The Iliad was written somewhere around the eighth or seventh century. It wasn't even written down for a while and passed down orally instead. And we must remember that it was, foremost, a religious text. This means that it has been twisted and changed depending on the religious beliefs of the people way back then.

What I mean by this is that there in no 'canon superiority' that you can impose here. You can't just walzt up to the author and go, "Hey, what does this part right here mean?" (unless you can summon the dead, in which case go ahead). Besides, media can be interpreted in many ways, regardless of how the author feels about it (something something people have different perspectives).

The Song of Achilles is just that. A different interpretation told from a different perspective. Liking it doesn't mean that you should throw out the (somewhat) canon version but you it doesn't mean that you need to throw away your TSOA interpretation either. They aren't all that contradicting in the first place.

You can/should let others believe that that Achilles was a pretty boy and was uhh 'exploring' Patroclus's body in their shared tent. (Besides there is a lot of evidence that this is how it was meant to be read in the first place and then homophobia happened).

Just to clarify I don't think that Patrochilles wasn't canon I was just thinking about how the author (Miller) rationalized Achilles having war brides. Then again she would have canceled in that case too so oh well.

TSOA was advertised to modern audiences and they probably wouldn't have sympathized with Achilles if they knew he was someone who not only murdered the male relatives of women but also then forced them to sleep with him.

So yeah, the Iliad was filled with gay people but no one ever said that they were good people on top of that.

Vampires are commonly associated with bats, but in Bram Stoker’s Dracula, the titular antagonist actually turns into a wolf.

Similarly in Le Fanu’s Carmilla, the central vampire turns into a large cat.

That means that yes, you are absolutely* justified in calling Dracula a puppy boy and Carmilla a cat girl!

The sublime is a concept in philosophy and aesthetics that refers to an experience of awe, grandeur, and wonder, often evoking a mixture of fear and admiration. This notion has been explored by various philosophers and thinkers throughout history, particularly in the context of nature, art, and human experience. Here’s an in-depth exploration of the philosophy of the sublime:

1. Historical Origins

Edmund Burke: In his work "A Philosophical Enquiry into the Origin of Our Ideas of the Sublime and Beautiful" (1757), Burke distinguished between the beautiful and the sublime. He associated the sublime with vastness, infinity, and power, which can overwhelm and inspire a sense of awe and terror.

Immanuel Kant: In "Critique of Judgment" (1790), Kant elaborated on the sublime as something that transcends normal human experience and comprehension. He identified two forms of the sublime: the mathematical sublime, related to the vastness of nature and the universe, and the dynamical sublime, related to the power and force of natural phenomena.

Romanticism: The Romantic poets and artists, such as William Wordsworth, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, and Caspar David Friedrich, celebrated the sublime in nature, emphasizing the emotional and spiritual responses to its grandeur and beauty.

2. Key Characteristics of the Sublime

Vastness and Infinity: Experiences or objects that are vast in scale, such as mountains, oceans, or the night sky, evoke a sense of the sublime. Their immensity challenges human perception and comprehension.

Power and Terror: The sublime often involves elements of danger and power, such as thunderstorms, hurricanes, or erupting volcanoes. These evoke fear but also admiration for their majesty and force.

Transcendence: The sublime experience transcends ordinary understanding and evokes a sense of something greater than oneself. It can lead to feelings of humility and reverence.

Aesthetic Experience: In art and literature, the sublime is associated with works that evoke profound emotional responses, often through depictions of nature’s grandeur or human achievement.

3. Philosophical Implications

Human Limits: The concept of the sublime highlights the limitations of human perception and understanding. It suggests that there are aspects of existence that are beyond human control and comprehension.

Emotional Complexity: The sublime evokes complex emotions that combine fear, awe, wonder, and admiration. This complexity enriches human experience and understanding of the world.

Nature and the Divine: The sublime often leads to reflections on the relationship between nature and the divine. The overwhelming power and beauty of nature can evoke a sense of the divine presence or the transcendental.

4. The Sublime in Art and Culture

Visual Arts: Artists like J.M.W. Turner and Caspar David Friedrich captured the sublime in their depictions of natural landscapes and phenomena, emphasizing vastness, power, and emotional depth.

Literature: Writers such as Mary Shelley and Lord Byron explored the sublime in their works, using language to evoke the awe and terror of natural and supernatural elements.

Modern Interpretations: Contemporary artists and thinkers continue to explore the sublime in various forms, including digital art, cinema, and virtual reality, pushing the boundaries of what can evoke awe and wonder.

5. Critiques and Evolving Perspectives

Subjectivity: Some critics argue that the experience of the sublime is highly subjective and culturally specific. What one person finds sublime, another may not.

Environmental Ethics: The concept of the sublime has been revisited in discussions about environmental ethics, emphasizing the need to protect and preserve the natural landscapes that evoke these profound experiences.

- The Grim Reaper is leaving out pomegranate seeds in the hopes of finding a wife cause hearing about Penelope and Hades makes him feel lonely - also a feminine touch might make his kingdom less terrifying for humans.

- He’s also negotiating with the Greeks to get a three-headed puppy.

- The entity in charge of all the monsters under the bed is hard-pressed to root out all the unkind to down-right employees because no one is afraid to stick out their hands and feet over the edge of the bed anymore.

- The Sandman is very confused why people started laughing at him. He’s not the guy with the hook for a hand. He doesn’t even have a car.

- The Fae are busy closing their portals, or at least to disguise them better, because more and more people seek them out to escape their own problems. Not even the Fae need so many human souls.

- Mushrooms are fighting unrealistic expectations concerning their life span and knowledge of god.

Welcome to a journey through time and spirit! In this article, we’re going to explore the rich tapestry of wisdom woven into ancient historical texts. These texts are not just relics of the past; they are living documents that continue to offer profound insights into our spiritual journey. From the cryptic symbols etched on temple walls to the profound verses of sacred scriptures, every line and…

How to decorate your home to suit Tiffany lighting

Tiffany style lighting adds beauty, warmth and class to any home. There are many styles and types of Tiffany lighting available to purchase including ceiling lights, table lamps, floor lamps and hanging lamps. With such variety available in colour, size and shape you can always work the lights into the design of any room.

The Tiffany style of lighting and decor first emerged during the late 19th…

Yulia Yanaina

Fall-winter 2013-2014