really all about Merlin. And after finishing this reading…I’ve started to think of Merlin as kind of a representation of modern ideals and moral clichés, which was the “father-ish-figure” to Arthur so that he’d grow up to rule according to these ideals. And that the round table was a reflection of the modern ideals themselves, and when King Arthur dies the round tables dies with him…perhaps reflecting some modern ideals that we have instilled in some societies and governments that will most likely die as did the round table. I’m not sure if that was a serious mind f**k or just another way of viewing this reading and the whole Merlin and Arthur relationship.


This is 3 out of 5

Metaphor Overload

To me, this poem spoke as a huge metaphor for the lives of women during the Victorian times (perhaps as well as women in Arthurian times).  I’ve mentally chewed up the elements of this poem that I interpreted as symbolic and listed my brain vomit below.

1)  Camelot:  Camelot is very much romanticized in this poem as a this beautiful, desirable place that’s spoken of as some sort of destination-that the goal is to eventually get there.  I think Camelot was a metaphor for women attainting the “ideal” in life, which was always so romanticized (especially in the beginning when the poet is describing her surroundings in the field, which is very close to Camelot...but not quite apart of Camelot).  Something I think really is important to zero in on here is the fact that her tower is always so close to Camelot, right down the field or river from there and we see this is almost every stanza.

“By the island in the river           

Flowing down to Camelot”

“There she sees the highway near            

Winding down to Camelot”

One last thing, I think the fact that when she sees Lancelot in the mirror, he’s making his way to Camelot…seeing him as her chance to attain that “ideal.”

2)  The Weaving  (the web):  I think the weaving in this poem symbolizes the work/trade/things (for lack of a better word)  that women in Victorian times felt obligated to do or felt that was expected of them.  She kept weaving, never leaving or stop weaving because she believed that she “couldn’t”… the curse (that she didn’t know exactly what it was) made her believe that something bad would happen.  I think many Victorian women must have felt this way about house keeping/trade work/house work/etc that the felt they were obligated to do…and that something bad would happen if they stopped.

3)  The “Curse”:  I think the curse was a metaphor for the pressure in Victorian society (and in Arthurian society maybe) on women to obey the pressure from men and maybe even themselves (remember how the lady of Shalott said she heard a voice?).  Maybe the voice the Lady of Shalott heard was her subconscious telling her not to stop weaving and stay where she is.

4) The Mirror:  I think the fact that she looks at the mirror to see out her window, rather than getting up and looking out the window, represents her view of reality…how she experiences her life in that tower.  She experiences her life there through the reflection of life, not life itself.  The reflection (the mirror) is representing the distorted view of where and how she’s living and that she’s viewing her life as that distorted view.  I think this is the metaphor of how some women from any time period live and see their life.

5)  Lancelot:  I think  to the lady of Shalott, Lancelot is her opportunity/catalyst to get out of the tower and see the world.  The buildup of her weaving, singing and hearing the voice telling her she’s cursed and her forcing herself to stay in her tower weaving leads to this.  At this point, she looks out the window with her own eyes and gets out of the tower as fast as she fucking could.  Because she thought Lancelot was so gorgeous and shiny, she wanted to GTFO of her situation.  Maybe her subconscious painting Lancelot’s face on her chance to leave so that she’d finally break out.  I think even today (just as in Victorian times) there were women who saw a man as an opportunity for a way out of wherever they were living in- I think that still happens today.

6)  Her Death:  I think her death is a metaphor for the reality that kicks in when you finally reach your “Camelot.”  The fact that by the time when she gets to Camelot, she’s dead.  She can never experience being in Camelot because she was never going to experience “Camelot.” 

The reality that kicks in is that “Camelot” represents your ideal, fantasy created life that many people think they must work to attain…rather than embracing the idea that what you spend your time doing every is your life…and that no one else will be living your life except you.  Also, most of the worries, fears and obligations that we put on ourselves are generally made up in our minds (the voce she heard, the curse…You seeing what I’m saying?).   So by the time some may reach the point where they’ve “made it” by getting the financial/home/romantic/job/etc security that they dreamt up in their head, there’s a feeling of emptiness, hollowness…relating to death (Lady of Shalott’s death) because it’s the realization that there is no actual “Camelot.” 

Wow that ended more emotionally crushing than I predicted.


This is 2 out of 5

Indiana Jones, The Holy Grail Scene

I just have to say that this scene has some of the detailas from the Malory reading...the silver dishes, the old-ish man (which seems to be a templar knight?)  There wasn't an omniscient voice that warned the bad guys away, but you can see that the knight can maybe look like a knight of the round table or a crusader knight.

I find it interesting how films present the quest for the Holy Grail and how hyped up the storyline is.  While there are many variations, the theme of the supernatural power is consistent-the grail always seems to have a power/independence from people.

Anyways...ENJOY THE SCENE!

Holy Grail Thoughts..

Things that were peculiar about the Seagrail Quest reading today

1.     After Lancelot enters the chamber (after the voice said not to) and he collapsed and was “like dead” for 24 days.

In reference to what we were saying earlier today about people relating to Lancelot’s decisions, I think the 24 days he “lain dead” is another loud parallel that people can relate to.  The effects of doing something you know you shouldn’t because you think you know better than otherwise, and then having to deal with some sort of consequence.  Lancelot said that he felt the 24 days was a punishment for his disobedience of what the voice told him to do.   I find it odd for Lancelot accepts it as a punishment, and that he deserved it…I was expecting him to react boldly; inspired by a” WTF just happened” moment, I thought he’d charge off on a horse to justify his name.  But no.

