Blog 2: Understanding the Cyclops.

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Before I begin to discuss the aspects of my screenplay, I feel as though I owe you an introduction to who I am.

To be brief, my name is Caleb Bartlett, I am a Classics student at the University of Reading, primary living in Suffolk, UK. I also studied Theatre in A-Levels alongside Classical Civilisation.

With this information in mind, I am sure you are wondering one thing: Why would Classics have anything to do with film?

To understand that, It is important to signify the vital aspects of the Classical course. In it, I keenly explore and study the frameworks of the most ancient forms of literature and orations, from epics by Homer and Virgil, to philosophies by Aristotle and Plato, to even ancient comedies and tragedy performances by Aristophanes. From the epics of the Odyssey and Aeneid in particular, I adore the way that Homer and Virgil mixes our world with the world of magic and the supernatural, to create this deep rabbit-hole of unpredictability, uncertainty and, most of all, fascination to the world.

One example of this comes from the iconic story of Odysseus, creator of the Trojan Horse and disgraced king of Ithaka, who travelled around the Greek Islands in search of booty and kleos (fame). It was there that he and his men fell into a trap by one of the great cyclops and son of Poseidon, Polyphemus. In this dire predicament, Odysseus uses his deceptive skills to hide under the Cyclops' sheep and pierce his eye a sharp object. The adventure did not come without tragedy, as Polyphemus ate a good amount of Odysseus' companions, however it, in turn, became one of the most influential and part of one of the most narratively-inspiring stories ever created. Even if you have never heard of it, literature across the millennia of generations have undoubtedly all stemmed from the stories of Odysseus crossing the from our world into that of the supernatural, finding and outsmarting creatures and monsters that exceeds the imagination.

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In my screenplay, I employ this, among many other aspects of classical Greek and Roman literature into my four episode project. Expanding from stories too, I also integrate From Architecture, to robes and clothing, to their culture and leisure, among many, many other variables that I cannot wait to further explore to you through these series of Blog posts.

My devised city of the caged Pariso is filled with wonder, awe and supernatural tribulations. It reflects the world of ours today, alongside the ancient Roman world of the turn of the first millennia, AD. It is a city fractured in time and encrypted in heavenly influence.

In today's creative industry, especially in media, I feel as though the influences we get from the colossal classical pillars from ancient Rome and Greece are absent. I want to reignite that passion into pursuing and understanding our roots:

To remind the people that we stand on the shoulders of Cyclopes.

-Caleb.

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