Back to Podcasts...

So I know we have been focusing on Oedipus Rex, but I want to throw it back to podcasts again for a little bit. I was really interested in them after doing our crime podcast project that I wanted to look more into them, and of course I wanted to share my research with y'all! I kind of thought that podcasts were "replacing" radio and and that podcasts were "the new big thing," which I found to be pretty accurate after doing my research. This The Atlantic article states, "Among the technological innovations of the last decade, there's a discrete yet enduring format that may fulfill such an alternative, 'sensational' vision of the role of media in democracy: podcasts." Podcasts are said to be different with the fact that they are supposed to make you "trigger" your emotions and feel things. There are also certain podcasts that interest people because they talk about the hottest tv shows. Instead of listening to music or talk shows on the radio, people listen to other people "gossip" about their favorite tv shows. Podcasters are also seen as being more of a storyteller and when you are listening it's like you are in the same room as them having a conversation. Whereas some radio talkers are just journalists reporting facts and playing music. Also, different from radio, podcasts can reach audiences all over the world. Radio stations, on the other hand, are usually just associated with a city or a certain area. These are just some of the many reasons why people are switching from radio to podcasts, and I might be one of them........

Article: https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2017/05/how-podcasting-is-shaping-democracy/524028/

W, WO, WOM, WOME, WOMEN!

I find it very, very (did I say very?) ironic that women were belittled and deprived of their rights yet were essential to many aspects of life, including theater and plays! Around 400 BCE, women possessed few to no rights in daily life. They were not allowed to leave the house, except for a few occasions! Due to this, they could not attend Ancient Greek theater performances and definitely NOT be on stage.

This is where the irony comes in. According to RWAAG, “The actors were usually men. Of course, they turned to the women in their lives as models, because the women in the plays were important.” The male actors would dress up in ways that resembled women. Let us get this straight: Women were seen as way, way, way below men, however they are one of the most important things in plays AND life?? The role of female characters in plays was essential that MEN had to play the role of women. Why not just let women play the part? This a question I will never understand. 

In relation to Oedipus, Jocasta, a woman, is the key to the whole play. Without Jocasta, there would be no plot! The plot of the play is as follows: a woman has a son who grows up searching for his mother and finally discovers who she is. Considering women were not allowed on stage at any point, I am curious to how a man pulled this part off. Jocasta is portrayed as the strongest character in the play, up until her death, that holds the most power. However, in reality she is just a woman!

Anyone have anything to add?

https://www.rwaag.org/gdrama#Role

Mother or Lover?

As we know, Jocasta functions both as a mother and wife to Oedipus. However, I think that Jocasta’s “maternal side” trumps her duties as a lover. I think the best example of this is when the shepard arrives in Thebes and begins to tell the story of who the parents of Oedipus are. Obviously, Jocasta realizes she is the mother of Oedipus before he does and urges him to call off the search for his parents. She repeatedly begs him to stop looking for his own sake. 

This instance of trying to save him from finding out that she is his mother, serves as a way of protection toward Oedipus. By trying to protect him, she puts his best interest before her own which is the key element in being a mother. Prior to this event, we also see Jocasta attempting to mend the relationship between Oedipus and Creon. She says, “Have you no sense? Poor misguided men, such shouting- why this public outburst” (590). Once again, Jocasta asserts her mother-like abilities to settle the feud between these two men. In a way, the “fight” between Oedipus and Creon serves as a symbol for two children fighting. Whenever two kids fight, their mother to quick to come in and break it up. Even when Jocasta is unaware that she is the mother of Oedipus, she still acts in a mother-like way. 

Lastly, Jocasta continues to comfort and protect him as she recounts the story about her son that she left with the shepherds; as we know, she is talking about Oedipus. She tells Oedipus the story of leaving her son with his ankles tied on the Mount with the shepherds because of the prophecy that he would kill both his parents. Due to the fact that neither Oedipus or Jocasta know the truth at this point, she tells him this story to “prove” that prophecies are false and completely useless. Overall, I see Jocasta more as a mother than a lover towards Oedipus.

What do y’all think? Agree? Disagree? 

