Da Vinci Code

This blog is part of my academic work. I try to answer all the questions asked in given task on Dan Brown's 'Da Vinci Code'

Introduction

The Da Vinci Code is a 2003 mystery-detective fiction novel written by American author Dan Brown. It follows symbologist Robert Langdon as he investigates a murder in Paris's Louvre Museum and discovers a battle between the Priory of Sion and Opus Dei over the possibility of Jesus Christ’s marriage with Mary Magdalene.

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."

Yes of course, I agree with Brown's views on ‘Da Vinci Code' that novel is simply an entertaining story that promotes spiritual discussion and debate" We can do another reading book that Robert Langdon is in search of his own truth and at the end on the path of quest he is alone and at the end he finds truth which symbolically presented that where is the Sarcophagus. So, Robert Langdon is representative of many individuals, who are in search of truth of their own self. Thus, book can be used as a positive catalyst for introspection and exploration of our faith as Brown said.

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.” How far do you agree with this observation of Norris J. Lacy?

Lacy’s observation is appropriate. What film is trying to show as fact those are just made up theories. But it held the viewers attention as it is unfolding in very interesting way and till the end suspense get created by one another situation. One can say that it beautifully fooled those who don’t have enough historical sense and proofs to prove Brown’s narration wrong or in other words those who don’t know what is Theology Fiction at all. Despite this, I do agree with second statement too, that screenwriter has held the core of the novel till the end, by focusing on Grail, Sacred Feminine, Mary Magdalene, Priory of Sion, and Leonardo Da Vinci’s art.

2. (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?

I have studied Paradise lost and along with that we studied some part of The Bible too. The Bible is religious book which deals with theology and creator of Earth is God who create everything including Adam and Eve. Similar narrative  in ‘The Paradise' Lost but, Paradise Lost of John Milton's is Theology Fiction and there are changes in it which makes difference.

Despite this, I have studied ‘Da Vinci Code' of Dan Brown. In this, Paris's Louvre Museum and discovers a battle between the Priory of Sion and Opus Dei over the possibility of Jesus Christ’s marriage with Mary Magdalene and protagonist of the novel in search of Murderer of Jacques Soniear found some fact and  truth about Christianity which I found more logical and rational than other two texts.

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

As I've discussed Genesis as Theology or religious book with not any scientific proof or evidence but people blindly or faithfully followed what is written in it on name of Religion. We have scientific theory of biological evolution by Darwin, which is more relevant than creation by God. Who creates the heavens and the Earth in six days, then rests …

So, as per my thinking Genesis falsify science and preclude thinking with scientific temperament. 

I didn't think that narrative like ‘Da Vinci Code’ does any harm to humanity because It is a theology Fiction and as a part of literature it is far open and gave logical argument to prove it's point about Sarcophagus of Magdalene.

4. 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?

Apart from Sophie Neuve in Ron Howard’s ‘The Da Vinci Code’ portrayal of all the women characters which mentioned in above question, where we can find female as supporter of male protagonist and Objectification of women body. Camera works as male gaze on women's body. Which is not part in particular book but directors intentionally added scene of women's nudity and use women’s body as tool for catching intention of audience. But, portrayal of Sophie Neuve is strongly connected with theme of women sacredness and director faithfully made not any changes in this theme. Despite this, She is portrait as knowledgeable and rational thinker even, beginning to middle she is in drive position. 

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

Yes, ‘Da Vinci Code' lead me into critical or Deconstructive thinking about my Religion. By Reading or watching one can found that rationality towards Religion or our beliefs toward Religion can be wrong because the roots of Religion are not so strong. As in novel Cryptologist Sophie Nouve’s views about religion are more rational. 

I couldn't found any specific conspiracy theory about Hinduism but there are myths and belief in Hinduism which can deconstruct with logical argument.

1. Myths behind women’s chastity during her menstruations period which prevent them to enter in Holly places such as temple and somewhere kitchens too. It can be read in different way that in earlier time, before rise of technology in India fore the sake of women’s health that they can rest during this five days of menstruations, they are not allowed to go outside and kitchen too. But, with time changing the real logic is forgotten and women blindly following it too.

6. 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?

There is Hindi movie like ‘PK' and OMG', somehow it deconstruct many accepted notions about Hindu religion and culture or practices done by people on name of religion. Apart from that few years ago, I've read some books of Osho and central theme of that is ‘मानो मत पर जानो’ means search for truth, don't believe on beliefs. Somehow it deconstruct the many myths or prejudices set in our mind on Hindu mythology.

(Though, I am not satisfied with my answer of this question. I will search for better work which deconstruct accepted notions and attempts to reconstruct another possible interpretation of truth.)

7. 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?

If we will do atheist reading of this novel , position of antagonist and protagonist will change. Robert Langdon who find the ultimate truth of Sarcophagus but didn’t reveal to the world and became secret keeper. While to reveal this truth to world and destroy the blind faith of people from Christianity was the prime aim of Leigh Teabing.

8. 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’?

1) Identifying what is knowable is a process to realize what we actually know. In ‘Da Vinci Code’ Robert Langdon and Sophie Neveu both are trying to decode the codes given by Pro. Sauniere, so they both  identifying what they know by their knowledge of their particular field. Then they are applying their knowledge to solve the puzzles and make way for Ultimately truth.

2) Identifying and acknowledging the relationship of the knower and the known. This leads to the knowledge of self. We can again see this in the characters of Robert Langdon and Sophie Neveu. When they come to know about their own self and the reason behind their knowledge of particular things. It means the knower found the answers of this question, who am I? And what is one's ultimate search.

3) Ultimately, the procedure for knowing is to look inside and knowing our self. Sauniere was used to laugh upon Robert Langdon, because Langdon was knowing everything but then even he was unknown to the things we can say he was in search of Key and Doors were already  open. But, to get this thing Langdon has to look inside and it symbolically showed at the end of the film that he is kneeling down as  knights. It is like, “Knowledge always dawns when time comes.”