Marshall+Bronfin

= = Welcome to Marshall Bronfin's Page... Assignment Seven: Due June 2011: Comparison to Aeneid.......

fter some thought about this wiki I decided to compare The Aeneid to the popular film, Transformers, I thought about True Grit among others for a while too. But finally landed on the 2007 version of 3:10 to Yuma. Anyway, as we all know the Aeneid tells the story of Aeneas and his ten year journey from the shores of Troy to the land of Italy. But it tells more than just that, it tells of the terrible misfortunes and opposition that Aeneas had to overcome to reach the land of Latium to create a safe place for his people. He had to succumb to the cruelty of Juno, throwing obstacle after obstacle at him and much more just to make a simple journey from the shores of Troy to the land of Italy. It was a courageous journey and one that showed unbounded nationalism and dedication to the people of Troy and the future of Troy, no simple man would have been able to complete this task against such opposition. Furthermore, Aeneas is able to complete his task for the people with little help at all.

3:10 to Yuma tells the story of Dan Evans played by Christian Bale, a rancher running low on money and luck. However a famous outlaw named Ben Wade just so happens to get captured in the town of Bisbee where Evans lives, somehow Evans finds himself as one of the escorts for Wade on a long trip from Bisbee to get on train to go to Yuma that just so happens to leave at 3:10. What relates this story very much to the story of Aeneas is the journey that the two main characters embark on and the obstacles that they meeting along their paths. Evans, is constantly being ambushed by Indians, and the remains of Wade's evil gang now lead by Charlie Prince.

These to men are taken out of their daily lives to become heros and do the right thing by making a journey against all odds for the better of their people. As Christian Bale who plays Dan Evans in the film said, "Its about will you do the right thing with no support from anyone else." This is exactly how Aeneas probably felt when he was making the journey fro the shore of Troy. Furthermore, to add to what Christian Bale said, these stories are about keeping on with the journey against all odds. Evans has picked up this journey to get money for his family and getting Wade to the train becomes extremely important to him, just like Aeneas wanted to fin a new land for his people. Furthermore, Evans is constantly being shot at and Wade is also constantly talking to him in his cruel ways which would only deter the simple man, however, Evans continues on the trip to bring Wade to the train. As explained, Aeneas is faced with countless obstacles, slightly more serious than Evans, nevertheless, both men stick to their journeys and make it to their destination as stronger and better people.

Although 3:10 to Yuma does have Evan taking Wade to a location, while Aeneas was not really sure where he was going and he was really only taking his men, the two stories are very similar because of the long journey that they both must complete and the endless obstacles that any other man would give up on, this man not be nationalism but it is extreme dedication to a cause.

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A trailer for the film.... media type="custom" key="9713215" width="70" height="70" A Poster for the film with Ben Wade and Dan Evans (bottom).

Assignment Six: Due April 17th-ish 2011: Another Comparison to One of Ovid s Metamorphoses! Note: My first version of wiki 6 disappeared along with my entire page when I tried to save it before, so this is a second version that will hopefully be very similar. Update: I figured out what was wrong after it deleted itself a third time. For some reason when i try to put pictures in it deletes the entire page. (so sadly no pictures)

For the next assignment with Ovids Metamorphoses and a modern work of art I decided to use Ovid's story about Midas's Golden Touch and compare it to Jurassic Park. Many people know the story of Midas and his golden touch. They know the general story but there is more that fits around this teachable story in Ovid's Metamorphoses. So, the story begins with a Midas doing a favor for the god Bacchus by rescuing his foster father. Because of this kind deed, Bacchus decides to give Midas one wish. Everyone know what he wishes for: the golden touch, so that everything that he touches with his body turns to gold. And this is an amazing and wonderful power at first for Midas, he touches a tree branch and it turns instantly to gold. Then other objects like corn and apples and rocks and they too turn to the finest forms of gold. He touches water as it flows past him and this turns to gold. He is overjoyed with his awesome new power. However, when Midas returns to his kingdom, he has his servants prepare a huge feast for him. When Midas tries to take a bite of the food it turns to gold, when he tries to drink the water and wine it too turns to gold. Midas is now at the mercy of his own power, the power that has given him so much is taking away what he needs most. Finally, Midas begs for Mercy from Bacchus and is told what to do to remove this power. Midas does it and everyone lives happily every after.

