LINES OF THE DAY

". . . But the past does not exist independently from the present. Indeed, the past is only past because there is a present, just as I can point to something over there only because I am here. But nothing is inherently over there or here. In that sense, the past has no content. The past -- or more accurately, pastness -- is a position. Thus, in no way can we identify the past as past." p. 15

". . . But we may want to keep in mind that deeds and words are not as distinguishable as often we presume. History does not belong only to its narrators, professional or amateur. While some of us debate what history is or was, others take it into their own hands." p. 153

Silencing the Past: Power and the Production of History (1995) by Michel-Rolph Trouillot

Saturday, June 23, 2012

Doing Horses Wrong - *Brave*

Many criticisms have been leveled at the first Pixar to feature a female protagonist, proving it not to be as high quality as the best of the Pixars which all, incidentally, feature male protags.

But nobody's criticized the choice for Angus, Merida's equine companion, transport and Greek chorus. He's a Clydesdale! Clydesdales and their distinctive fetlock feathering did not exist until fairly late in the 18th century.*

The first trailer for Brave prompted me to wonder how such a tiny person could keep her seat astride such a wide-backed horse (in later trailers Merida appears older than she did in that first one -- in which she seemed to be 9 at the oldest). But I didn't realize the horse was a particular breed, rather than the the generic Great Big Horse.

Never forget ladies and gentlemen: movies exist to tell you lies!
-----------------------------

* From wiki: The Clydesdale takes its name from Clydesdale, the old name for Lanarkshire noted for the River Clyde.[2] In the mid-18th century, Flemish stallions were imported to Scotland and bred to local mares, resulting in foals that were larger than the existing local stock.

No comments: