Thinking Activity: Da Vinci Code

 Hello friends!

Today I write my blog on The Da Vinci code by Dan Brown. This activity given by Dr Dilip Barad sir so please let see brief introduction about the task in sir's blog click here to visit the blog.

Pre-viewing Task:

* Genre:

1) What is Theology Fiction?

Theology is the study of religion, plain and simple. Of course, religion isn't simple, so theology covers a lot of subjects, like rituals, divine beings, the history of religions, and the concept of religious truth. 

2) What is Speculative Fiction?

Speculative fiction is often used as an umbrella term for genre fiction or for narratives that do not fully belong in a particular science fiction or fantasy genre.

Post-viewing Task: 

1) Brown states on his website that his books are not anti-Christian, though he is on a 'constant spiritual journey' himself, and says that his book The Da Vinci Code is simply "an entertaining story that promotes spiritual discussion and debate" and suggests that the book may be used "as a positive catalyst for introspection and exploration of our faith."

Dan Brown asserts that his books are not anti-Christian, and it is right also because he wants to reveal the facts. He also says that he is on the spiritual journey as he portrays the characters who have faith in the religion. Through the murder mystery he unfolds the factual things about the Christianity. if we look deeply then we can find that there is much serious issues on which Brown throws light. In a way he is trying to awaken the people from the blind faith. there are several incidence which shows us that our hero has faith on the Christianity and also he don’t want to break it. We can say that Robert Langdon's journey as a pilgrimage. The search for the Spiritual Truth. Brown is just using the historical fact with his imagined story.

 2) “Although it is obvious that much of what Brown presented in his novel as absolutely true and accurate is neither of those, some of that material is of course essential to the intrigue, and screenwriter Akiva Goldsman has retained the novel's core, the Grail-related material: the sacred feminine, Mary Magdalene's marriage, the Priory of Sion, certain aspects of Leonardo's art, and so on[1].” How far do you agree with this observation of Norris J. Lacy?

Obviously yes, Almost most of the elements are true and accurate. To create some effects, intrigue becomes necessary. Which makes this novel more interesting. Same way Akiva Goldsman plays his role wisely by screenwriting. This thing we can find through the mysterious elements. Moreover, they have shown factual information related to Mary Magdalene and Holy Grail. 

3) If You have studied ‘Genesis’ (The Bible), ‘The Paradise Lost’ (John Milton) and ‘The Da Vinci Code’ (Dan Brown). Which of the narrative/s seem/s to be truthful? Whose narrative is convincing to the contemporary young mind?

According to me, the narrative of 'The Paradise lost' is better narrative than ''The Da Vinci Code' because Milton gave the voice to minor characters like Eve and Satan rather than God and Adam. So, somehow it is convince modern mind because they find the discrimination in the Bible. Whereas 'The Da vinci code' narrative look very far away from truth.

4) What harm has been done to humanity by the biblical narration or that of Milton’s in The Paradise Lose? What sort of damage does narrative like ‘The Vinci Code’ do to humanity?

Ophelia, Elizabeth, Hester Prynne, Hermione Granger, Sophie Neuve are different novel character but maybe many of situation their level like same they are like helpless characters and they need man help. For example at the beginning of the novel Harmione Granger shown much knowledgeable and excellent in the class but then she shown helpless and she want to support of Harry even she is more knowledgeable than Harry. Other novel character like Sophie Neuve is also excellent girl and also cryptologist even one movement her character portrait without man help maybe she couldn't know her identity also.

5) What difference do you see in the portrayal of 'Ophelia' (Kate Winslet) in Kenneth Branagh's Hamlet, 'Elizabeth' (Helena Bonham Carter) in Kenneth Branagh's Mary Shelley's Frankenstein or 'Hester Prynne' (Demi Moore) in Roland Joffé's The Scarlet Letter' or David Yates's 'Harmione Granger' (Emma Watson) in last four Harry Potter films - and 'Sophie Neuve' (Audrey Tautau) in Ron Howard's The Da Vinci Code? How would justify your answer?

Character of Ophelia to Sophie Neveu we can see the vast difference. Women characters always follower of male member of society and depended to them. Sometimes woman used as an object only to serve family members. Society looks towards women as inferior way and always tried to defeat them. But here the women characters are different to struggled and fight with the odd situations.

6) Do novel / film lead us into critical (deconstructive) thinking about your religion? Can we think of such conspiracy theory about Hindu religious symbols / myths?

7) Have you come across any similar book/movie, which tries to deconstruct accepted notions about Hindu religion or culture and by dismantling it, attempts to reconstruct another possible interpretation of truth?

8) When we do traditional reading of the novel ‘The Da Vinci Code’, Robert Langdon, Professor of Religious Symbology, Harvard University emerges as protagonist and Sir Leigh Teabing, a British Historian as antagonist. Who will claim the position of protagonist if we do atheist reading of the novel?

9) Explain Ann Gray’s three propositions on ‘knowability’ with illustrations from the novel ‘The Da Vinci Code’.

a. 1) Identifying what is knowable 

b. 2) identifying and acknowledging the relationship of the knower and the known

c. 3) What is the procedure for ‘knowing’?

Thank you...