In Jurassic Park, the man who is very similar to Midas is John Hammond. This is not fully shown in the film but, Hammond and his company inGen have created Jurassic Park. It was all Hammonds dream and he gained the power to created these awesome dinosaurs and own such an amazing park, similar to Midas's golden touch. These two 'powers' are basically impossible but the two men have gained them and find them to be very important in their lives until they reach other problems. Anyway, Hammond has this beautiful park that he has created (as you can see in the two youtube clips) it has tons of dinosaurs and he has the ability to create many more, just like Midas has the ability to create all the gold he wants. However, as explained, Midas runs into a problem and has to choose between this golden touch and being able to eat and drink. Similarly, Hammond, when his park is hit by a major story and begins to fall apart, must choose where his priorities lie and see that the power of the park and dinosaurs may not be as important as his life. As the park collapses around him, Hammond continues to dream about what he can do with the park, just as Midas continues to want to hold onto his golden touch. Finally, as explained, Midas realizes that he must loose his golden touch if he wants to survive. Sadly, Hammond does not realize he has to loose his park and in the book he dies at the end, while he actually dies in the beginning of the sequel to Jurassic Park. He dies still dreaming about how he can make the park great, like Midas's continued want for the Golden Touch that he must loose.

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John Hammond with his introduction to Jurassic Park

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The trailer for Jurassic Park (sort of features Hammond towards the beginning).

Assignment Five: Due March 11th 2011: Comparison to One of Ovid s Metamorphoses! For this assignment we had to compare one of Ovid's Metamorphoses to a modern work of art, movie... After quite an extended period of looking at both the Metamorphoses and various modern movies I decided to take Ovid's story of Phaetheon and the modern movie, Star Wars III: Revenge of the Sith, specifically the story of Anakin Skywalker and compare the two. So, the story of Phaetheon is a simple one, basically Phaetheon and his father Apollo, who drives the chariot with the sun across the sky everyday, are in an argument about the chariot. Phaetheon wants to drive it and ignores his father's warnings. So, Phaetheon's want for power and the chariot grows so great that he has to ride the chariot across the sky, Apollo can't do much but sit and watch. Phaetheon reaches the heights of the sky and realizes what a mistake he has made and how he has taken on too much power. However, there is no stopping now as he is pushed along by the sky wand wind. Furthermore, Phaetheon is terrified by the monsters in the sky and is overwhelmed by power and drops the reins. The horses veer of track and basically light the entire earth on fire, which is a huge problem, the earth complains, Jupiter intervenes and Phaetheon dies. Happy story.

Anyway, Star Wars III speaks of a character that I believe to be very similar to Phaetheon in many ways, but there are also a few differences in their stories. In Star Wars, the Jedi Anakin has a want for power, similar to Phaetheon. In attempt to gain power he does stupid things and connects himself with evil people for that power. All of this is against the will of his elders and masters like Obi Wan. Similarly, Phaetheon trys to gain power like Anakin against the will of his elders. This is where the film and metamorphose slightly split. In the film, Anakin does not realize that the power that he has gained is actually hurting him and hurting the people around him, however, the people around him, like Obi Wan and Yoda attempt to save him from the evil and power that he is getting himself caught up in, however their work is to no avail and Anakin's thirst for power is too great. Similarly, but not exactly, Phaetheon, unlike Anakin in one way, sees that he has taken on way too much power to handle but cannot step down from the power. Anakin simply had others recognize for him that this power was too great for him and it would hurt him. Finally, almost alone, Anakin is able to destroy the republic and bring the Empire into control along with the Sith Lord furthermore, he separates himself from his family and friends. Phaetheon lets go of the reins and lights the world on fire, all because of the great power that both boys could not control and eventually dies. Although the stories may split apart slightly towards the end, it is easy to see that these are stories of taking on too much power to handle and the results that follow.

