Hello?

[Bert Olton]

Greetings ALKA. Are any of the old guard still checking in
occasionally? It's been a long time since any real discussion has gone
on here. I miss the place, the people. Tom? Kim? Rodney? Anyone?

I know I have not kept up my end of the bargain of late, but I'm willing
to try. With the world falling in to some very scary times, some
Arthurian reassurance might be of merit! <g>

It has been implied by certain of my family members that a pending
Father's Day gift might be Tom Green's book "Concepts of Arthur".
Should that occur, I'll certainly be posting about the ideas therein.

Frankly, I have been out of the Arthurian loop for some time. I am not
"up" on what television shows, what movies and what other pop culture
elements have included Arthurian material for probably 5 years. I have
not had the time to read Arthurnet, nor have I kept up with Michael
Torregrossa's various discussion groups.

If any of you have been keeping in better touch with the small Arthurian
circle, please post what news there might be.

Best to all,
Bert

[n***@googlemail.com]

Hi Bert,

I do occasionally check in, just on the off-chance that someone posted
something worthwhile or some of the old group returns -- it was nice
to read your message! The most obvious recent example of TV Arthuriana
I've seen is the BBC Merlin series (shown on NBC in the States, I
believe) -- pretty good, in a Saturday-evening family-tv kind of
way... Incidentally, on the topic of Arthur in popular culture, if
you're interested in somewhat earlier post-medieval manifestations of
this, I've recently argued that the fairy-tale of 'Jack the giant-
killer' is actually based on the folkloric Arthur... The article is
'Tom Thumb and Jack the Giant Killer: Two Arthurian Fairytales?',
Folklore, 118.2 (August 2007), pp. 123-40 and there is a summary with
texts online at my website: http://www.arthuriana.co.uk/arthuriad/Arthuriad_VolOne.pdf

All the best, & I hope you enjoy the book if you do get it for
Father's Day!

Cheers,

Tom Green
--
Arthurian Resources -- http://www.arthuriana.co.uk

Post by Bert Olton
Greetings ALKA. Are any of the old guard still checking in
occasionally? It's been a long time since any real discussion has gone
on here. I miss the place, the people. Tom? Kim? Rodney? Anyone?
I know I have not kept up my end of the bargain of late, but I'm willing
to try. With the world falling in to some very scary times, some
Arthurian reassurance might be of merit! <g>
It has been implied by certain of my family members that a pending
Father's Day gift might be Tom Green's book "Concepts of Arthur".
Should that occur, I'll certainly be posting about the ideas therein.
Frankly, I have been out of the Arthurian loop for some time. I am not
"up" on what television shows, what movies and what other pop culture
elements have included Arthurian material for probably 5 years. I have
not had the time to read Arthurnet, nor have I kept up with Michael
Torregrossa's various discussion groups.
If any of you have been keeping in better touch with the small Arthurian
circle, please post what news there might be.
Best to all,
Bert

[h***@hotmail.com]

Hi Bert,

I do occasionally check in, just on the off-chance that someone posted
something worthwhile or some of the old group returns -- it was nice
to read your message! The most obvious recent example of TV Arthuriana
I've seen is the BBC Merlin series (shown on NBC in the States, I
believe) -- pretty good, in a Saturday-evening family-tv kind of
way... Incidentally, on the topic of Arthur in popular culture, if
you're interested in somewhat earlier post-medieval manifestations of
this, I've recently argued that the fairy-tale of 'Jack the giant-
killer' is actually based on the folkloric Arthur... The article is
'Tom Thumb and Jack the Giant Killer: Two Arthurian Fairytales?',
Folklore, 118.2 (August 2007), pp. 123-40 and there is a summary with
texts online at my website: http://www.arthuriana.co.uk/arthuriad/Arthuriad_VolOne.pdf

All the best, & I hope you enjoy the book if you do get it for
Father's Day!

