Author Topic: Deities in the Media? (Read 3612 times)

Fireof9 · « **on:** September 01, 2013, 10:32:41 pm »

Over the years there have been quite a few movies, comics and video games featuring pagan deities as characters. Often they are not really depicted as they are in myth and lore.

I am curious as to the general thoughts people have on this. Do you find it offensive? amusing? Do you think that its great because it keeps their names out there and may inspire someone to do some research or do you think its a disgraceful appropriation?

Melamphoros · « **Reply #1 on:** September 01, 2013, 10:49:25 pm »

Quote from: Fireof9;120631

Over the years there have been quite a few movies, comics and video games featuring pagan deities as characters. Often they are not really depicted as they are in myth and lore.

I am curious as to the general thoughts people have on this. Do you find it offensive? amusing? Do you think that its great because it keeps their names out there and may inspire someone to do some research or do you think its a disgraceful appropriation?

Indifferent.

If a deity is offended by a portrayal of them in a piece of fiction, it's really none of my business.

Altair · « **Reply #2 on:** September 01, 2013, 10:56:12 pm »

Quote from: Fireof9;120631

Over the years there have been quite a few movies, comics and video games featuring pagan deities as characters. Often they are not really depicted as they are in myth and lore.

I am curious as to the general thoughts people have on this. Do you find it offensive? amusing? Do you think that its great because it keeps their names out there and may inspire someone to do some research or do you think its a disgraceful appropriation?

In general, I'm not bothered by this. I saw it all the time, being a superhero comic book fan/writer-editor; Marvel mined many a mythos, particularly the northern European pantheon for it's THOR comics. I see it as inspired by the real myth but other than that having no connection to it.

Fireof9 · « **Reply #3 on:** September 01, 2013, 11:07:26 pm »

Quote from: Melamphoros;120632

Indifferent.

If a deity is offended by a portrayal of them in a piece of fiction, it's really none of my business.

I agree, if a deity is offended thats up to them.

Just after reading through the thread about fictional deity, I was curious about how people feel about their deities being presented in a pseudo fictional way.

Fireof9 · « **Reply #4 on:** September 01, 2013, 11:14:45 pm »

Quote from: Altair;120633

In general, I'm not bothered by this. I saw it all the time, being a superhero comic book fan/writer-editor; Marvel mined many a mythos, particularly the northern European pantheon for it's THOR comics. I see it as inspired by the real myth but other than that having no connection to it.

The Thor comics certainly comes to mind real fast, in fact the first thing I thought of when starting this thread. I remember a couple of years ago a guy I worked with had been told that I am into Nordic mythology and came up to me and started talking to me about it. After about 3 minutes I realized that his entire knowledge base had been gleaned from Marvel LOL. He really thought that Marvels version was the exact mythology. I groaned a bit inwardly but it ended up being a great conversation and I directed him to the Edda's to gain a bit more knowledge.

Jack · « **Reply #5 on:** September 02, 2013, 01:32:55 am »

Quote from: Fireof9;120631

Over the years there have been quite a few movies, comics and video games featuring pagan deities as characters. Often they are not really depicted as they are in myth and lore.

I am curious as to the general thoughts people have on this. Do you find it offensive? amusing? Do you think that its great because it keeps their names out there and may inspire someone to do some research or do you think its a disgraceful appropriation?

There are some like Supernatural that I find a little... distasteful, I guess, but that's my personal taste. 99% of the time I like stuff like that. (Of course, I've written Matantei Loki Ragnarok fanfic, so YMMV.)

Fionnbharr · « **Reply #6 on:** September 02, 2013, 02:05:51 am »

Quote from: Fireof9;120631

Over the years there have been quite a few movies, comics and video games featuring pagan deities as characters. Often they are not really depicted as they are in myth and lore.

I am curious as to the general thoughts people have on this. Do you find it offensive? amusing? Do you think that its great because it keeps their names out there and may inspire someone to do some research or do you think its a disgraceful appropriation?

Is it not all some sort of fiction all containing pieces of truth, old or new? The times I have interacted with Baldr in this lifetime he was in Asgard and not Hel...

Solstice · « **Reply #7 on:** September 02, 2013, 02:51:53 am »

Quote from: Jack;120639

There are some like Supernatural that I find a little... distasteful, I guess, but that's my personal taste. 99% of the time I like stuff like that. (Of course, I've written Matantei Loki Ragnarok fanfic, so YMMV.)

Ahaha, yessss, Mantantei Loki Ragnarok. I've only ever seen the anime, but even though it was pretty silly in places, I can't say anything bad about it because it got me into Norse Mythology in the first place. Because of that show, I did my own research and learned a lot about the mythos in general. Then, I rekindled my interest in the mythology when the Thor movie came out, and became even more well-versed in the know-how. So, even though I roll my eyes at the people who claim to be really into Norse Mythology yet only have knowledge from the Marvel films, I can't really complain too much because my knowledge also came from popular media. And hey, if it's sparking peoples' interest in the old myths and legends and garnering attention to the deities themselves, I'd say that's a good thing. Really, the only thing that annoys me is when so-called reputable sources get the stories wrong in the first place, and one such annoyance for me (in Norse Mythology, anyhow), is the Odin-Thor-Loki relationship. It makes me go "gah" when peeps are all matter-of-fact when saying that Thor and Loki are bros, and since I do enjoy roleplaying Norse Mythology, it can get a little infuriating when your fellow mythology roleplayer wants to do it the way popular media dictates and wants you to play the gods a certain way. I guess that's why it kinda rubs on my bad side. I'm usually willing to take liberties in all other aspects, but those few things just grind my gears.

