Week 4 - Adventure
3:55 PM
Adventure and inquiry often overlap in media, yet they can
be separated into different categories. We discussed inquiry as the
presentation of information, mainly for teaching and learning purposes.
Adventure and inquiry share a common “fuel,” which is curiosity. For children,
inquiry and adventure really aren’t that different, but adults tend to draw a
boundary between the two.
Inquiry has to do with Enlightenment-era thinking. The
attainment of knowledge, and the ability to learn and examine was considered
what makes us human. Romanticism was a reactionary era to the Enlightenment.
This time period focused on emotion, and how that, along with knowledge, is
what defines being human. Along with the expression of emotions, came a return
to the appreciation of nature. The ability to be in touch with nature and
emotion, whether that be love or fear or anything in between, became a new
philosophy.
Enlightenment era art (Self-Portrait by Vigee-Lebrun) vs. Romantic era art (The Raft of Medusa by Gericault).
This belief in the metaphysical qualities of the natural
world vs. technology and manmade-ness were illustrated in our readings and
viewings. In the Superman cartoon, the evil scientist used technology as a
means for destruction. Superman, whose powers are innate and natural to him,
was the only one who could thwart his ploy. Another example of these ideas in
media is presented in Disney’s Pocahontas. In the song “Colors of the Wind,” Pocahontas
is the romanticist, and John Smith represents the Enlightenment. She is in
touch with Nature, and tries to get John Smith to understand its powers, and how
his way of thinking isn’t the only right way. Many other films have similar
themes, like Avatar (2009) and Ferngully (1992).
Paddle to the Sea was a great example of
adventure and its connection to nature. Paddle to the Sea came from nature, and
had its own spirit. The boy who made him recognized this, and then sent him on
his own adventure through nature. This was a beautiful example of adventure,
and also dealt with the ideas of exploration and new frontiers, which tends to
be intertwined with adventure. This reminded me of the Spaceman Spiff Calvin
and Hobbes comics.
These beautifully illustrate the connection that children
have to nature, and how it sparks their curiosity and imagination. I think that
many of the Calvin and Hobbes comics deal with the themes of nature, childhood,
adventure, and imagination.
We viewed Terry Gilliam’s Time Bandits (1981) in class. This story was absolutely an
adventure. The supernatural fantasy world where Kevin and the bandits are able
to travel through time and space makes for a fun and wacky adventure. Kevin is
the protagonist in the story, and as is characteristic of many protagonists in
adventure stories, he doesn’t really fit into his world. Because he is set
apart from his parents’ lifestyle, he is the perfect candidate for the bandits
to drag along on their quest to steal historical treasures.
The themes of time, creation, good and evil, and the
existence of a Supreme Being are all explored in the film, which all have ties to nature and its metaphysical qualities. At the end of the
film when evil is destroyed, and the Supreme Being is present in his physical
form, he explains that he created evil, and it only exists because of free
will. He also explains that he knows everything that will happen, and that the
bandits didn’t steal his map, he let them steal it. These ideas pertaining to a
greater power outside of humanity is a romantic ideal are often present in
adventure stories.
The film was adventurous in content as well as form. The
characters are on a wild quest for treasure while time traveling to historical
time periods and through fantastical lands. I can’t think of a more adventurous
plot. But the film was also adventurous to make. Each of the historical scenes
are so visually rich, and there is no doubt about where they are in history and
who they’re associating with. There are also some really crazy fantasy
elements, like the giant who carries their ship on his head, and Evil himself.
One of my favorite parts was the fact that it wasn’t all a dream. Kevin’s
parents explode at the end because they touch a little piece of concentrated
Evil. The entire film was not only an adventure story, but an adventure of a
film.
We discussed the criticisms of adventure as well. With this
exploration of and interest in nature comes the human potential to try to make
logical sense of it again. Enlightenment and Romanticism kind of are in a never
ending battle. However, adventure takes the both and combines them, because to a child, they really aren't that different. I think both ideologies can coexist. As Mr. Rzykruski explains
to Victor in Frankenweenie, I believe that science and nature have to coexist,
and that our hearts and minds are completely connected.
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