In the grand Disney tradition of making free with literature and history to create an irresistibly entertaining movie experience, we have the lively "Hercules". Rendering the Olympian pantheon in rainbow hues is certain to please children, where austere white draperies and beige complexions have long been the norm onscreen. The whole is set in modern terms easily absorbed by the contemporary American audience-- it's fun!
One hopes that the younger set might be inspired to investigate the real mythology as recorded, and not assume they'd been adequately instructed in the subject by this highly revised version. Of course 'real' is relative, since any mythology deals with miraculous events that are not supported by the historic record. A good deal of Judeo-Christian biblical text falls under this designation; it must be taken on faith. But Judeo-Christian scriptures belong to active religions, and thus the events described are literally sacred. The religion of the ancient Greeks cannot be described as active, and thus is fair game for irreverent revisions that will offend very few beside Hellenist scholars.
Animated and live-action films that illustrate current religions, however, must adhere to tradition. Only look at the wealth of Hindu devotional films, visualized scriptures that provide ample evidence of the present-day believer's faith in the miraculous. Animated versions make these treasured tales of the gods more accessible to children. This is a living religion, with about a billion followers worldwide, and the third largest faith today.
But a 'dead' religion has virtually no one to protect its integrity, and so its miracles become myths, and its myths become infinitely flexible.
I suppose it's best for the tender sensibilities of children to present Zeus as a nice monogamous papa-god, whose only son was borne by his wife Hera. Later on his many outrageous infidelities, committed in various interesting disguises, can be revealed. They're certainly entertaining! And so is the Disney "Hercules".
One hopes that the younger set might be inspired to investigate the real mythology as recorded, and not assume they'd been adequately instructed in the subject by this highly revised version. Of course 'real' is relative, since any mythology deals with miraculous events that are not supported by the historic record. A good deal of Judeo-Christian biblical text falls under this designation; it must be taken on faith. But Judeo-Christian scriptures belong to active religions, and thus the events described are literally sacred. The religion of the ancient Greeks cannot be described as active, and thus is fair game for irreverent revisions that will offend very few beside Hellenist scholars.
Animated and live-action films that illustrate current religions, however, must adhere to tradition. Only look at the wealth of Hindu devotional films, visualized scriptures that provide ample evidence of the present-day believer's faith in the miraculous. Animated versions make these treasured tales of the gods more accessible to children. This is a living religion, with about a billion followers worldwide, and the third largest faith today.
But a 'dead' religion has virtually no one to protect its integrity, and so its miracles become myths, and its myths become infinitely flexible.
I suppose it's best for the tender sensibilities of children to present Zeus as a nice monogamous papa-god, whose only son was borne by his wife Hera. Later on his many outrageous infidelities, committed in various interesting disguises, can be revealed. They're certainly entertaining! And so is the Disney "Hercules".