2.     The demonic horse that rode for four days journey in an hour, the lion and the serpent.

When I was first reading  that Percivale decided, almost randomly it seemed, to help the lion fight the serpent I felt confused.  WHY?  The only reasoning that followed was that the lion was “the more natural beast of the two” and then Percivale thanks god for the fellowship that he has with the lion.  There is, of course, the religious symbolism that I can see that might explain the issue’s he’s having with temptation:  serpent representing evil things and the devil and the lion representing god and being good. 

I get that, but letting that though sit in my mind for a few seconds…then what does the dream that he has while sleeping with lion mean (with the young and old lady that visit him in his dream)?  The young lady sat on the serpent and the old lady sat on the lion and it was the young lady on the serpent that warns him…am I the only one who thought that was weird?  Why was it the young lady sitting on the serpent (representing evilness) who warned him, and not the old lady on the lion?   I feel like it’d make more sense if the lady on the lion warned him…am I missing something?

Anyways, I actually really enjoyed this reading, probably the best reading for me so far in this class.  The way Malory wrote the Sangreal Quest is very alluring…I felt that he (Malory) was telling hard facts of what happened; yet it felt like a story. 


This is 1 out of 5

Trust Issues

Although I'm having a hard time believing this week's reading, I find the Malory readings so settling; the stories are straightforward, and so establishing about the facts about King Arthur and Merlin...regardless if they're real or not.

I think that's why there was so much debate in previous readings; the holes in the stories left so much room for possibilities that my mind would expand with ideas and then explode and the left over unicorn dust would raise all kinds of questions.

Okay that's definitely an exaggeration...but you have to question...why was this week's reading so straight forward?  Why should I believe what a man in prison wrote these stories saying they're real?  Why is it that of all people, this guy knows exactly what happened when King Arthur pulled excalibur from the stone, yet no one was around to physically witness?

Maybe it's the journalism world in me that's coming out right now, but I'm struggling to rely on this source for the truth.  These stories seem so accurate and definite of the series of events that took place with specific details.

merp.

Sex Control Rant

WARNING:  the following content is a rant about the sexism inlaced in the mantle story.


*walks onto an empty stage*

I couldn't help myself from getting so irritated reading this story.  At first I kept giggling out loud; a random guy appearing out of nowhere, on behalf of an unnamed elf woman is so random it's funny.

But, like so many historical texts, the testing of a woman's "faithfulness" is being called out.  The all-mighty, objectified "virginity" is prized over medieval men for some reason that remains unknown to me.  The concern of a man's woman only having sex with him (because you know, she's property) grew into an obsessive form of control.

Why do these knight obsess over whether or not "their" women are only having sex with them?  They're  having sex with other people...so why does that matter?

Examining this whole courtly love theme and being a knight in the time of Arthur...honor always seems to be the underlying factor.  Is it simply honor?   But how did honor evolve into sex control?


*drops mic*

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Courtly Bullshit...*coughs* Ahem, Courtly Love.

I have to say, the reading for the past week...so many feels.

The first this that really sunk into my mind was the riding in the Dwarf cart shame.  Lancelot was (like what Dr.MB said) "Scarlet Lettered" and somehow strangers and everyone in different areas knew about.  I mean, how is there so much shame bestowed upon Lancelot for that tiny, and in my opinion, harmless action?

I think there was this overly exaggerated idea of being honorable-in the terms of being a knight in courtly love.  Because Lancelot wasn't proudly striding his way a long distance to the girl and was riding in a Dwarf cart, people looked at him with disgust.  (wow, I said that out loud and laughed for 3 minutes).  That's kind of ridiculous.  He was already on his way...the fact that his every action has to be in accordance to this unattainable code of ethics, just tells me how ludicrous the ideals of honor, valor and being worthy of courtly love was.

I think courtly love was created out of the delusions thought up by an emotional starved and handicapped individual.  The Rules of Courtly love that we talked about during class...courtly love is an emotional paradox.  It's no wonder people in the times of King Arthur couldn't have a resolution in their courtly love that actually satisfies- meaning that the end result is either incomplete or that the love cannot be fulfilled.  You are left feeling sad..bad way to end a romantic story...or is it?

Legend of King Arthur and Legend of Zelda

Thinking over what I know about King Arthur and the stories about him and what we all learned in class about him, I've noticed similarities with the Legend of Zelda.  The Legend of Zelda is basically a series of games made by Nintendo about this boy (named Link) who is a selfless, virtuous hero who in most game plots saves princess Zelda, the people of Hyrule (Zelda's castle) or some group of people.

Take a look at the intro video for my favorite Legend of Zelda game, Windwaker, that I put rto the left and you can see that there are some similarities between the boy hero Link and King Arthur.  The idea that a selfless, virtuous hero saves countless people for a cause assigned to him.  ANOTHER striking similarity is Arthur's sword excalibur and the Master Sword in the game.  Link goes into a castle to pull the master sword and only the true hero is able to pull it up from the stone inside a castle-King Arthur was the only one who was able to pull excalibur from the stone...IT'S JUST TOO SIMILAR!
I find that the legend of King Arthur has pieces that are mysterious to me (same with the Legend of Zelda); concrete details about his existence seem to be unknown or unreliable.  I think it's that aspect of legends that make them easy to believe in and glorify.  King Arthur seems to be seen almost like a god because of his selfless sacrifices and his origins are written about vaguely similar to writings about Jesus.

I'm branching off right a lot now so I think this is where I'll end my mini rant about King Arthur being similar to the Legend of Zelda and apparently Jesus.

Happy Sunday everyone!