Book Review: The Art of The Hunchback of Notre Dame
I found this cool blog that goes through a visual display of the story of the Hunchback. It adds a new element to see others' interpretation of the novel and to see the words in pictures before you. Check it out!
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
Monday, May 7, 2012
The Hunchback on Screen
A few weeks ago, I came across this musical adaption of Notre Dame de Paris. (One song is "Les Cloches," translated as "The Bells," sung by Quasimodo: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pbKYksxeXh8 .) These songs, along with the screenplay and the visual imagery is what got me to pick up the book again. It was this musical that sparked my interest in learning French as well (any tips would be greatly appreciated:).
I have been thinking of the different mediums through which literary works are being portrayed. The Hunchback of Notre Dame has had several media adaptions not the least of which being Disney's movie interpretation, the Notre Dame de Paris musical, audiobook, and several other movies have been made based off of this book. It has been interesting to see how different mediums have chosen to represent the textual basis of this novel, how the intended audience changes the interpretation of the novel and the way it is presented, and how each medium (visual, music, voice recordings, etc.) adds a different element to the story.
For example, the tragic ending of the story and the extent of Quasimodo's hideousness has to be changed for he Disney movie in order to lighten the mood and appeal to a younger audience, while the musical, for obvious readons, refrains from making Quasimodo deaf. I think it is really interesting how visual and audio adaptations to literature change the way we see and interpret the original text.
I have been thinking of the different mediums through which literary works are being portrayed. The Hunchback of Notre Dame has had several media adaptions not the least of which being Disney's movie interpretation, the Notre Dame de Paris musical, audiobook, and several other movies have been made based off of this book. It has been interesting to see how different mediums have chosen to represent the textual basis of this novel, how the intended audience changes the interpretation of the novel and the way it is presented, and how each medium (visual, music, voice recordings, etc.) adds a different element to the story.
For example, the tragic ending of the story and the extent of Quasimodo's hideousness has to be changed for he Disney movie in order to lighten the mood and appeal to a younger audience, while the musical, for obvious readons, refrains from making Quasimodo deaf. I think it is really interesting how visual and audio adaptations to literature change the way we see and interpret the original text.
Saturday, May 5, 2012
"This Will Kill That"
I have come to the conclusion that the way we interpret literature and share it with others has drastically changed over the course of the lifetime of the computer/internet. The internet has revolutionized the availability of information. Books are not the only, or even the most convenient or reliable resources to find up-to-date information on any given subject.
In the Middle Ages, Victor Hugo argues that the invention of the printing press had, what I can see nowadays, the same effect on architecture as the internet has had on the world of literature. Back then, literature replaced architecture as the greatest representation of thought, ideas, and beauty. Has the emergence of the internet and other media (i.e. movies, social media, blogs etc.) come to replace literature as the medium through which these things are shared to and by mankind? As I look at blogs, social sites, watch movies, etc. and compare that with some of the popular culture literature being published today, I tend to think yes.
In the Middle Ages, Victor Hugo argues that the invention of the printing press had, what I can see nowadays, the same effect on architecture as the internet has had on the world of literature. Back then, literature replaced architecture as the greatest representation of thought, ideas, and beauty. Has the emergence of the internet and other media (i.e. movies, social media, blogs etc.) come to replace literature as the medium through which these things are shared to and by mankind? As I look at blogs, social sites, watch movies, etc. and compare that with some of the popular culture literature being published today, I tend to think yes.
Friday, May 4, 2012
The Beauty of the Hunchback
I first read The Hunchback of Notre Dame for my ninth grade English class. I had seen the Disney animated version of the story once or twice when I was little, so I was familiar with the story...or so I thought.
At first the length of the story intimidated me, but I soon found myself absolutely lost in the world Victor Hugo painted. His writing captivated me. I was sucked into 1482 France, admiring the beauty and grandeur of the cathedral of Notre Dame, hearing Quasimodo ringing its bells. I was exploring through the streets of Paris with Gringoire and the backroads with the gypsies. I closed the book with tears in my eyes, my heart swelling. Never before had I experienced such a beautiful and intrinsic plot. Never before had I sympathized with or felt such malice towards characters in a book. Victor Hugo took me in and even with the end of the story, never let me go.