Cheers,

Tom Green
--
Arthurian Resources -- http://www.arthuriana.co.uk

Post by Bert Olton
Greetings ALKA. Are any of the old guard still checking in
occasionally? It's been a long time since any real discussion has gone
on here. I miss the place, the people. Tom? Kim? Rodney? Anyone?
I know I have not kept up my end of the bargain of late, but I'm willing
to try. With the world falling in to some very scary times, some
Arthurian reassurance might be of merit! <g>
It has been implied by certain of my family members that a pending
Father's Day gift might be Tom Green's book "Concepts of Arthur".
Should that occur, I'll certainly be posting about the ideas therein.
Frankly, I have been out of the Arthurian loop for some time. I am not
"up" on what television shows, what movies and what other pop culture
elements have included Arthurian material for probably 5 years. I have
not had the time to read Arthurnet, nor have I kept up with Michael
Torregrossa's various discussion groups.
If any of you have been keeping in better touch with the small Arthurian
circle, please post what news there might be.
Best to all,
Bert

[Bert Olton]

Post by n***@googlemail.com
Hi Bert,
I do occasionally check in, just on the off-chance that someone posted
something worthwhile or some of the old group returns -- it was nice
to read your message! The most obvious recent example of TV Arthuriana
I've seen is the BBC Merlin series (shown on NBC in the States, I
believe) -- pretty good, in a Saturday-evening family-tv kind of
way... Incidentally, on the topic of Arthur in popular culture, if
you're interested in somewhat earlier post-medieval manifestations of
this, I've recently argued that the fairy-tale of 'Jack the giant-
killer' is actually based on the folkloric Arthur... The article is
'Tom Thumb and Jack the Giant Killer: Two Arthurian Fairytales?',
Folklore, 118.2 (August 2007), pp. 123-40 and there is a summary with
texts online at my website: http://www.arthuriana.co.uk/arthuriad/Arthuriad_VolOne.pdf
All the best, & I hope you enjoy the book if you do get it for
Father's Day!
Cheers,
Tom Green
--
Arthurian Resources -- http://www.arthuriana.co.uk

Hello Tom!

Although I haven't read your article yet (and I will, this afternoon),
right off the bat I've got to agree with you on Tom Thumb and Jack the
Giant Killer. When I was putting together my book on Arthurian film and
television, the three films I included ('Jack The Giant Killer, 1962,
'Tom Thumb', 1991 and 'Tom Thumb In King Arthur's Court', 1963) were all
so blatantly tied to Arthurian themes and characters that their
inclusion wasn't a question for me. Since my book was really only on
what actually *is* on film, I wasn't under any constraint to verify that
filmic interpretations were supported by accurate literary reference.
I'm very glad to see that you've done just that in relation to these two
old stories.

Somehow I managed to miss the latest BBC "Merlin". I'll have to look
that up.

Always a pleasure to hear from you, sir.
Best regards,
Bert

[h***@hotmail.com]

Post by Bert Olton
Hello Tom!
Although I haven't read your article yet (and I will, this afternoon),
right off the bat I've got to agree with you on Tom Thumb and Jack the
Giant Killer. When I was putting together my book on Arthurian film and
television, the three films I included ('Jack The Giant Killer, 1962,
'Tom Thumb', 1991 and 'Tom Thumb In King Arthur's Court', 1963) were all
so blatantly tied to Arthurian themes and characters that their
inclusion wasn't a question for me. Since my book was really only on
what actually *is* on film, I wasn't under any constraint to verify that
filmic interpretations were supported by accurate literary reference.
I'm very glad to see that you've done just that in relation to these two
old stories.

Well, I felt sorry for them -- relegated to a couple of lines in most
literary surveys, when they strike me as much more interesting than
that!

Post by Bert Olton
Somehow I managed to miss the latest BBC "Merlin". I'll have to look
that up.

Oh, it's pretty good as far as these things go -- I know people who
actually went out of their way to stay in for the final episodes...!

Post by Bert Olton
Always a pleasure to hear from you, sir.

And from you :-)

All the best,

Tom

[Bert Olton]

Tom,

As always, your contributions are extraordinary. Anyone reading here
really needs to go to:

<http://www.arthuriana.co.uk/arthuriad/Arthuriad_VolOne.pdf>

or more importantly to:

<http://www.arthuriana.co.uk/>

I've read through the texts you presented and your footnotes on Tom
Thumb and Jack the Giant Killer. It all deserves further study - by
that I mean, more careful reading of your work. Your inclusion of the
images from the 1820 Penny Book is terrific.

