Week 5: Lecture 2!

 Lecture 2 was also really helpful for me when it comes to visualizing the history and context of the play. Again, whenever I have to consider ancient societies, it can be hard to remember precisely what technologies and ideas they had. For example, the printing press. Obviously, I know the printing press came into existence long after ancient Greece. I guess I just never really thought about the implications that had on the copying and distribution of the play. The infamous argument over that one line that could be either Ismene's or Antigone's is the perfect example. The play we see today is one that has been altered radically. To credit the play to Sophocles alone could be considered inaccurate, seeing as we barely know what Sophocles originally intended Antigone to be, completely separated from the hands of other people.

A lot of artists discuss how the mere act of viewing art changes it. Jordan Peele's Nope is a good example of a story that delves into how art and our world is just as influenced by the audience as the artist themself. Antigone is the perfect example of this. The text has been warped and changed, primarily by the translators, printers, and editors that have all had a hand in the play's modern form. Even something like the general opinion of specific characters influences the play, such as the decision to give Antigone a line over Ismene because of Ismene's sexuality and cultural history. Overall, I found the lecture really insightful.


Comments

  1. AnonymousOctober 19, 2022 at 11:53 PM

    Hi Jalen! I too found the lecture quite insightful in understanding the history and context of Antigone. I think it's crazy knowing how much discord a single line caused in the literary world! The audience truly has such an impact in the way art is perceived. Perhaps an artist intended for something to be seen one way, but the audience perceived it completely differently. That reminds me of the movie "Cuties," a French movie criticizing the sexualization of young girls. However, that movie was strongly disliked in the US as the audience saw the movie as sexualizing underage girls, contributing to the problem in a way. An intended purpose doesn't always follow through and an audience has a major impact on the perception of a piece.

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  2. Audrey SchroederOctober 23, 2022 at 3:16 PM

    Hi Jalen! I completely agree with what you said about the Neatline visual helping me better understand the history and context of Antigone. It's strange to think about the impact of time on such an old text since we definitely lose some aspects of the original text as time passes. I, too, found the lecture very insightful and appreciate you sharing your thoughts with us.

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