Thinking Activity on 'The Da Vinci Code'

This blog is a part of thinking activity which is given by my Prof. Dilip Barad. Click here to get blog link of the task.

1. Brown states on his website that his books are not anti-Christian, though he is on a 'constant spiritual journey' himself, and says that his book The Da Vinci Code is simply "an entertaining story that promotes spiritual discussion and debate" and suggests that the book may be used "as a positive catalyst for introspection and exploration of our faith."

-  Brown is trying to give factual evidence to prove his anti-christian point. Still he is denying that his books are not anti-Christian. His statement is problematic. The book from the very beginning tries to gives clues or hints to reach to the truth behind the Christian God Jesus and his relationship with Mary Magdalene. It is not simply an entertaining story, if we look deeply then we can find that there is much serious issues on which Brown throws light. In a way he is trying to awaken the people from the blind faith. In the book he focuses on Female Sacredness and therefore presents Sophie Neveu as a strong character who doesn't believe on the lies told by the priest about religion or doubt the entire religious system.

2 . “Although it is obvious that much of what Brown presented in his novel as absolutely true and accurate is neither of those, some of that material is of course essential to the intrigue, and screenwriter Akiva Goldsman has retained the novel's core, the Grail-related material: the sacred feminine, Mary Magdalene's marriage, the Priory of Sion, certain aspects of Leonardo's art, and so on[1].” How far do you agree with this observation of Norris J. Lacy?

Yes, it is true that much of what Brown presented in his novel as absolutely true and accurate is neither of those. But it is necessary to present those ideas or things to make novel interesting or to make secrets in an intrigue way so that readers get convinced by the ideas. Akiva Goldsman, the screenwriter is successful in making the core content. Everything in the novel is connected with each other and at last brings the truth behind the scene in front of readers. The Grail- related material: The Sacred feminine is very much important idea which talks about the living descendent. The Holy Grail for which all are searching is the living heir of Jesus himself which gets revealed in the end with opening all the secret codes by Prof. Langdon and Sophie Neveu. All the codes are hidden in teh art of the famous painter Leonardo Da Vinci who is famous for keeping secretive codes in his work of art. It gives factual proof to the point of searching Jesus's heir with the Sarcophagus of Mary Magdalene. 

3.If)You have studied ‘Genesis’ (The Bible), ‘The Paradise Lost’ (John Milton) and ‘The Da Vinci Code’ (Dan Brown). Which of the narrative/s seem/s to be truthful? Whose narrative is convincing to the contemporary young mind?

John Milton's Paradise lost is much convincing to the contemporary young mind. There are so many lies being told in  both the narratives of 'Genesis' and 'The Da Vinci Code'. In comparison to those the number of lies is less in John Milton's Paradise lost. We can rely on the narrative of Milton who thinks about the contemporary mind and make rational plot. In Genesis, the very first lie being told to the readers is that Eve is born through the rib of man. When we think rationally of scientifically no Eve can made from the rib. The birth process is natural and common for all the living being in one or another way. The second lie is that if a man tries to follow his beloved advice then his fall is for sure near. But these all are just a falseness. In "Da vinci Code" the lies are in the paintings made by Leonardo Da' Vinci. The painting about last supper in which Jesus and Mary is sitting nearer and Teabing decode the painting by stating that Leonardo Da' Vinci is known for mirror paintings and used this to draw the image of Mary and Jesus which is totally foolishness. There is no such clues about Vinci's painting that how he used to paint and which codes he is using. In comparison to these lies, Paradise lost by Milton is much convincing which narrates about the truth of the mindset of human beings. Temptation is obvious which is happening around us in one or another way. There is always a restrictions where we need to explore out ideas or thoughts. Human's are not supposed to tide with any kind of rope or barrier. freedom is necessary and is equal for all, whether it is Eve, Adam and even Satan himself. 

4 .What harm has been done to humanity by the biblical narration or that of Milton’s in The Paradise Lose? What sort of damage does narrative like ‘The Vinci Code’ do to humanity?

Milton tries his best to make Eve argumentative by nature which is true or sounds real with the contemporary society. Not only Eve but every human being should be questioning by nature, should raise doubts against the system, which Eve did in Paradise lost. However when we look from the moral boundaries of society then it harms to humanity. But all sort of moral things are constructed by the one who is in power or having some kind of authority. It can be vary from person to person. Same is the case with the narrative of 'The Vinci code' in which the writer tries to open the eyes of the religious people by presenting the relationship of Jesus Christ. He thinks that sexual rituals are all comes under the frame of spiritual narratives. it is necessary for everyone to reach to the peace and getting prosperity in life. God is also human being who needs someone to satisfy their desire. These ideas tries to make aware all the religious people. However this may be harmful for those who are strong or blindly followers of religion. Not for all.

