Thinking Activity on "The Da Vinci Code"

This blog is response to the task assigened here in the classroom... 

 "The Da Vinci Code"

The “Da Vinci Code” is a 2003 blockbuster mystery thriller novel by best known American author Daniel Gerhard Brown widely known as Dan Brown. Though the novel is a very rich in term of symbols and clues, it remains the subject to criticism and intellectual debate. In 2005, Time Magazine’s editors, while naming him one of the 100 Most influential people in World, credited him with, amongst other thing, “keeping the publishing industry afloat; renewing interest in Leonardo da Vinci and early Christian history; and spiking tourism to Paris and Rome”. From this famous novel, under the same name in 2006 mysterious thriller film was directed by Ron Howrad and written by Akiva Goldsman. “Da Vinci Code” movie follows symbologist Robert Langdon as he investigates a murder in Paris’s Louvre Museum and discovers a battle between the Priory of Sion and Opus Dei over the assumptions of Jesus Christ’s marriage with Mary Magdalene.

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."

Yes, I  agree with what Brown says, The book Da Vinci Code is simply “ an entertaining story that promotes spiritual discussion and debate”. The fact can't be neglected that from the very beginning of the novel Dan Brown tries to give clues and symbols in order to prove that Christan god Jesus have had a relation with Mary Magdalene, but anyway it’s all about interpretation there are not certain facts.

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?

Yes, definitely I am agree with Norris J.Lacy’s observation. Though whatever Brown presented in his novel is not true or accurate, it seems that it became necessary for him to get certain statements by using symbols to rise certain effect in audience’s mind as well as to get assurance from the part of audience, for this specific purpose intrigue becomes necessary part in to keep the flow of novel. And at the same time a person without having a sense of theology fiction may interpret it in wrong manner. Yah, and I am also agree with second statement that screenwriter Akiva Goldsman has retained the novel’s core.

 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?

I have studied  Pradise Lost and along with it we do a comparative study of Genesis, basically it speaks about birth of Eve out of rib and the fall of man because of Eve’s(women’s) action, in a the sense the narration of genesis as well as of Paradise Lost seems as gender oriented, living in scientific era how can we believe that Eve was born from rib? For me it found so ridiculous to believe this.  Though the Milton gave more power to Adam and Eve to bring them at centre point in The Paradise Lost, there are several loop holes which clearly indicates about gender discrimination. While in  “Da Vinci Code” basically the narration is all about to find the truth of Christianity as well to find out the possibilities of marriage between Jesus Christ and Mary Magdalene. The another one is decoding of Leonardo’s painting by Teabling  in which by certain codes and to see a Mary Magdalene sits besides Jesus, he finds out certain clues about their relations. It also not sounds as valid argument but at least it better than what Milton and Genesis tries to convince us. In comparison to Paradise Lost and Bible, da Vinci Code makes a senses , I thought that Da Vinci Code is convincing to the contemporary  India.

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?

Bibalical narration is at a larger scale based on what religion thinks and what religious people think about it should be, everything written in it is followed blindly by religious people they don’t even allow their mind to think something out of so called religious box. Almost every human beings now know that  no one can born form rib like a Eve was, though we are aware about Darwin’s evolution theory religious narration in Bible spreads the wrong narration about birth of man. While in “Da Vinci Code” writer tries to bring us out of religious or holy image of Godly figure. It shows spirituality through sexuality, with the possibility of  relation between Jesus and Mary Magdalene. While studying A Jesus as a part of our literay subject we also have to keep one thing in mind is that here Jesus is not a godly figure we have to make the character study of him only as human being. In a way writer tries to presents the humanly desire rather than to glorify Jesuss image as holy and spiritual god. I don’t think so representation of reality can do any harm to society. 

   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?

 It is worth thinking question about representation of female characters in patriarchal society by patriarchal mindsets. Almost in every above mentioned film except “The Da Vinci Code” we find a male gaze portrayal, even we do not find this kind of weaker woman portrayal or  beauty without mind kinds of narration in novel but in the film it seems that director portray the women in a very typical way as men want to see him or take certain close ups which highlights the women body. Character of Ophelia is portrayed by Kenneth Brangh as she used to live under the dominance of patriarchy, under the domination of her father and Hamlet. As well as movie also included some intimacy scenes between Hamlet and Ophelia which were are missing the plat Hamlet, perhaps it represents Kenneth Brangh’s mindset about how he(male gaze) wants to see her. We can also find a same kind of portrayal of Elizabeth from Frankenstein, she portrayed as she is much more interested in being married to serve the Victor rather than to think independently and do something about herself. Demi Moore’s Hester Prynne is little bit different than Ophelia and Elizabeth as she dares to take a stand for herself or even she is ready to rebel against society, but here also we can find  problems in close up scenes where camera is focused on highlighting intimacy scenes, though they are no needed. In all these physical beauty of women remains at centre while their intellectuality remains at periphery. While the character portrayal of Sophie Neuve is far beyond than this, here the feminine sacredness became central idea, she is portrayed as an independent national thinker who is in her own search of knowledge as well as throughout movie we can’t find a single close up which presents Sopie’s body as to satisfy male gazing ideas.

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?

Yes of course, “Da Vinci Code” lead me into critical thinking about Hindu religion. By studying literature now surely at certain levels I am able to see the suppressed notions of any religion as well as including Da Vinci Code there are several other texts also which provides us critical dimensions to look at any religion. In the Hindu religion, mainly we have conspiracy theories about Lord Rama and Krishna. Though they are only human beings, later on somehow people started to worship them and thus these things keep on spreading. And the good point is writer like Amish Tripathi and many others tries to break this blind beliefs, Amish Tripathi in his book Sita, portrayed the Sita as a warrior which is far from her portrayal as a docile wife from Ramayana. Along with such theories we also have myth that during menstruations women are not allowed to go into holy places or in the kitchen. May be earlier this idea was manifested to give rest to women as their body become weak during this period as well as it seems ok because earlier women used to do lot of farming works and household works, that’s why it became necessary for them to take rest. But now we are following it without having any logical reason behind it.

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?

There are many books or movies which try to deconstruct accepted notions about Hindu religion or culture. There are movies like PK and OMG which try to deconstruct the religion ideology but again there is problem, in movie OMG character appears as god himself. But equally at the same time these both movies deconstruct the notions or blind beliefs accepted by people on the name of religion. Amish Tripathi also deconstructed ideology about mythical characters like Sita, Shiva and Ravana.

 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?

If we do atheist reading of the novel, definitely position of protagonist and antagonist will change, Sir Leigh Teabling claims the position of protagonist whereas Robert Langdon claims the position of antagonist. In the novel Sir Leigh Teabling, a historian tries to find out evidences in scientific manner without having faith or fear from religion. He is the one who finds all the evidences as a historical proof to prove in front of the world about the relation between Jesus and Mary Magdalene. While on the other hand Robert Langdon finds the truth of Srcophagus but he do not reveal to the world. So from this point of view through the atheist reading Leigh Teabling becomes the protagonist of the novel.

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

a.  Identifying what is knowable 
b.  identifying and acknowledging the relationship of the knower and the known
c.   What is the procedure for ‘knowing’?