Liam Neeson As Loopy English Professor
Given such utterances that clearly mangle the source text and all statements by the author, if Mr. Neeson should decide to give up acting, he could fit right into some of loopier English departments around the country. UPDATE: More here.
5 comments:
I don't know ...
Neeson said: “Aslan symbolises a Christlike figure, but he also symbolises for me Mohammed, Buddha and all the great spiritual leaders and prophets over the centuries.
“That’s who Aslan stands for as well as a mentor figure for kids – that’s what he means for me.”
He's not making a literary argument or explicating the text. He's just giving his own private interpretation.
Neeson can think whatever he wants, and we can talk about reader response theory, but the fact remains that in this case authorial intent is clear: Lewis explicitly identified Aslan as a Christ figure.
So if Neeson wants to say that Christ makes him think of Mohammed or Buddha, he can -- but that's not the text itself if we want to talk about the literary integrity of the books as the creative product of a writer who wrote with a goal in mind. The Narnia books are a Christian work. Neeson's busy taking the whole reader response idea, mashing it up with some boutique multiculti, and letting fly for attention.
I of course agree about Lewis's intent, but, from Neeson's reported words, I don't think he was making a claim about authorial intent. He does the voice of Aslan, so it's appropriate for him to discuss his own conception of the character he is playing. That's the kind of thing an actor would talk about, isn't it?
Anyway, I completely agree that the Narnia books are Christian and would certainly oppose any serious attempt to portray them otherwise. Neeson's comment may show some shallow thinking about religion, but he's an actor; what other kind of thinking about religion would he be likely to have?
(Sorry, did I just reveal myself as an actorphobic bigot? I guess you could rephrase my entire argument as, 'He's an actor; what do you expect?' If you were an uncharitable person, of course.)
Neeson's comment may show some shallow thinking about religion, but he's an actor; what other kind of thinking about religion would he be likely to have?
HAHAHA!! Too true, too true. The comment does show some fuzzy-wuzzy faux religious "thought" that plays just as well to stir up a little free publicity.
'Faux thought' nails it. What a great phrase.
Free publicity, plus a message that basically says, 'All you non-Christians should buy tickets, too. Really.'
Although completely illogical, I also feel that starring in the movie Taken is like getting an advance on indulgences where dumb social / religious comments are concerned. I know that's wrong, but I just can't help it.
Post a Comment