Write a paper on what you learned from the video including your opinion of the subject matter or artist.
Video:
Georges Melies “Trip to the Moon”
Sample solution
Dante Alighieri played a critical role in the literature world through his poem Divine Comedy that was written in the 14th century. The poem contains Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. The Inferno is a description of the nine circles of torment that are found on the earth. It depicts the realms of the people that have gone against the spiritual values and who, instead, have chosen bestial appetite, violence, or fraud and malice. The nine circles of hell are limbo, lust, gluttony, greed and wrath. Others are heresy, violence, fraud, and treachery. The purpose of this paper is to examine the Dante’s Inferno in the perspective of its portrayal of God’s image and the justification of hell.
In this epic poem, God is portrayed as a super being guilty of multiple weaknesses including being egotistic, unjust, and hypocritical. Dante, in this poem, depicts God as being more human than divine by challenging God’s omnipotence. Additionally, the manner in which Dante describes Hell is in full contradiction to the morals of God as written in the Bible. When god arranges Hell to flatter Himself, He commits egotism, a sin that is common among human beings (Cheney, 2016). The weakness is depicted in Limbo and on the Gate of Hell where, for instance, God sends those who do not worship Him to Hell. This implies that failure to worship Him is a sin.
God is also depicted as lacking justice in His actions thus removing the godly image. The injustice is portrayed by the manner in which the sodomites and opportunists are treated. The opportunists are subjected to banner chasing in their lives after death followed by being stung by insects and maggots. They are known to having done neither good nor bad during their lifetimes and, therefore, justice could have demanded that they be granted a neutral punishment having lived a neutral life. The sodomites are also punished unfairly by God when Brunetto Lattini is condemned to hell despite being a good leader (Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). While he commited sodomy, God chooses to ignore all the other good deeds that Brunetto did.
Finally, God is also portrayed as being hypocritical in His actions, a sin that further diminishes His godliness and makes Him more human. A case in point is when God condemns the sin of egotism and goes ahead to commit it repeatedly. Proverbs 29:23 states that “arrogance will bring your downfall, but if you are humble, you will be respected.” When Slattery condemns Dante’s human state as being weak, doubtful, and limited, he is proving God’s hypocrisy because He is also human (Verdicchio, 2015). The actions of God in Hell as portrayed by Dante are inconsistent with the Biblical literature. Both Dante and God are prone to making mistakes, something common among human beings thus making God more human.
To wrap it up, Dante portrays God is more human since He commits the same sins that humans commit: egotism, hypocrisy, and injustice. Hell is justified as being a destination for victims of the mistakes committed by God. The Hell is presented as being a totally different place as compared to what is written about it in the Bible. As a result, reading through the text gives an image of God who is prone to the very mistakes common to humans thus ripping Him off His lofty status of divine and, instead, making Him a mere human. Whether or not Dante did it intentionally is subject to debate but one thing is clear in the poem: the misconstrued notion of God is revealed to future generations.
References
Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). Dante’s inferno: Seven deadly sins in scientific publishing and how to avoid them. Addiction Science: A Guide for the Perplexed, 267.
Cheney, L. D. G. (2016). Illustrations for Dante’s Inferno: A Comparative Study of Sandro Botticelli, Giovanni Stradano, and Federico Zuccaro. Cultural and Religious Studies, 4(8), 487.
Verdicchio, M. (2015). Irony and Desire in Dante’s” Inferno” 27. Italica, 285-297.
Sample Answer
Sample Answer
Title: Exploring Georges Méliès’ “A Trip to the Moon”: A Cinematic Journey
Introduction:
In the world of early cinema, Georges Méliès stands as a pioneer and visionary. His groundbreaking film “A Trip to the Moon” (Le Voyage dans la Lune) has not only captivated audiences for over a century but also revolutionized the art of filmmaking. In this paper, we will delve into what I learned from the video about Méliès and his iconic film, while sharing my opinion on the subject matter and the artist himself.
What I Learned:
Innovative Techniques: “A Trip to the Moon” showcased Méliès’ innovative techniques such as stop-motion animation, double exposure, and hand-painted colorization. These techniques were revolutionary for the time and demonstrated Méliès’ mastery of visual effects. I learned that Méliès was not only a filmmaker but also a magician, utilizing his knowledge of illusions to bring his imaginative stories to life on screen.
Narrative Structure: The video highlighted how Méliès developed a narrative structure in “A Trip to the Moon” that was unconventional for its time. He created a coherent storyline with a beginning, middle, and end, which was not common in early cinema. This narrative approach allowed audiences to engage with the story and characters, making it an early example of storytelling in film.
Opinion on the Subject Matter:
I am fascinated by the subject matter of “A Trip to the Moon.” The idea of a group of explorers traveling to the moon in a bullet-shaped spacecraft and encountering strange creatures is captivating and imaginative. Méliès’ ability to blend fantasy and science fiction elements in a visually stunning way is admirable. The subject matter of “A Trip to the Moon” highlights Méliès’ creative genius and his willingness to push the boundaries of what was possible in filmmaking at that time.
Opinion on Georges Méliès:
Georges Méliès is an artist who has left an indelible mark on the history of cinema. His contributions to filmmaking, especially in terms of visual effects and narrative structure, are groundbreaking. Watching “A Trip to the Moon” showcases Méliès’ immense creativity and his ability to transport audiences into fantastical worlds through the power of cinema.
Méliès’ dedication to experimentation and his willingness to embrace new technologies make him an important figure in film history. His impact can still be felt in modern cinema, where filmmakers continue to explore and push the boundaries of visual storytelling.
Conclusion:
Georges Méliès’ “A Trip to the Moon” is a masterpiece that continues to inspire and captivate audiences. Through innovative techniques and imaginative storytelling, Méliès created a groundbreaking film that revolutionized the art of cinema. Watching the video about Méliès and his film has deepened my appreciation for his artistic vision and his contributions to the world of filmmaking. Méliès’ legacy as a pioneering filmmaker and visionary artist is one that will continue to be celebrated for generations to come.