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A trailer for the film, Star Wars III: Revenge of the Sith. In this trailer, one can get an idea of what Anakin's arrival at power is like. (sorry if the audio is slightly off the video)

Assignment Four: Due January 7thish 2011 After some consideration, i have decided that the third stanza of Horcae's 2.10 ode is very similar to the song Viva La Vida by the band Coldplay. This third stanza talks of a huge pine tree "ingens pinus," the biggest, tallest pine tree one can imagine, and this tree is shaken more often by the wind, "saepius agitatur ventis." Furthermore, because of this it is toppled with a crash. "dedidunt casu." Finally this stanza ends with another comparison, talking about lightening striking, "fulgera feriuntque," all the mountains, "summos montes." This stanza has a lot more meaning than just what it is translated as. When referring to the huge and lofty pine trees Horace is really talking about status of people and not so much height, dimension wise. He is saying, the higher the status of person they are, for example, and emperor or a senator, or a rich businessman. Then with the continued, "shaken more often by wind and is toppled with a crash," he really mean to say they the closer to the top that one is, the further, faster, harder, and great possibility of them falling will be. Like a huge pine tree, rising above the rest, people who rise about the rest are also standing out and they fall, harder and worse.

This brings me to my comparison to Coldplay's Viva La Vida. Chris Martin sings about how he "used to rule the world, seas would rise when he gave the word." Just like Horace says, those who have power stand above the rest, like the great pine tree. However, Chris Martin continues to say, "now in the morning i sleep alone, sweep the streets i used to own," he is talking here about his downfall from the great position he used to have. This passage that Chris Martin sings truly relates to Horace's 2.10 3rd stanza, Martin is the great pine tree ruling the world and he then falls hard and to the bottom quickly and sharply, just like a great pine would. Furthermore, multiple more lines relate to horace's words, for example, "One minute I held the key, next the walls were closed on me," once again Martin talks of his great power and then how he lost it all of a sudden, just like the great, lofty pine tree.

Then, also in the same stanza are the two lines about all the lightening striking mountains," this is very similar to a tall pine falling but simply states that the higher you are, like a mountain, the more often you will be hit, but lightening. Chris Martin does not directly sing this, by one can imply that he has similar to a king, he must have been hit hard, maybe many times, and toppled from his throne just like a tree. He was high up and thus the target for the most "lightening."

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A Music Video of Coldplay performing Viva La Vida

I used to rule the world Seas would rise when I gave the word Now in the morning I sleep alone Sweep the streets I used to own

I used to roll the dice Feel the fear in my enemy's eyes Listen as the crowd would sing "Now the old king is dead! Long live the king!"

One minute I held the key Next the walls were closed on me And I discovered that my castles stand Upon pillars of salt and pillars of sand

I hear Jerusalem bells a ringing Roman Cavalry choirs are singing Be my mirror, my sword and shield My missionaries in a foreign field

For some reason I can't explain Once you go there was never Never an honest word And that was when I ruled the world

It was the wicked and wild wind Blew down the doors to let me in Shattered windows and the sound of drums People couldn't believe what I'd become

Revolutionaries wait For my head on a silver plate Just a puppet on a lonely string Oh who would ever want to be king?

I hear Jerusalem bells a ringing Roman Cavalry choirs are singing Be my mirror, my sword and shield My missionaries in a foreign field

For some reason I can't explain I know Saint Peter won't call my name Never an honest word But that was when I ruled the world

I hear Jerusalem bells a ringing Roman Cavalry choirs are singing Be my mirror, my sword and shield My missionaries in a foreign field

For some reason I can't explain I know Saint Peter won't call my name Never an honest word But that was when I ruled the world

