July 2011
1 post
ziex: Stem cell breakthrough raises hope of ending... →
September 2010
3 posts
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Investigators and Law Enforcement
Another recurring theme between the two Dan Brown films that colours the background is the presence of a tireless investigator … one in service to the Church. The first was a member of Opus Dei: Captain Bezu Fache (played by cinema’s Frenchman Jean Reno) in the Da Vinci Code (2006).
Image via Wikipedia
Angels and Demons (2009) went inside the Church for the devout and devoted...
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Sect, Cult -- What is the difference?
sect
RR a group of people with their own particular set of beliefs and practices, especially within or separated from a larger religious group sect a religious group that is part of a larger religious group but has slightly different beliefs, for example a Buddhist sect cult an extreme religious group that is not part of an established religion faith community a group of people living in the same...
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Transition between storylines Angels and Demons
Cover of Angels & Demons [Blu-ray]
The bridge between the Da Vinci Code and Angels and Demons appears mostly in the recurring themes. Upon hearing that the valiant professor have have another adventure, one might assume that the charcters or location from the first film woud be involved. This was not the case — only a few vague references were made to the previous escapade that...
December 2009
3 posts
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The Storyteller - A Look Inside Brown's Works
Image by jurek d. via Flickr
One of Dan Brown’s recurring mechanisms is the existence of multiple timelines. The Antagonist is working to unravel a source of stability that is critical to the plot. There are combined forces of good, usually one of them is a red herring, have challenges or puzzles to reconcile, usually with sophisticated instruments or methodology. The use of music to...
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The Catholic Church in France
Image via Wikipedia
“That’s not really an answer.” This was Sophie’s response when Langdon shared with her that he had been raised as a Catholic, as was she. Sophie tells Langdon that human kindness seems divine to her. Read about more Catholicism in France …
France ‘no longer a Catholic country’
...
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Opening clues
The mysteries began to unfold even as the story began. Dr. Langdon lectures as a guest of a french university in Paris, the City of Light(s). His audience is intrigued by his opening remarks on the power and history of symbolism. We know the importance of symbols in the Jewish faith and tradition as well as in the history of the Catholic Church which retained many of the ancient pagan rituals...
November 2009
1 post
Uncertainty on Veterans Day : Opinion : The... →
Veteran’s Day 2009
June 2009
22 posts
5 tags
WatchSeries segment #5, Leonardo da Vinci
Invented new method of fresco painting which allowed him more time to paint Looked for facial expressions in the streets of Milan.
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WatchSeries segment #4, Leonardo da Vinci
Review of da Vinci’s like and works in Milan continues with his research on human vision. He investigates heart disease and other workings of the human body and its maladies.
Major works such as a portrait and the painting Madonna of the Rocks.
The relationship begins with Giacomo. Da Vinci continues his work for others and himself.
He is advisor,...
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WatchSeries segment #3, Leonardo da Vinci
The segment portrays elements of da Vinci’s private life which influence his view of society and changes him from emotional openness to reserve and suspicion. The incident in his late 20’s when he is accused through the Bocca di Veritas trans. “mouths of truth” of illicit sexual conduct. Rona Goffen, Art Historian from Rutgers...
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WatchSeries segment #2, Leonardo da Vinci
This segment sets the context for da Vinci rise to recognition in the art world of Florence, Italy. The clip gives details of da Vinci move for the Tuscan hills of his birth to Florence with his family for the pratical that his father was in search of work. The narrator sets the stage with news of the contemporary world — discovery of America and the...
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WatchSeries (18 segments) on Leonardo da Vinci
First segment - Investigation of da Vinci plans for a pyramid-shaped parachute by high-diver Adrian Nicholas, his companion skydiver Katrina Ollikainen from London and Nick Avis from the University of Cardiff. The three researched the da Vinci design in an airship hanger in Bedfordshire, England.
Please note that some of the latter series dicusses...
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One suspension of disbelief item
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Authors go to great lengths to lend credibility to their plots. One thing that struck me early on …was the start of the chase after the professor.
[If possible, I will get some input from a friend in France.] Did it not occur to the police department to leave someone at the crime scene with the body? It seemed quite odd to need the entire force to run after one...
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Any clues from the name Silas?
Image via Wikipedia
Happily, Silas is a masculine name. It is derived from SILVANUS from Ancient Rome and Roman mythology as well as the Bible The name in Roman was related to the word in Latin silva “wood, forest” and therefore, Silvanus was the Roman god of forests. Additionally, Silas appears in the New Testament belonging to one of Saint Paul’s associates. Reference from...
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So, the Vatican, Opus Dei Cleared
Image via Wikipedia
Back to the investigation …
Sources and public opinion quickly latched onto the idea that the “conservative” and recently referred to as a sect, Opus Dei was the catalyst behind the Louvre murder.
The film never stated or pointed to Opus Dei. The only Opus Dei member portrayed in the film was the police captain, Fache …who was a pawn used by the...
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An important clue ...exposed, yet ignored
In the DaVinci Code, one of the critical yet (popularly) overlooked facts that needs to be explored is that the monk, Silas, was a monk.
What does that mean? Typically, members of Opus Dei live there lives in general society as the example of the “true” “christian” …
In fact, the storyline shows us, that Silas was anything but typical …an unfortunate...
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Silas, the monk ...
A very important fact-based theme in the film was the activities of a group known as Opus Dei.
There were three members of Opus Dei represented in the film:
The Monk, Silas
Bishop Aringarosa
The police inspector, Captain Fache
Three very interesting characters with separate, individual motivations.
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Time to brave the controversy
Dan Brown via last.fm
Last night, after the research which was supposed to lead to this post, there were so many new questions that knowing where to start required a good night’s sleep.
Controversy …Dan Brown raised some eyebrows by publishing books that spoke about the inner workings of the Vatican and the Catholic Church. In fact, for centuries a central theme and part of the...
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DaVinci Code - The Players
One by one as they appear …
A museum curator who (although in his sixties) can run from a threathening figure who cases him through his workplace.
A hooded man, dressed as a monk …fairest of fair, with piercing blue eyes and unknown intentions.
An internationally known professor, specialist in symbology, who has traveled to Paris in the hopes of giving a lecture and to promote his...
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Not this time ...
Image by Getty Images via Daylife
Image by Getty Images via Daylife
Frequently, when taking on a formidable task, someone suggests, “Let’s stick with what we know.”
Hard evidence in the course of ancient history, political turmoil, and radical social and cultural change, does not come to us easily.
In the films, it seemed that the emphasis on symbols was almost serving as a...
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Where to find the beginning?
The temptation to dive into the middle of the story had to offer a challenge to anyone.
The bother of the novels have as their premise the historical somewhat traditional and unspoken activities of the Vatican. The veil of secrecy practically promotes suspicion in the minds of individuals who practice faiths outside of the Roman Catholic Church. In fact, many Roman Catholics share some level of...
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We have to do this
Cover of The Da Vinci Code
It is high time to get to the bottom of the queries and missing information which are topics in the DaVinci Code and Angels and Demons.
Dan Brown has no part in this: he wrote a novel — by definition fiction and he used his creative license to create plots that were meant to thrill and provoke thought.
So, the time has come to think it through objectively,...