The Da Vinci Code Cult

[kurth]

"A problem arises when a work of fiction explicitly claims to be more than a work of fiction.."

The Da Vinci Code Cult
A Critical Look at Dan Brown’s The Da Vinci Code

http://www.skeptic.com/the_magazine/featured_articles/da_vinci_code.html

[enid602]

1. DaVinci Code

I thought the one take away from Da Vinci Code was that the New Testament was 'created' by fiat by a Roman emperor (I forget which) around 500AD, in that the counsel decided which among MANY ancient texts would be included.

[Somawas]

3. Wouldn't that be the emperor Constantine

around 325-350?

[smbjoe]

6. "3 Wise Men"

I just came across a great new novel called "3 Wise Men", it's a must read for all those who see through the power of the right-wing Christian Evangelists, you won't believe who the "terrorists" are. Though it's fiction, it will really make you think. I saw that the author called it his liberal, agnostic response to the "Left Behind" series. Pick it up and read it, you won't be sorry!!

[Peachhead22]

2. More than fiction?

I missed the part where Dan Brown claimed it was more than fiction.

[Grateful for Hope]

4. He never has

But, his facts are quite well researched. I applaud him for his diligence.

[CatBoreal]

5. Geez this pisses me off....

...The DaVinci Code is a work of fiction. FICTION!! Except for some interesting facts, the entire story is a work of FICTION. IT'S MADE UP! ITS CONCLUSIONS ARE MADE UP!!!

My mother won't read it because Dan Brown twisted some facts and made a lot of things up. UUUMMMM HELLO! THAT'S WHAT FICTION IS! IF IT WAS TRUE IT WOULD BE IN THE HISTORY SECTION OF YOUR CLOSEST BARNES AND NOBLE OR CHAPTERS STORE!

Yea Gods Above and Below! Isn't basic English Literature classes taught anymore??

[Orrex]

7. Um...

Yea Gods Above and Below! Isn't basic English Literature classes taught anymore??


Yes, they is. And so is grammar classes. :)

That's a purely good-natured jab, because Webster knows I've had more than my share of typos in my day.

As far as your question goes, well, that's how it goes. People with an interest in a certain subject will often bristle if a work of fiction handles it in a way that they deem incorrect or inaccurate or inappropriate. You see it all the time among fans of science fiction ("there's no sound in space") or historical fiction ("that kind of rifle wasn't available until ten years later.")

Don't let it upset you too much. People approach a fictional work with different expectations and desires. If your mother doesn't care to read it, for whatever reason, that's up to her.

[Richardo]

8. But there *isn't* any sound in space!

Dammit!

Sorry, pet peeve. :hi:

[Orrex]

9. You're just not listening, that's all.

Why do they call it "The Big Bang" if there was no "bang" sound? Hm? Well?

More seriously, it's just one of those concessions you have to make in most cases, just like language. There's the classic "all Star Trek aliens speak English" issue, but very few science fiction tales take the issue of language any more seriously (that's one thing that Lucas got right, though moreso in the first trilogy than the second). Dune is a great example of language-fudging, because it takes place some 9000 years in our future, but everyone speaks 20th century English. Sure, we can pretend that the work has been translated into English for our convenience, but that's a post hoc explanation not included in the text itself.

If you don't like sound during your space battles, press the mute button. :)

[Lex]

10. Read the inside front where Brown EXPLICITLY says it is a WORK of FICTION.

How hard can that be?

[Dorian Gray]

11. It shouldn't be hard.

I think the book is kind of crap. I also think that a lot of people (including my ex-) look to the book as some sort of arbiter of truth regarding the Blood Sanguine and the Holy Grail. So, there is a sort of Cult of Personality surrounding the book. I don't think Brown intended that, though. (Although he probably appreciates it because it's made him a shitload of money!)

[catbert836]

12. I think it's kind of strange

That at the end of every Dan Brown novel, after the charachters have gone through hell and back, and discover some huge diseption, or whatever it is, that they feel no need to expose it to the world.
Hell yeah, we'll just let it slip that NASA planted a fake meteorite to save their reputation that ended with several people being killed.
Hell yeah, we'll just let the church's dominance by men and misogyny continue without exposing the truth.

[alphadog]

13. I just thought

the book was crap. And I'm talking literary quality, not theologically.