Just as a potentially humorous side note, do you think that the famous
Rock and Roll Band chose their name intentionally from the Grateful Dead
theme?

Tom, many thanks for your research and publications.

Bert

[h***@hotmail.com]

Dear Bert,

Post by Bert Olton
Tom,
As always, your contributions are extraordinary. Anyone reading here
<http://www.arthuriana.co.uk/arthuriad/Arthuriad_VolOne.pdf>
<http://www.arthuriana.co.uk/>

Thank you for the kind words; they are much appreciated!

Post by Bert Olton
I've read through the texts you presented and your footnotes on Tom
Thumb and Jack the Giant Killer. It all deserves further study - by
that I mean, more careful reading of your work. Your inclusion of the
images from the 1820 Penny Book is terrific.

Are they not wonderful? I particularly like the one of the giant
having his nose cut off for its sheer barbaric joy, and the one of
Jack with his pickaxe and Giant Blunderbore trapped in the hole is a
classic of the genre!

The Jack with his pickaxe commenced,
The giant most loudly did roar;
He thus made an end of the first --
The terrible Giant Blunderbore

Post by Bert Olton
Just as a potentially humorous side note, do you think that the famous
Rock and Roll Band chose their name intentionally from the Grateful Dead
theme?

I gather -- from wikipedia! -- that they did:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grateful_Dead#Choosing_a_name

All the very best,

Tom

Tom Green
--
Arthurian Resources -- http://www.arthuriana.co.uk
Concepts of Arthur -- http://www.arthuriana.co.uk/concepts

[Cherith]

On 27 Apr, 20:04, ***@hotmail.com wrote:> Dear Bert,> >
Bert Olton wrote:> > Tom,> > > As always, your contributions are
extraordinary.  Anyone reading here> > really needs to go to:> > >
<http://www.arthuriana.co.uk/arthuriad/Arthuriad_VolOne.pdf>> > > or
more importantly to:> > > <http://www.arthuriana.co.uk/>> > Thank you
for the kind words; they are much appreciated!> > > I've read through
the texts you presented and your footnotes on Tom> > Thumb and Jack
the Giant Killer.  It all deserves further study - by> > that I mean,
more careful reading of your work.  Your inclusion of the> > images
from the 1820 Penny Book is terrific.> > Are they not wonderful? I
particularly like the one of the giant> having his nose cut off for
its sheer barbaric joy, and the one of> Jack with his pickaxe and
Giant Blunderbore trapped in the hole is a> classic of the genre!> >
The Jack with his pickaxe commenced,>    The giant most loudly did
roar;> He thus made an end of the first -->    The terrible Giant
Blunderbore> > > Just as a potentially humorous side note, do you
think that the famous> > Rock and Roll Band chose their name
intentionally from the Grateful Dead> > theme?> > I gather -- from
wikipedia! -- that they did:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/
Grateful_Dead#Choosing_a_name> > All the very best,> > Tom> > Tom
Green> --> Arthurian Resources --http://www.arthuriana.co.uk> Concepts
of Arthur --http://www.arthuriana.co.uk/conceptsI just happened to
take a look and found this! It would be great to get back on
track.Best regards,Cherith

[Bert Olton]

Cherith wrote:
I just happened to

Post by Cherith
take a look and found this! It would be great to get back on
track.Best regards,Cherith

Hello Cherith,

Evidently a few of us still lurk around here...I agree, it'd be fun to
resurrect ALKA! What's new in your Arthurian world?

Best regards,

Bert

[John W Kennedy]

Frankly, I have been out of the Arthurian loop for some time. I am not
"up" on what television shows, what movies and what other pop culture
elements have included Arthurian material for probably 5 years. I have
not had the time to read Arthurnet, nor have I kept up with Michael
Torregrossa's various discussion groups.

Well, Dan Brown's unspeakable monument to historical illiteracy got made
into a film, and Keira Knightley starred in a badly filmed flick that
tried to present the Sarmatian hypothesis, but got it completely wrong.
(It also revolutionized the history of Western theology with its
reasoning that, because Pelagius believed in free will, he must
therefore have been an 18th-century Whig.)