Assignment Three: Due December 3rdish After quite a while of contemplating and thinking about a variety of modern day movies and music, I believe that i have come up with a modern work that relates to Catullus's poem 84. This song is Mr. Roboto, by the Styx (lyrics included below, along with a video), this song basically tells the story of a man who is hiding behind a secret and he is not much different than other. Meanwhile, Catullus 84 is similar in many ways, which i will go into detail further in the comparison. But basically, Catullus 84 tells of Arrius and the way he acts different to make people think he is a different person, like Mr. Roboto. Also, the song and poem are from two different points of view, Mr. Roboto takes 1st person, while Catullus 84 takes a 3rd person view and is told by Catullus of Arrius, however, it is interesting to see the two points of view on a similar topic within the two passages. First of all, the two men in both the poem and the song are using some sort of outside appearance to hide something else. In Mr. Roboto, the Styx say "I've got a secret, I've been hiding under my skin" and they talk a lot about how they hide behind this guise of a robot and it is not actually their true self. Furthermore, the song specifically states he wants now one to see "My true identity." While Catullus in Poem 84 says "Chommoda dicebat, si quando commoda vellet dicere" which translates as "Arrius was saying hadvantages, if he wanted to say advantages," it is obvious here that Arrius is using the word hadvantages to sound smarter and better educated, because he definitely thinks that hadvantages is a lot cooler and smarter than adavntages. Here, just like the song Mr. Roboto, Arrius is hiding behind this guise of a smarter, better educated person that he wants others to see, just like Mr. Roboto is hiding behind a machine to seem different. Mr. Roboto does not want people to see his "true identity," and even though Arrius or Catullus do not specicially state that Arrius does not want people to see his true ways, it is definitely implied by what he says. However, unlike in Catullus 84, Mr. Roboto wants to change himself to normal, while Catullus wants to change Arrius back to normal, and Arrius wants to be seen differently.

So while there may be some differences in theses to men; by how their story is told, or what they are hiding and what they are doing about it, the idea here is general yet can be taken from both poem and song. Mr. Roboto is basically hiding himself behind this robot of some sort and he wants to gain freedom from it, while Arrius in Catullus 84 is hiding himself, the less educated and generally less liked person behind his new accent, "Chommoda" instead of "Commoda." And maybe one day Arrius will realize his mistake that Catullus bashes in poem 84 and become more of a man like Mr. Roboto, (or Kilroy).

Domo Arigato, Mr. Roboto Domo Arigato, Mr. Roboto Mata ahoo Hima de Domo Arigato, Mr. Roboto Himitsu wo Shiri tai

You're wondering who I am (Secret, secret, I've got a secret) Machine or mannequin (Secret, secret, I've got a secret) With parts made in Japan (Secret, secret, I've got a secret) I am the modren man

I've got a secret, I've been hiding under my skin My heart is human, my blood is boiling My brain I.B.M., so if you see me Acting strangely, don't be surprised

I'm just a man who needed someone And somewhere to hide To keep me alive, just keep me alive Somewhere to hide to keep me alive

I'm not a robot without emotions I'm not what you see I've come to help you With your problems, so we can be free I'm not a hero, I'm not a saviour Forget what you know

I'm just a man whose circumstances Went beyond his control Beyond my control, we all need control I need control, we all need control

I am the modren man (Secret, secret I've got a secret) Who hides behind a mask (Secret, secret, I've got a secret) So no one else can see (Secret, secret, I've got a secret) My true identity

Domo Arigato, Mr. Roboto Domo, Domo Domo Arigato, Mr. Roboto Domo, Domo

Domo Arigato, Mr. Roboto Domo Arigato, Mr. Roboto Domo Arigato, Mr. Roboto Domo Arigato, Mr. Roboto Domo Arigato, Mr. Roboto

Thank you very much, Mr. Roboto For doing the jobs that nobody wants to And thank you very much, Mr. Roboto For helping me escape

Just when I needed to Thank you, thank you, thank you I want to thank you Please, thank you, oh

The problem's plain to see Too much technology Machines to save our lives Machines, de-humanize

The time has come at last (Secret, secret, I've got a secret) To throw away this mask (Secret, secret, I've got a secret) Now everyone can see (Secret, secret, I've got a secret) My true identity, I'm Kilroy, Kilroy, Kilroy, Kilroy

