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So, without further ado…
Here’s a taste of what we’re serving today:
Saltburn and Greek Mythology 🏛️
Where do our voices come from? Marguerite Duras’ India Song 🗣️
PLUS: The Anonymous Jane Austen, Logic and the Patterns of Reality, and Seeing Faces in Things.
FILM STUDIES
Saltburn and Greek Mythology 🏛️
Please note: The movie ‘Saltburn’ discussed in this article is rated 15. It contains mature content that may not be suitable for all readers. Discretion is advised. Oh, and spoilers ahead!
Saltburn (2023)
Between the 2000s renaissance, Jacob Elordi, and *that* infamous scene, Saltburn has certainly become one of the most talked about films of the year. With all its bravado, it is easy to miss references hidden in the depths of Saltburn’s maze: a statue of the Minotaur. At its core, Saltburn is a fable warning of hubris (excessive pride). The part-man, part-bull creature that looms over Felix’s dead body serves as the perfect metaphor for the wealthy Catton family’s downfall.
💡 Things to consider
Greek mythology: The minotaur was the offspring of the Cretan Queen Pasiphae and a bull, ordered to live in a labyrinth by Pasiphae’s husband, King Minos. He received offerings of Athenian youths to eat until Theseus, prince of Athens, slayed the minotaur and wooed Minos’ daughter Ariadne. Sailing back from the Labyrinth, Theseus left Ariadne on an island. King Aegeus, his father, had instructed to put up a white sail if Theseus was alive. But if his son was dead, to fly a black sail. Theseus left the wrong sail up and, distraught at the belief his son was dead, King Aegeus jumped from a cliff into the sea, leaving Theseus as the new king. The minotaur symbolises our deepest fears and desires, lurking in our unconscious, our own personal labyrinth. The mixture of God and beast reflects humans’ constant inner conflict between animalistic urges and God-like ambitions.
The Minotaur in the Saltburn maze
Oliver: Oliver is Saltburn’s Minotaur - a strange creature made to devour the wealthy. His perverse sexual acts hark back to the minotaur’s unnatural conception, and his hunger for money is the driving force of the film. Unlike the minotaur, he is never defeated and succeeds in his quest of consuming the Cattons and winning Saltburn. Alternatively, Oliver’s character can be likened to Theseus, a seemingly likable man who commits murder in a maze and then gains ownership of a whole estate once he has killed the individuals who supported him. Theseus is a seemingly heroic figure who murders someone in a maze, than abandons the person who had helped him, and inherits an entire kingdom as he accidentally causes his father to commit suicide.
Felix: After Theseus escaped, Minos blamed the builder of the Labyrinth, Daedelus, and his son, Icarus, imprisoning them both. Daedalus created two sets of wings out of wax that the men could use to escape. The father warned his son not to fly too high. Yet Icarus, amazed by the power, flew too close to the sun, melting the wings and falling to his death. Felix’s costume at the party was a pair of wings. This links to his death in the maze under the statue of the minotaur, hinting at an Icarus-like hubris that the viewer is warned against. In Felix’s case, his hubris is excessive wealth. As members of the ‘upper-class’, the Cattons have the furthest to fall and it is Felix’s death that sparks the deterioration of the family.
🔎 Find out more
Saltburn, 2023 (film)
🍒 The cherry on top
🙈 The Anonymous Jane Austen: Jane Austen, born in 1775, is a famous author known for classics like Pride and Prejudice. Despite her popularity now, during her lifetime, all her books were published anonymously, with her first novel being credited simply to 'By a Lady.’ This short article is great for those interested in English Literature.
♾️ Logic and the patterns of reality: John is either at a Beyoncé concert or in class. He’s not in class. Where is he? In solving this short puzzle, you already used logic. Check out this article on logic if you’re interested in Philosophy or Mathematics.
😀 Seeing Faces in Things: Do you ever look at a plug socket, car, or cloud and see a human face? This YouTube video explores this phenomenon, called pareidolia. Great if you’re interested in Science!
👀 Keep your eyes peeled for…
🗳️ Poll
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That’s it for this week! We’d like to thank this week’s writer: Poppy Seagrove (Film Studies).