"Stargate: SG1" had some miscellaneous Arthurian hoo-hah.

And then there was "Spamalot".

[Bert Olton]

Post by John W Kennedy
Well, Dan Brown's unspeakable monument to historical illiteracy got made
into a film, and Keira Knightley starred in a badly filmed flick that
tried to present the Sarmatian hypothesis, but got it completely wrong.
(It also revolutionized the history of Western theology with its
reasoning that, because Pelagius believed in free will, he must
therefore have been an 18th-century Whig.)
"Stargate: SG1" had some miscellaneous Arthurian hoo-hah.
And then there was "Spamalot".

Hello John,

Your first reference is to, I assume, "The DaVinci Code"? If so,
ummm...yeah. As Sgt. Nick Fury of the Howling Commandos used to say,
"...'nuff said". I also have to agree with your evaluation of Fuqua's
"King Arthur". It is a shame that the Sarmatian theory of folks like
Malcor and Littleton was not better presented. Ah, but Keira, Clive,
Stellan and the rest sure *looked* good, didn't they? <g>

re: "Stargate"...I got exhausted tracking television series episode
inclusions of Arthurian references. That's probably part of the reason
I gave up the ship 5 years ago. I've heard rumors of inclusions in
"Buffy the Vampire Slayer", "Charmed" and a bunch of others. One would
need a staff to keep current.

And finally, "Spamalot". lol...to tell you the truth, and I hate to
admit it, but I would have liked to have gotten to New York City to see
that with the original cast. The irreverence of the Python
interpretation of anything is always a laugh, though this thing, so many
years later than the original TV show to say nothing of their film on
the Quest had to be pretty watered down.

Thanks for writing, John,

Bert

[John W Kennedy]

Post by Bert Olton

Post by John W Kennedy
Well, Dan Brown's unspeakable monument to historical illiteracy got
made into a film, and Keira Knightley starred in a badly filmed flick
that tried to present the Sarmatian hypothesis, but got it completely
wrong. (It also revolutionized the history of Western theology with
its reasoning that, because Pelagius believed in free will, he must
therefore have been an 18th-century Whig.)
"Stargate: SG1" had some miscellaneous Arthurian hoo-hah.
And then there was "Spamalot".

Hello John,
Your first reference is to, I assume, "The DaVinci Code"? If so,
ummm...yeah. As Sgt. Nick Fury of the Howling Commandos used to say,
"...'nuff said". I also have to agree with your evaluation of Fuqua's
"King Arthur". It is a shame that the Sarmatian theory of folks like
Malcor and Littleton was not better presented. Ah, but Keira, Clive,
Stellan and the rest sure *looked* good, didn't they? <g>

/She/ did, God knows. But even that suffered due to the old "Give the
chick a bow -- it takes less strength than a sword" goof. And it was
impossible to visualize the climactic battle sequence in a way that made
any kind of tactical sense at all; in C. S. Lewis's phrase, it did not
even "attain to the dignity of error."

Post by Bert Olton
And finally, "Spamalot". lol...to tell you the truth, and I hate to
admit it, but I would have liked to have gotten to New York City to see
that with the original cast. The irreverence of the Python
interpretation of anything is always a laugh, though this thing, so many
years later than the original TV show to say nothing of their film on
the Quest had to be pretty watered down.

Note that "Spamalot" is /not/ a musical adaptation of "Monty Python and
the Holy Grail" -- it's a spoof on musicals that just happens to use
"Monty Python and the Holy Grail" as its raw material. The movie has
nothing like "The Song that Goes Like This" or "What Happened to My Part?"

[Bert Olton]

Post by John W Kennedy
Note that "Spamalot" is /not/ a musical adaptation of "Monty Python and
the Holy Grail" -- it's a spoof on musicals that just happens to use
"Monty Python and the Holy Grail" as its raw material. The movie has
nothing like "The Song that Goes Like This" or "What Happened to My Part?"

John,

Well, I've made it obvious that I never even read a review of
"Spamalot", let alone had any knowledge of it's subject matter. Thanks
for the clarification!

Bert