sunshine 2021: the furies and typhon

[aliensamba]

Medium: film, book, Youtube video recommendations
Fandom: Westworld, The Count of Monte Cristo, Godzilla
Characters: Akane, Edmond Dantes, Godzilla
Notes: Spoiler warning for the abovementioned fandoms. 3 video recommendations, 1 audio clip, 1 book recommendation.

Prompt 4: The Furies
The Furies, also known as the Erinyes, are a trio of vengeance deities whose immortal task is to hear complaints of insolence from mortals—and to punish those crimes by hounding the culprits relentlessly. They are said to focus on punishment for lying, killing, or sinning against the gods, but any lawbreaking was indeed punishable by them.

“Alecto was the oldest, unceasing in anger. Megaera was next, retaliator of jealousy, and Tisiphone, the last, regarded as the avenger of murder.”
― Elisabeth Naughton, Stolen Fury

Bonus Prompt: Typhon

I. The Furies

A song that reminds me of the Furies theme is C.R.E.A.M. (Cash Rules Everything Around Me by Wu-Tang Clan), specifically the version that's used in Westworld season 2 episode 5: "Akane No Mai".

In the episode, the Shogun has kidnapped Sakura (Akane's adopted daughter) and holds her hostage. He demands that Akane dance for him in exchange for Sakura's return. But instead of releasing Sakura, he kills her.

Akane dances and manages to get close enough to the Shogun and kills him.

Here is a video of Akane's dance: (it cuts off before she kills the Shogun)

or watch on YouTube

Link to audio only: listen @ aliensamba


When I think of vengeance and punishment, I also associate this with The Count of Monte Cristo (2002 movie adaptation starring Jim Caviezel). It's the one I watched in the cinema.

Edmond Dantes is falsely accused and sent to Chateau d'If. He maintains his innocence and is regularly tortured by the head of the prison.

Edmond meets another prisoner who teaches him how to condition his mind and body. They plan to escape but the old man dies.

Armed with the knowledge of secret treasure that his fellow inmate divulged to him, Edmond fashions himself into a Count and wreaks havoc on the people responsible for his incarceration.


Here is a video of The Count of Monte Cristo arriving at his party. (I love this part)

or watch on YouTube


If you want to read the book, it's available for free at Project Gutenberg.
The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas: ebook at project gutenberg


After watching the movie, I read the illustrated book for children. This is the one I read:

Here's a link to the goodreads summary



II. Typhon

As I was researching Typhon, some words related to him were: monstrous, dragons, son of the earth/Gaia, and destruction. This made me think of Godzilla.

In the 1998 and 2014 films, 1.) Godzilla is a byproduct of radiation from Bikini Island, 2.) Godzilla is prehistoric remnant from when the earth was highly radiated.

The radiation aspect reminded me of the destruction caused by Zeus in his fight against Cronus which prompted Gaia to make Typhon (this is Typhon's origin in some accounts I've read).

The Godzilla movies started in Japan in 1954. Some critics say it's a metaphor of Japan's feelings regarding nuclear weapons/atomic warfare. I want to watch the original film but will have to settle for clips of Godzilla on YouTube.

Here's a clip of Gojira 1954:

or watch on YouTube

Comments

[pauraque]

I haven't seen Westworld but that clip was really cool! What a neat reimagining/recontextualizing of the Wu-Tang beat.

[aliensamba]

It was so unexpected when it played during the episode. But it was a clue that something would happen and something did. LOL.

[paulamcg]

Oh, several fascinating recs! I think I was in love with the Count of Monte Cristo for a few years after I'd first read the book (the whole novel, as far as I know, in translation) when I was ten. But I've never seen that film. Thank you for sharing!

[aliensamba]

I've read that the movie is not the same as the unabridged book but it's still enjoyable. :D