Lawl, sorry this entire tangent was just about one pantheon. XD

Yei · « **Reply #8 on:** September 02, 2013, 07:15:49 am »

Quote from: Fireof9;120631

Over the years there have been quite a few movies, comics and video games featuring pagan deities as characters. Often they are not really depicted as they are in myth and lore.

I am curious as to the general thoughts people have on this. Do you find it offensive? amusing? Do you think that its great because it keeps their names out there and may inspire someone to do some research or do you think its a disgraceful appropriation?

Mesoamerican gods don't appear in the media very often. I'm not sure if this is a good thing or not though.

Altair · « **Reply #9 on:** September 02, 2013, 08:11:23 am »

Quote from: Fireof9;120631

Over the years there have been quite a few movies, comics and video games featuring pagan deities as characters. Often they are not really depicted as they are in myth and lore.

I am curious as to the general thoughts people have on this. Do you find it offensive? amusing? Do you think that its great because it keeps their names out there and may inspire someone to do some research or do you think its a disgraceful appropriation?

I nearly forgot--I did a post recently in my Blog of Mythic Proportions about the latest Percy Jackson movie, a series that uses Greek myth as its springboard, and how mythic it is or isn't. Which is certainly relevant to the topic at hand.

http://www.cfcooper.net/myth-thats-only-skin-deep

RandallS · « **Reply #10 on:** September 02, 2013, 08:30:52 am »

Quote from: Fireof9;120631

I am curious as to the general thoughts people have on this. Do you find it offensive? amusing? Do you think that its great because it keeps their names out there and may inspire someone to do some research or do you think its a disgraceful appropriation?

In general, I'm indifferent. However, if a book, film, or whatever somehow presents itself as being based on facts, I get annoyed when the deity parts seem to be the exception.

I'm motre likely to get annoyed at stereotypical depictions of religious practice and believers. The way religion is treated by many Hollywood films, for example.

Sunshine · « **Reply #11 on:** September 02, 2013, 09:59:53 am »

Quote from: Fireof9;120631

Do you find it offensive? amusing? Do you think that its great because it keeps their names out there and may inspire someone to do some research or do you think its a disgraceful appropriation?

This is actually something that's been on my mind lately too, and I've come to the conclusion that I'm horribly inconsistent, because I feel like there are "good ways" to incorporate gods into fiction, and then ways that make me want to cringe with how disrespectful and awful they seem. I'm not sure whether I'm offended on behalf of deities or their followers, but a couple of popular culture concepts make me feel kind of uncomfortable. (Though they never did before I was a practicing pagan.)

I'll avoid getting up in arms about the ones that weird me out, but I'll give a couple of examples of great incorporation of deity into fiction: Neil Gaiman's American Gods and Kelly Link's short story "Flying Lessons" are powerful, resonant, respectful and thought-provoking (imo.) There are probably loads more out there but I'm a little sleep-deprived at present so I'm going for the easy ones that spring to mind first.

I think it may be a matter of perspective: are we reading into the characters as pop culture icons, or as deities? Although I haven't put it to the test, it might be that I can find them fine and enjoyable as (archetypal?) characters. And it might be that the skill with which they're characterized has a lot to do with it.

anonymus · « **Reply #12 on:** September 02, 2013, 10:25:44 am »

Quote from: Altair;120633

In general, I'm not bothered by this. I saw it all the time, being a superhero comic book fan/writer-editor; Marvel mined many a mythos, particularly the northern European pantheon for it's THOR comics. I see it as inspired by the real myth but other than that having no connection to it.

You know I bet having the characters explore the full ramifications of the Norse gods being real would make for a much drama instead of having there characters kill each other off every year in event comics.
Sorry if I went on tangent.

Jack · « **Reply #13 on:** September 02, 2013, 11:16:57 am »

Quote from: anonymus;120655

You know I bet having the characters explore the full ramifications of the Norse gods being real would make for a much drama instead of having there characters kill each other off every year in event comics.
Sorry if I went on tangent.

Keep in mind that Thor gets all the press, but Hercules and Satan's son Damian have also had comic books from Marvel. Pretty much every pantheon is treated as real somewhere, for better or worse, and also as aliens or supernatural beings that were treated as gods "in the past". So the ramifications of Thor being real are a bit... underplayed? I'm not sure if that's the word I want.

Fireof9 · « **Reply #14 on:** September 02, 2013, 11:32:21 am »

Quote from: Jack;120639

There are some like Supernatural that I find a little... distasteful, I guess, but that's my personal taste. 99% of the time I like stuff like that. (Of course, I've written Matantei Loki Ragnarok fanfic, so YMMV.)

I am with you on Supernatural... but then I really just don't like the show much.

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Author Topic: Deities in the Media? (Read 3612 times)

Fireof9

Deities in the Media?

Melamphoros

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Altair

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Fireof9

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Fireof9

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Jack

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Fionnbharr

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Solstice

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Yei

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Altair

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RandallS

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Fireof9

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