Bush, 300, and the folly of empire.
By Matthew Yglesias
Web Exclusive: 03.13.07
Spartan leaders say they fight against the Persians for “freedom” in a manner that almost sounds plucked from Bush’s second inaugural address. We know, however, that Spartans did not fight for civil liberties or political democracy as we would understand it. Indeed, they don’t even fight for that sort of liberty as they would understand it. The Spartans know perfectly well that the Spartan code is harsh and authoritarian. They look down on their freer Arcadian allies as soft and weak, and look down on the Persians as decadent. The freedom they fight for is simply the freedom of Sparta, and the freedom of Greece, from foreign domination. Just like the bold declaration “they can take our lives, but they’ll never take our freedom” in Braveheart, what’s at issue is national autonomy and dignity, not a mode of domestic political organization that can be spread around the world.
Graeme has his review up:
The Persians were dark skinned and scary (one camera shot made a Persian delegate look so black that you could only see his eyes and teeth). The Spartans were light skinned and just. They fought tough, but only because they had to. They might have done some kinky shit with their wives in bed, but no assplay. The Persians fought like cowards (they shoot arrows) and had crazy orgies with androgynous figures. It was like someone gave Ted Nugent a fancy digital camera and a ton of money. We were stuck inside Dick Cheney’s head, and he was having a wet dream. I could keep going.
-I’d be interested further in what my good friends Fade, Bacchus, and Herr Frog would add…
11 Comments
I just can’t tolerate a war movie right now. I’m up to my ears in this one and I’ve had it with the animal instincts that seem to drive men to battle with one another for whatever reason.
Yeah, I guess I may have been in denial about some of Miller’s more “Cavemanesque” moments- but doing a lot of research on him reveals some pretty telling stuff about his mindset. I am going to have to dig out my 300 original issues and re-read it. Maybe I will scan some pics in from the comics.
My poor ass has to wait til Friday (payday) to go see the flick. Man, the artist in me just knows I am gonna love it for the visual feast it is- I just worry that it will be too over the top cheezy.
I remember the characters weren’t aryans in the comic- dusky greeks- but the persians were darker- but you know how hollywood is- maybe the producers had to “white-ify” the Spartans for marketability. I still swear that I didn’t get some kind of racist, nationalist vibe from the books- but I will go back, in the sake of the eternal search for truth (even in a damn comic book?!)
Sigh. I guess even in a damn comic book.
Sir, will report back asap.
Fade out.
Hmmm, is the McCain ad random or inserted. If you want a Republican try Ron Paul
LOL, I noticed, I guess google thought all the descriptions in the reviews match McCain the best. So your down with “Dr. No,†eh? Can’t say as I disagree with his foreign policy.
Oh. READ Yglesias article then comment. Doh!
That article cuts through to what I was feeling all along about 300 but wasn’t quite able to put in words, but Yg does a good job.
Take 300 whichever way you like. But the bottom line is – White people vs. Brown. Brown vs. Browner= the STORY ISN’T about the color of the people- it’s about the little guys fighting off a massive empire who wants to invade.
It’s about nationalism. Its about not surrendering to the weird, exotic-seeming, immoral appearing outsiders.
Whoever watches this movie is going to come away with their own PRECONCEPTIONS confirmed. Peacechick is RIGHT. Men are going to indulge our primate impulses- and we will justify them no matter what.
This story, by being so simple, is actually almost masterful in its chameleonlike quality to make everyone see themselves as Spartans.
A Neocon will watch this movie and will believe that he is sparta, fighting the evil Arab horde with superior tactics and training.
But An Iraqi will watch this movie and will believe that HE IS Sparta, fighting the evil American Invasion tooth and nail, til all are dead.
But the Iraqi would be right. This story is more about fighting oppression from outsiders than it is about defeating an inferior race.
“Freedom isn’t free” is a great quote. Just because it has been misused by our current administration doesn’t mean that it doesn’t strike a chord in us all on some primal level.
Like it or not, we HAVE to fight for freedom. We get what we want by fighting for it, working for it, busting our asses for it.
Why does it say my initial comment (#2) is awaiting moderation? Just wondering.
Whoops…been knocking out the dishes and laundry, hadn’t checked my e-mail yet…
Preconceptions aside,
It was a visually stunning movie, if only it had better writing.
Imagine the story one could tell with that budget and those special effects. I think the trick however, is to start with good writing, then move toward asthetics. It shouldn’t be the other way around.
The movie was shit.
I got dragged to this by the Frogette (a humanities major) who wanted to see an enactment of the Battle of Thermopylae, and I won’t attempt to address the comic. I know nothing about it.
All stuff about Sparta and war aside, this movie is beautifully shot and is very careful to present some aspects about Greek culture accurately, but the history is shit. Leonides only stood with the 300 (and 700 Athenians) after dismissing the majority of the Greek army lest it be destoryed. The post-Thermopylae culminating battle was not against the Greek army but the Greek navy (the ‘Battle of Salamis’ where the Persian navy was destroyed).
So…with all that, my opinion of the movie is that it’s nationalistic crap. Spartans were fighting to preserve their authoritarian way of life, nothing more, nothing less. Spartans were thugs– bully’s who constantly made war on their neighbors; who kept slaves; and who killed their own…with abandon.
It’s beautifully shot fiction. What other purpose it has? I won’t speculate on.
I’ll comment.
I’m a history geek. Plain and simple. I’ve been studying battles and tactics from my youth. Sparta was one of the civilizations I read alot about.
As to the movie and the use of quotes. I’ll use Herodotus’ account as its’ the only one we have. But ask and I’ll let you know what I know.
For example: Pertaining to the arrows of the Persians blotting out the sun, and the response “then we fight in the shade”
Well, yeah a guy named Polynikes said it.
As to Sparta as a whole. They never ran out and started wars left and right simply because they had the best land forces. In fact, the army was sparingly used, by comparison.
Things we got from Sparta:
Military order. Rank file etc. All the way to the World Wars the hats soldiers wore were insanely large! (Napoleon’s armies for example) Why? It’s all about intimidation, like Sun Tzu said the conqueror truly conquers without fielding his army. The higher the hat the taller one appears to the enemy.
A quickie history of Sparta as it is seen in 300 may have to come shortly I guess.
dammit hold on.
After reading several conservative reviews of this movie, my belief that they are closet fascists has become quite a bit stronger. Some, like Sonia the nudist, admit as much.
btw, thanks for the link dude.