Prompt #3: A Bronze Cast and a Wooden Stamp

Achilles Shield: https://beamingnotes.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/AchillesShieldFlaxmann.png

Simplicius' Tree: http://www.childsgallery.com/gallery/94-19-04-18.jpg



When it comes to mediums, the material used is very important; not only because of how the piece will look in the end, but also because it will affect the meaning of the piece as a whole. I used to think that mediums were exclusive to art and art history, but reading the texts The Iliad and The Adventures of Simplicius Simplicissimus has made me realize that there is more to the medium of the work than just its aesthetic value. The shield of Achilles and Simplicius' tree could not be more different, yet similar in what they symbolize. The meaning of the works not only come from the text itself, but it also comes from the materials in which the pieces are made.

Achilles' shield, in the text, is made by the god, Hephaestus. Already, the shield could not be any more divine having been made by a god himself: "the god creates a world of gorgeous immortal work (The Iliad, 483)". Not only is the shield a functional piece of armor for Achilles, but it is also a symbol of Achilles' power and glory as a strong, charismatic, and forever honored member of society. The fact that the shield in real life is made out of metal reflects Achilles' immortal glory as metal is one of the most permanent mediums that something can be made out of. Metal often has a connotation of being labor-intensive, strong, long-lasting, and expensive; all of which are perfect for a demi god such as Achilles.

Simplicius' tree, in the text, is described to us by Simplicius himself from a dream that he has while thinking about each person's role in society and how they are affected by it. The fact that the vision of the tree was conceived in a dream rather than given to him by some higher being represents how Simplicius' glory as an antihero comes from himself and his own cleverness rather than being bestowed upon him like the shield to Achilles. The woodblock print as a medium has much more humble connotations than that of the metal shield as the work that goes into making a woodblock print is much less labor intensive and the print becomes more accessible to the general public as opposed to the shield which may be the only one in the world. This is important because it shows that the glory of Simplicius as an intelligent person can be obtained by anyone and everyone whereas Achilles' glory as a strong fighter and demigod can only be obtained by himself.

The mediums that each work is made from has importance in the connotations of the material as well as the work that went into it. Whereas Achilles is known for being an elite person of divine glory that no one else can achieve, like the shield, Simplicius had a mere dream and the vision was represented by something that can be achieved by anyone, the print.

Prompt #2: Engaging with the Iliad

A gun store in Kingston, Tennessee is offering a discount on new guns if you say you are a Christian. The owner, Bryant Williams, has said, "If Christians are going to be targeted we need to protect ourselves...The best way to protect yourself is with the best weapon available, and that happens to be a handgun." To summarize his reasoning in giving Christians a discount on guns in his store, Williams has said that he believes that people are being targeted for their beliefs and that he does not want to hide his faith.

Just as violence in the Iliad was the most effective and profound method of solving problems, some people in today's society tend to believe the same thing. In order to get what you want in the time period of Homer, you would display power and authority to convince others to fight for you as violence was seen as the solution to most problems. This can be seen in Book II, lines 522-524: "Agamemnon the lord of men did not resist. He commanded heralds to cry out loud and clear and summon the long-haired Achaean troops to battle. The cries rang out. The battalions gathered quickly." Agamemnon's overbearing and assertive personality was strong enough to have his army abandon thoughts of retreat and fight instead. Although today's society does not necessarily promote this kind of leadership that praises violence as the only means to the end, there are those who believe that preparing for a violent situation will be the safest method of solving problems, and maybe even preventing the problem from happening in the first place. Bryant Williams is similar to Agamemnon in that they both believe that violence is a very real occurrence and want to prepare for it.

The fact that religious people are being persecuted today is very real, controversial, and violent. However, does this justify the need to arm oneself if he or she is living in a society in which a majority of people share the same beliefs in the first place as Bryant Williams does? Is Bryant Williams justified in his beliefs to arm himself and other Christians for being "targeted" even though he lives in a majority Christian part of the country? If one were to ask Agamemnon in Homer's time, the answer would be yes. However, we do not live in the times of Homer.