5. What difference do you see in the portrayal of 'Ophelia' (Kate Winslet) in Kenneth Branagh's Hamlet, 'Elizabeth' (Helena Bonham Carter) in Kenneth Branagh's Mary Shelley's Frankenstein or 'Hester Prynne' (Demi Moore) in Roland Joffé's The Scarlet Letter' or David Yates's 'Harmione Granger' (Emma Watson) in last four Harry Potter films - and 'Sophie Neuve' (Audrey Tautau) in Ron Howard's The Da Vinci Code? How would justify your answer?

There are so many differences in the portrayal of female characters in different films based on novels like, the character of Ophelia is portrayed as under the dominance of male. In the novel there are no such scenes or discussions of the sexual intercourse or doing physical relationship with Hamlet. But in the film the camera focuses on these scenes between Hamlet and Ophelia. Same is the case with Mary Shelley's Frankenstein in which there is close up on the intimate scene between Elizabeth and Victor. In Demi Moore' The scarlet letter the body of Hester shown in much attractive way, the focus of camera shift from her toe to the head and focused on the  body parts when she is going to take bath. In Harry Potter there is kiss scene between Ron and Harmione which is useless. But the Ron Howard's main focus is not on the body of the protagonist Sophie Neveu. His main concern is to presents Faminine sacredness and he is successful also in doing so.

6. Do novel / film lead us into critical (deconstructive) thinking about your religion? Can we think of such conspiracy theory about Hindu religious symbols / myths? 

                                                         And 

7. Have you come across any similar book/movie, which tries to deconstruct accepted notions about Hindu religion or culture and by dismantling it, attempts to reconstruct another possible interpretation of truth?

Yes, we can think of such conspiracy theory about Hindu religious symbols/myths by looking into the deconstructive reading of the film. everything in this universe should put on doubts, an intyellectual mind doesn't believe on things weasily without questioning and if there are loose stones then it must be disclosed to the audience to make them aware about the truth. Bollywood is doing these things also by making films about the deconstructive idea of God.  For example, "Oh My God' film is presents God in very formal way same as human without any ornaments or halo circle behind the head. Hindu religion is broad to accept these type of film. The controversies are only for promoting and after release number of people went to saw such films. As compare to this Islam religion is much narrow which doesn't portray the image of even the messenger of God.

8. When we do traditional reading of the novel ‘The Da Vinci Code’, Robert Langdon, Professor of Religious Symbology, Harvard University emerges as protagonist and Sir Leigh Teabing, a British Historian as antagonist. Who will claim the position of protagonist if we do atheist reading of the novel?

Obviously, Leigh Teabing emerge as protagonist if we do aetheist reading of the novel. Leigh Teabing is much intellectual personality and without knowing all the truths he is not deconstructing things in his mind. First he reads all the histories then he deconstruct it. He wants to open the eyes of peoples and make them aware about the relationship of Jesus and Mary. He wants to reach to the sarcophagus of Mary Magdalene. He is sure that after getting the DNA he will find the living descendent of Christ and proves his point.

9. Explain Ann Gray’s three propositions on ‘knowability’ with illustrations from the novel ‘The Da Vinci Code’.

a.       1) Identifying what is knowable 

b.      2) identifying and acknowledging the relationship of the knower and the known

c.      3) What is the procedure for ‘knowing’?

Ann Gray's three propositions on "knowability" works well with the novel "The Da Vinci Code" The entire novel is based on these three concept of Knowability.

1. The very first step is to identify that what is knowable. In the novel, things begins from the symbol of pentacle and identifying the codes of Da Vinci who is famous for keeping secrets in his work of art. Each and every symbols, paintings, object which follows Vinci's design is making some secrets which need to be revealed by the protagonist.

2. The second step in the process is to identify the relationship between the knower and the known. Means who is the knower of secrets, who knows the truth behind the codes and how it get connected with the known things of Vinci. In a way Leigh Teabing knows much about the codes and knows how to decodes things. But his relationship with the secret object known in the end. Langdon at the end decodes the cryptex but keep it secret in front of Teabing. Sophie knows everything about her so called grandfather and how he used to keep secrets and make puzzles, but each things connected in the end of the novel.

3. The last thing is to understand the process of 'knowing'. That is how Sophie and Langdon reached to the final truths by decoding each and every object in between. From the symbol of pentacle on the chest of Sauniere till the end to decoding the truth behind the Holy Grail which is the sarcophagus of Mary Magdalene which provides the DNA for living descendent