Oedipus video analysis

10/20/13
Compare and Contrast of Oedipus the King 1984 and Sophocles Oedipus Rex 1957 I will be addressing why I believe each director portrayed the characters Oedipus and Teiresias in their own manner. Starting off in the 1984 version, Oedipus is depicted by a man of his youth. He is dressed in a bright modern white suit. I feel the director of this film version may have been chosen white to make the actor stand out compared to the other characters that have been seen who were in faded darker color garments. But I feel there is another reason he chose this color. Oedipus in this film version to me has been portrayed as more than a mere man. When he enters the stage he emerges from behind these giant doors where only white light can be seen emanating from behind him. Could the all white background be a depiction of the heavens? At this time, that would have been Olympus which is home to all the gods. The gods of Olympus dressed in white togas. White there is that color again. I believe the director of the 1984 version felt like Oedipus thought of himself as a godly figure. With the 1957 adaptation of Oedipus the director went with the traditional style of wardrobe. The actor wore a mask and was dressed in a Greek gown. His mask and clothing were both gold. But why would it be gold and not purple? Purple is usually associated with royalty, even back in ancient times emperors and high officials wore purple to signify their status. I believe the director of this of this film version chose gold to signify worth. Not worth in the since of money but value. The value of Oedipus, he who had saved the people by solving the riddle of the sphinx, and the lessons and values that can be learned from his tragedy. Moving on to Teiresias in the 1984 version before the character is even seen ominous music starts to play with a disturbing echoing of footsteps as he approaches. This would lead to viewer believing that something terrible was coming. Yet, there before us stood an older man. The menacing music that was playing was a foreshadowing of the news he was to bring forth to the king. The man himself however did not seem foreboding as all. But the manner he carried himself and his posture told you much about the character without having to be told. When he enters the stage he stands very upright with his chin held high. This would signify pride in himself and his knowledge. Another characteristic we might overlook is his hair. When someone is to get white hair it is also known as his/her “crown of knowledge.” I find it interesting that the actor is balding in a manner to which his hair wraps around like an ancient crown would. In Sophocles Oedipus Rex 1957, Teiresias also bore a mask and gown but his are all white. I think this is also a reference to the “crown of knowledge” but I find it interesting that the actor acted very differently than the other version did. He was hunched over and fumbling around with his cane. This was most likely to help get the point across that he is blind and old. These things are difficult to represent with a mask. In this version Oedipus threw himself on his knees asking for aid to solve the plague of the city. In the other version Oedipus kneeled as a mere kingly gesture. I feel that Teiresias held a higher respect to Oedipus and the director in the 1957 version than in the 1984 film. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZZUCgq8LfhY 1957 version