Classical Studies 2200 Lecture Notes - Lecture 22: Fan Fiction, Walter J. Ong, Classical Antiquity

• School: Western University
• Department: Classical Studies
• Course: Classical Studies 2200
• Professor: Aara Suksi

Document Summary

Classical reception model: individuals and societies continually reappropriate and redefine classical antiquity in effort to assert (or challenge) continuity with a privileged past. Classics in: examples of classics appearing in new texts (i. e. disney"s hercules) Classics and: the way classical texts and modern texts do the same things. Story framework "the hero"s journey" i. e. jason, perseus, hercules, also. Can be used to describe any instance of classics outside the ancient world. Imagine you"ve told a story with original plot and characters in western world. Today: you own your characters, nobody else can profit off of them unless you sell the rights or give them permission. Idea that there is some intrinsic virtue in using "original" character/story would have puzzled most ancient or mediaeval writers. Pre-18th century: believed to be written down by one person named homer. After 18th century: orally composed over long tradition of storytelling. Story up to individual poet each time it was performed.