What is the Sphinx?

Were you reading Oedipus Rex and wondering what or who the Sphinx is? Or have you heard of it but didn't know exactly what it was? Well, that was the boat I was in so I did some research! A sphinx is a creature that has a body of a lion and the head of a human. It is common in Asian, Greek, and Egyptian mythology. They began in ancient Egypt where they were a spiritual guardian and most of the time were male. From Egypt, they "migrated" to both Greece and then Asia. This all happened in the 15th and 16th centuries B.C. The Asian perception of the sphinx had eagle wings and was usually female. Also, it was often described or drawn as sitting on its haunches with one paw raised up. The Greek perception of the sphinx also had wings and according to the legends, it ate all peoples who were not able to answer the riddles it told.
For more information: https://www.history.com/topics/ancient-egypt/the-sphinx

I'm at a loss for blogging right now so bear with me

Thebes is probably one of the most well-known cities of ancient Greece. It's the setting of many myths, and archeological excavations found tablets from the Mycenaean period (1600-1100 BC) show settlements and the importance of the city even in the Bronze age. Thebes was a rival of Athens and sided with the Persians during the 480BC invasion. During the Macedonian period, they were one of the most dominant city-states. Finally, during the Byzantine period, they were famous for silk. Now in Greek mythohistory, Thebes has many titles one being "Seven-Gated Thebes". This is not to be confused with "One Hundred Gated Thebes" of Egypt. All I'm saying is that there is ONE sphinx and SEVEN gates. Basic math has taught me that 7-1=6. So there are SIX other gates anyone could have left from. Then tell me how the Sphinx single-handedly held an entire city hostage by guarding ONE of SEVEN exits. Can she teleport? Does she know if anyone has left from one of the seven gates that she is not guarding? Like I said, I'm at a loss for what to blog about. So someone please answer me this question because we deserve answers. I'm also open to literally any explanation because pretty much anything goes in ancient Greece at this point.

Translation issues

This might be a stretch for a blog post, but nonetheless I feel it is important to discuss. Whomever was in charge of translating Greek to English clearly did not know what they were doing. As far as I am concerned when Greek is translated to other languages the diphthongs and true sounds of the words are kept.

In English all is lost.

The city Thebes is actually pronounced "Thiva," but the city Thessaloniki is usually pronounced the correct way in English. So here we can see no rhyme or reason when translating.

 In Greek the letter upsilon (Υ,υ) in written in English as an "U,u" simply because they look the same. The pronunciation is actually very different, the "Υ,υ" makes an "ē" sound; when it is by itself.

When that letter if put after an "a" or and "e" it is a diphthong and makes an "f" or "v" sound. Occasionally, the "u" could also just be the "ou" sound when translated into english. It's very confusing and whoever originally translated Greek words into English seemed to do so with no rhyme or reason. They sometimes did it with how it looked and other times they used the true sound.

When the Greek "Ο,ο" and "Ι,ι" (oi) are put together we also get the ē sound. Any Greek derived English word that ends with an English "Y,y" should actually end with an "-ia." For example, geometry in greek would geometria.

"Αι" is pronounce like a short "A"

Everyone knows about Zeus, but it is not pronounced "Zoos," it is pronounced "Zefs." This is because "Ζευσ" has the diphthong "eu," which makes the "ef" sound.

I feel like some English scholar should go back and fix all the mistakes the previous person made.

What will they say?

As Oedipus is talking with Creon publicly we see everyone except Oedipus is embarrassed and try to make the discussion a private matter. I believe that this is extremely culturally important to the book, but that value also extends to modern times. It shows how against the cultural norms Oedipus went to make this speech and I think that it shows one of his many flaws. Today, we can still see a common greek saying that parents say to their children, " Τι θα λέει ο κόσμοσ" This translates to what will the people say [about you or your family]. The word κόσμοσ is this context is used as people, but it can also mean universe. The fact that this value has survived for literally thousands of years shows its true importance. And since O. violates this value it shows a major flaw: he is very quick to anger. This quickness to anger also causes many more issues, like the fight with Creon.