First ever f-list clean up. Uh. You knew I was an f-list packrat, right?

Began my first ever friendslist clean-up.

You would not believe the number of journals on my f-list that hadn't been updated since 2004. Some were completely empty. I used to friend everyone back and hit my friendslimit about a year ago.

If I deleted you in error, please let me know. I have a new fandom and am just trying to make some room in the cupboards, reorganize a space that had grown too small.

Negotiating the Boundaries of Legend, or, yes Merlin pays close attention to Arthurian Legend

I've been hearing all over the Merlin fandom how Merlin tramples the Arthurian legend into dust -- "but we don't care! We love it anyway!"

Well. Ahem. I just finished my Arthurian Lit class.

I'd like to call into question first the idea that there's "one" Arthurian legend. Second, certainly the BBC's Merlin tramples Malory's popular Morte d'Arthur, yes, but it returns to a 10th 1100s, i.e., the 12th century (Sigh. I do this all the time with dates.) Arthurian text, Geoffrey of Monmouth, where Uther raises Arthur, and then runs from there. The BBC's writers show a familiarity with a breadth of Arthurian texts as they remake the legend.

If you're going to depart from the legend, you'd better know what you're doing. And they do.

The Cliff's Notes version:

- There are lots of versions of Arthur, going back to the 5th century or so.
- Malory is getting flattened here, no doubt. That's the one we know.
- The writers have gone back to an earlier (and historically more influential) version of the legend: Geoffrey of Monmouth, 10th 1100s, i.e., the 12th century. Sigh. I do this all the time with dates.
- From there they take off from a discrepancy between Malory and Geoffrey: did Uther raise his son or was Arthur orphaned? Malory says orphaned. Geoffrey says Uther raised him till age 15.
- Then they mix together all the gazillions of versions of Arthur in a soup and serve it up every week.
- Why do this? The element of surprise. (And they may be showing off. ;)

( Negotiating the Boundaries of Legend )

My apologies for not being available for much comment. Of course I write this sort of thing when I'm hopelessly busy. I hope it's not too dry. Also, forgive that I haven't italicized all the text names. I'm in the middle of finals and probably shouldn't be posting this at all.

ETA: Sorry about the dates. I'm forever calling the 1100s the "tenth" century. It's the twelfth, yes, yes it is. (And to think I've a history minor.)

Not your usual Numerology meme.

Your Spiritual Number is Three

You bring creativity and meaning to people's lives. You can help someone see a whole new world and possibilities that they never imagined. Right now, your life is about compromise and union. A close friendship, partnership, or romantic relationship is very important to you right now. And while you may be primarily focusing on one person, you never forget how interconnected the world is. You try to respect and understand those you have differences with.

What's Your Spiritual Number?