Download - Arthur Presentation
Michael Mitchell
Merlin and Backwards Blogs
Write a “backwards blog” from the point of view of Merlin.
Because Merlin ages in reverse in The Once and Future King, a blog by him would go in reverse, at least from everyone else’s point of view.
My Project
Merlin in Time
Our Merlin is a composite Merlin, built from the many, many different interpretations we have of him.
This means that the Merlin of our time is a man of contradictions. He is, in fact, backwards.
So What?
Our Merlin Is….Magic/Scientific
Pagan/Christian
Prophet/Ineffectual
What does a backwards man create?
King ArthurOne of the greatest
kings of myth.
Isn’t that just a little odd that a man of contradictions can shape a mighty king?
Merlin not only brings about Arthur’s birth but, now, in modern version teaches or even raises the boy.
What does he teach:PoliticsMilitaryEtiquette (“chivalry”)
Merlin as Mentor
What Merlin provides a young Arthur is social experience, good and bad.
This is a time of no communication. There is no way of easily passing on the vast stores of social information that a king needs.
It requires a more complex mentor to teach a hero the good and bad that he will contend with.
The “Social” in “Social Media”
Look at Arthur’s KnightsLancelot: A Knight of
Love
Gawain: A Knight of Strength
Percival: A Knight of Nature
Galahad: A Knight of Holyness
Only together are they an effective force.
Separate, they are highly dysfunctional men.
They are heros but they are not kings.
THE KING requires more than heroic deeds or motivations. He has to be more complex.
He requires the experience of society, of all sections of society good and bad.
Merlin brings the complexity of society. The mix of influences. The experience a young king will need.
Men Without Chests
What I’m saying is it takes a man who was “born” out of a tomb, raised by his lover, graffitis graves, assists in adultery, casually dresses up as other people, takes children that aren’t his, and may be the Antichrist to represent the Internet and raise a perfect king.
And he should be played by Brad Pitt.
Conclusion