When I talked to my friends and peers about the book, I was surprised to find that I was one of only maybe a handful that enjoyed the book. Many people were sharing their bitter, spiteful criticism of parts of the book that I particularly admired. I found myself having to defend the book time and time again, but not really knowing how because I could hardly articulate my admiration for it. Yes it is sad. Yes Claude Frollo is a creeper. Yes Phoebus is a scoundrel, but that is the whole point! It is in such tragedy that the beauty is found!
My experience with The Hunchback of Notre Dame taught me some very important lessons: there are things more important to literature than a happy ending. A story can be both beautiful and tragic. Characters are not always painted black and white, good or evil. These are the things I love about this book. These lessons have helped me to appreciate other literature that I would never have been able to appreciate otherwise (i.e. Wuthering Heights, Tess of the D'Urbervilles, Macbeth, and so on). So here is my public thanks and salute to Victor Hugo for not being afraid to create something so beautiful as The Hunchback of Notre Dame!
At first the length of the story intimidated me, but I soon found myself absolutely lost in the world Victor Hugo painted. His writing captivated me. I was sucked into 1482 France, admiring the beauty and grandeur of the cathedral of Notre Dame, hearing Quasimodo ringing its bells. I was exploring through the streets of Paris with Gringoire and the backroads with the gypsies. I closed the book with tears in my eyes, my heart swelling. Never before had I experienced such a beautiful and intrinsic plot. Never before had I sympathized with or felt such malice towards characters in a book. Victor Hugo took me in and even with the end of the story, never let me go.
My experience with The Hunchback of Notre Dame taught me some very important lessons: there are things more important to literature than a happy ending. A story can be both beautiful and tragic. Characters are not always painted black and white, good or evil. These are the things I love about this book. These lessons have helped me to appreciate other literature that I would never have been able to appreciate otherwise (i.e. Wuthering Heights, Tess of the D'Urbervilles, Macbeth, and so on). So here is my public thanks and salute to Victor Hugo for not being afraid to create something so beautiful as The Hunchback of Notre Dame!
Thursday, May 3, 2012
Goodreads
I'm on Goodreads! It's really fun to be able to look through and rate the books you have read, what you are reading, and what you are planning on reading. You can look through others' reviews of books you want to read and get recommendations. Check it out! www.goodreads.com
Wednesday, May 2, 2012
Thoughts on Notre Dame
Tuesday, May 1, 2012
Freedom and Security--What are we giving up?
As I have been reading Rainbows End by Vernor Vinge, several interesting ideas have struck me. One idea in particular that struck my interest was when Tommie Parker said that the people of that age had "traded freedom for security" (114).
What does that mean exactly? Does not having a more digitized world where information and entertainment is constantly available, and reality is layered through a virtual world, give more freedom because more information is accessible? Would not security be what is compromised as more and more personal information is readily accessible along with all other data?
Then I got to thinking how maybe the freedom they are talking about is a compromise of the freedom to live with or without technology, the ability to go a day without "wearing" or in our day, perhaps, without a cell phone, etc. Are we becoming less and less able, as we enter a more digital age, to make our own decisions without the aide of external, technological devices? Or is the technology available to us actually increasing our freedoms by allowing us to access information on any given subject at any given time? To whom are we giving our control? Who has the power?
What do you think?
What does that mean exactly? Does not having a more digitized world where information and entertainment is constantly available, and reality is layered through a virtual world, give more freedom because more information is accessible? Would not security be what is compromised as more and more personal information is readily accessible along with all other data?
Then I got to thinking how maybe the freedom they are talking about is a compromise of the freedom to live with or without technology, the ability to go a day without "wearing" or in our day, perhaps, without a cell phone, etc. Are we becoming less and less able, as we enter a more digital age, to make our own decisions without the aide of external, technological devices? Or is the technology available to us actually increasing our freedoms by allowing us to access information on any given subject at any given time? To whom are we giving our control? Who has the power?
What do you think?
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