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Assignment Two: due some time in the beginning of November 2010. The Beatles have endless songs, and within that endless love longs, and they are all about different things and different aspects of love. I believe that Catullus 72 has multiple aspects that relate to the song Yesterday by the Beatles. First of all, i know that Yesterday is intended to be a sad love long and Catullus 72 is more of Catullus' anger and disappointment and really sadness over Lesbia at all, however, they both begin with an important tense that really defines the poem and song. Catullus begins with "Dicebas," "You used to say" and the Beatles begin with "Yesterday." Catullus uses this imperfect tense to really define the poem and tell Lesbia that she used to do things but now she does not and he is not too happy. While the Beatles use the word yesterday to say how they were in love yesterday/ before and now it is gone. Obviously, these tenses are important to the nature of the poem/song and they would be dramatically different if Catullus took that tense out of his poem or the Beatles attempted to take the word yesterday out of this song. Furthermore, in the song Yesterday, the Beatles say "Love was such an easy game to play," This is talking about how love was good and so simple and enjoyable for them. In Catullus 72, he basically says i loved you not as a friend but as a father loves his son. This kind of love, like the Beatles, is simple (yet very complex), and it is enjoyable and a great relationship for them both. Of course, as the case in both song and poem, this love has not lasted and now they are happy for this loss of such a good relationship. In the last two lines of Catullus 72, Catullus speaks of how this kind of an injury forces a lover to love more but respect less, "sed bene velle minus," which really explains his true feelings about the happenings of this relationship. Similarly, the song Yesterday is one mans view of a sudden break up the day after, and he realizes like Catullus says that he loves so much "Love was such an easy game to play," yet he has ruined himself "I'm not half the man I used to be, There's a shadow hanging over me," and the relationship. In Yesterday the Beatles love more, but respect less, just like Catullus in this poem. media type="youtube" key="92E_HUNddWI?fs=1" height="385" width="480" align="center"

Video of Yesterday... Lyrics for Yesterday

Yesterday, All my troubles seemed so far away, Now it looks as though they're here to stay, Oh, I believe in yesterday. Suddenly, I'm not half the man I used to be, There's a shadow hanging over me, Oh, yesterday came suddenly. Why she Had to go I don't know, she wouldn't say. I said, Something wrong, now I long for yesterday. Yesterday, Love was such an easy game to play, Now I need a place to hide away, Oh, I believe in yesterday. Why she Had to go I don't know, she wouldn't say. I said, Something wrong, now I long for yesterday. Yesterday, Love was such an easy game to play, Now I need a place to hide away, Oh, I believe in yesterday. Mm-mm-mm-mm-mm-mm-mm. Assignment One, due October 4, 2010:After sitting down and considering various modern films for a while I realized that Walt Disney and Pixar's __WALL-E__ written and directed by Andrew Stanton is closely similar to the writings of Catullus that we have been studying. In Catullus 5 and 7, Catullus rants about his extreme love for Lesbia. He talks of their love ignoring the words of the old men. Then he explains all about the thousands of kisses Lesbia will give him. While in Catullus 7, he expands on the kisses and talks more of his love. In the film __WALL-E__, there is a small robot left on earth to clean up all the trash of the human race, after they departed in huge space ships. However, a beautiful white robot, EVE, comes to earth and the two robots fall in love. WALL-E has never seen anything more beautiful after being on earth for so many years. But, time passes and a spaceship comes to pick up EVE, WALL-E goes deep into space to follow his love.

WALL-E and Catullus' writings are very similar in the amount of love that is shown. In Catullus 5 and 7, Catullus explains his great love for Lesbia and what they will do and the number of kisses that he expects to see. It is obvious when he explains this that he has a true love of Lesbia. Similarly, WALL-E meets EVE and he falls in love immediately, even though he does not really say it, he shows his true love for her and she show love right back, it is obvious that WALL-E has a very strong love for EVE (even though he is a robot), and like Catullus, he wants to share his love with her. Furthermore, from what we know about Catullus so far, I see him as the desperate type who, once he finds a girl, clings to her shows his love. Similarly, WALL-E is a very desperate robot, with no friends at all, until EVE comes along. At first he is scared of here, but once they get to know each other, no one can separate WALL-E from EVE. Another similarity between the two loving men is their devotion to their women in times of separation. At the beginning of Catullus 5, Catullus says "rumoresque senum severiorum omnes unius aestimemus assis!" which basically means; and value all the rumors of the strict old men at one penny! So even though there may be opposing forces to the love of Catullus and Lesbia, Catullus will not let these forces pull them apart, to him they are nothing. While in WALL-E, all is happy between the two robots until EVE is taken to go back to the mothership. Of course WALL-E will not let this happen, thanks to devotion he follows her deep into space and battles an army of robots to find her. His dedication to EVE when they are being separated is huge.

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A Trailer of __WALL-E__(which shows his love and dedication to EVE)

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Another clip with WALL-E

Last Updated October 4th 2010 at 09:47