Da Vinci Code redux
It seems that Dan Brown's Da Vinci Code is getting plenty of attention. I discussed a bit about him in a previous post.
He has been sued, but we won't hear any verdict until April 13. The movie is not due to open until May 17, so says the Sony Pictures site.
In the meantime, there is all sorts of attention, from all sorts of angles.
Elizabeth Lev of Duquesne University's Rome campus calls the book a "museum of errors."
Dr. Lev is supported in her position by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. The Conference has put together a website entitled Jesus Decoded to showcase a response from the Roman Catholic Church. In conjunction with the website, the Catholic Communication Campaign has produced a television special, "Jesus Decoded" to bring this response to a wide audience. The program is distributed to NBC for airing the weekend of May 20. Air times and dates are available for all states.
The Catholic Church is not alone in its criticism of Brown's book. Christianity Today and the Baptist Church both have extensive pieces. The group that received the brunt of criticism in Brown's book, Opus Dei also responds. For an extensive look at the attacks on Brown's book, see the ReligionNewsBlog.
But don't think that only religious groups are challenging Brown's claims. Back in 2003, Mark Lawson of the UK's Guardian dismissed the book as "irritatingly gripping tosh" and groans about "something as preposterous and sloppy...as The Da Vinci Code (being) on its way to selling millions." Of course, Lawson does not attack the validity of any claims, religious or otherwise, of Brown's book, only his writing, concluding that, Brown's true success lies in his "crack(ing) the bestseller code."
For any number of opinions expressed in blogs, consider the following: Preacher Smith, Mary Hartz: The Excited Blog and The Da Vinci Code Movie Blog.
In all of this, we cannot overlook that the success of the book really lies in the fact that we are all talking about it whether we like it, hate it, despise it or cherish it. The fact is, Dan Brown got us talking. And now he is reaping the reward. Just think what the movie will do for him.
Tom
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He has been sued, but we won't hear any verdict until April 13. The movie is not due to open until May 17, so says the Sony Pictures site.
In the meantime, there is all sorts of attention, from all sorts of angles.
Elizabeth Lev of Duquesne University's Rome campus calls the book a "museum of errors."
Dr. Lev is supported in her position by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. The Conference has put together a website entitled Jesus Decoded to showcase a response from the Roman Catholic Church. In conjunction with the website, the Catholic Communication Campaign has produced a television special, "Jesus Decoded" to bring this response to a wide audience. The program is distributed to NBC for airing the weekend of May 20. Air times and dates are available for all states.
The Catholic Church is not alone in its criticism of Brown's book. Christianity Today and the Baptist Church both have extensive pieces. The group that received the brunt of criticism in Brown's book, Opus Dei also responds. For an extensive look at the attacks on Brown's book, see the ReligionNewsBlog.
But don't think that only religious groups are challenging Brown's claims. Back in 2003, Mark Lawson of the UK's Guardian dismissed the book as "irritatingly gripping tosh" and groans about "something as preposterous and sloppy...as The Da Vinci Code (being) on its way to selling millions." Of course, Lawson does not attack the validity of any claims, religious or otherwise, of Brown's book, only his writing, concluding that, Brown's true success lies in his "crack(ing) the bestseller code."
For any number of opinions expressed in blogs, consider the following: Preacher Smith, Mary Hartz: The Excited Blog and The Da Vinci Code Movie Blog.
In all of this, we cannot overlook that the success of the book really lies in the fact that we are all talking about it whether we like it, hate it, despise it or cherish it. The fact is, Dan Brown got us talking. And now he is reaping the reward. Just think what the movie will do for him.
Tom
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4 Comments:
Hey I can really prove that Dan took those ideas. Check out my blog to find out how. On second thought why don't you take a permalink. Click here. Or else you could visit my blog.
Teen's blog is also titled "Da Vinci Redux." He talks a lot about the anagrams found in the book, such as the name of one main character Leigh Teabring.
The book is a lot of fun if you read as a bit of tongue-in-cheek this way.
Tom
Correction: Teen's post is "Da Vinci Redux." The blog is Teenage Tantrums.
My opinion is the DaVinci Code was intersting at the beginning but totally fell apart by the end. What I think is sad, people believe everything Dan Brown has written, as if this is a historical book, not fiction. The number of people that have asked me, as a Catholic about Opus Dei, the gospels that were "left out" of the Bible etc astonish me. Are people just not educated? Considering many seem to watch the so called reality TV shows, no wonder they believe that Dan Brown has written a true account of the Jesus, Mary Magdelene and the continuation of Jesus's bloodline!
My only other comment, there are some very good books out there that take each point of the DaVinci Code and explain why the point is incorrect. They should take the time and energy to read some of these also.
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