Mythology & Media Accuracy: An Analysis

Foreword

For this assignment, I had two choices: write about myths in art, and about myths in the modern world. Since my topic was so applicable to both categories, I ended up writing a hybrid paper.

A quick side note: in my write up, I make a few comments that may come off as me disparaging the Indiana Jones and Sleepy Hollow series. I'd like to clarify first that, while I'm not a huge fan, I'm a follower of both franchises. This paper isn't meant to belittle either series, but meant to illustrate an example of errors in mythological research in media.

In a time where people are despised because of how little others understand their religions, I think a greater understanding of those religions will be extremely important.

The Write-Up

As a developing writer, one key thing that has been stressed to me is accuracy in both researching material and getting it across to readers. It's a trait that I've come to really appreciate the significance of over time and aim to continue getting better at.

Unfortunately, for many people - including writers - it's something much easier said than done, and wrongful information can quickly find its way to be presented to a wide audience. One manner is film, and one field that appears to regularly miss the mark when it comes to research is obscure (to its target audience) mythology. I think this is important and a problem, especially today, where one's religious preferences can be extremely divisive and when accuracy in information can paint an extremely vivid picture.

Here, I've decided to look at an example case of a mythological figure that, through indifference or lack of research, is portrayed in a light contradictory to the original myths.

One of the more interesting and unique cases I've found of a myth or mythological figure inaccurately portrayed in media would be the Hindu goddess Kali. Although generally agreed to be a frightening individual in Hindu mythology, like modern interpretations of the Hades, portrayals in film and other media tend to leave out nuance and detail of a frightening-at-first-glance mythological figure [Das, Lindemans]. Instead, they tend to favor a simplified depiction more akin to the Western Devil (or, as Stephen Colbert once observed, a Balrog from The Lord of the Rings) [Burke]. I've found two particularly notable cases of this.

First, after some research, I concede that it's very easy to understand why Kali would be considered nightmare fuel for an average person lacking experience in Hindu myth. Her appearance alone is considered terrifying. Many common artistic renderings feature her with four arms - holding a bloody sword and a severed head in two of them - a belt with human arms hanging from it, a necklace of severed heads, human skulls as earrings, her tongue sticking out Gene Simmons-style, extremely dark skin - stated to be black but occasionally varying shades of blue - three red eyes, and sometimes covered in blood [Das, Doniger, Lindemans]. An extremely common image shows her standing on Shiva, a principle Hindu gods. The fact that the words "fearsome," "frightening," and "terrifying," appear commonly as adjectives to describe Kali lend more credence to this.

Also worth noting is the fact that the name Kali translates variously into "the dark mother," "she who is death"  and "the black one" [ [Das, Doniger, Lindemans]. Similarly, she is also known as the Hindu goddess of time, death, and the end of time [Doniger]. So yes, at a first glance, Kali is definitely very easy to fear.

This is where nuance and detail can greatly shape one's perception of the figure.

Odd as it will sound at first, Kali is intended to be worshipped as a maternal figure. Her two open hands are intended to be a beckoning gesture offering gifts of enlightenment to her worshippers, who are seen as her children.

Similarly, Kali's features that I mentioned above as being frightening become somewhat less so when one learns that each aspect has a purpose and meaning in Hindu context. Her black skin, much like the color black being "no color," is meant to symbolize a transcendental nature where name and form mean inherently nothing [Das]. The bloody sword and demon head she holds are intended to represent the destruction of the ego/self-aggrandizement [http://www.goddess.ws/]. The fifty heads on her necklace are meant to represent the fifty letters of the Sanskrit alphabet as a source of infinite knowledge [Das]. Alternatively, it represents the "children" that she has freed from the ego and "enlightened" - ergo, a metaphor for her worshippers [http://www.goddess.ws/]. Her three eyes are meant to symbolize her sight of past, present and future. This adds context to Kali being known as a goddess of time [Das]. To further emphasize her connection to time, the name Kali shares the same root as the Sanskrit word kala ("time") [Das].

Even the common story of Kali "stomping" on Shiva is less malicious than initially thought. In at least one interpretation, Kali is created from the anger of the Hindu goddess Durga and getting lost in the madness of battle, after which she goes on a destructive rampage [Das, Doniger] In the end, she is stopped when Shiva prostrates himself on the ground before her. Thus, the image depicts this moment, her tongue sticking meant to symbolize some form of shock or surprise [Das, Doniger]. This pose has since become a standard depiction of their relationship [Lindemans].

Appropriately for this more benign interpretation, one of Kali's title's is Bhavatarini, or Redeemer of the Universe.

One of the best-known examples of the "evil" portrayal of Kali also happens to appear in a relatively popular film. The 1984 Indiana Jones sequel/prequel Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom features a Thuggee cult led by Mola Ram (Amrish Puri) worshipping Kali that aims to dominate the world. The film infamously features a sacrificial sequence where Mola Ram rips out the victim's heart before dropping him into a lava pit.

Although elements are explained - such as a vague explanation of Shiva - little time is given to elaborating on how its version of Hinduism is different from real life. The implication - as I understand it - is that Shiva and Kali, as they are invoked in the film, are essentially meant to be Hindu versions of God and Satan/the Devil, respectively, in some time of everlasting rivalry. To complement this, whereas the film shows a relatively accurate (light-themed) drawing of Shiva, the titular temple features a large statue of Kali with a vague, if demonic and emaciated resemblance to the more traditional depictions of her. Similarly, Indy (Harrison Ford) ultimately defeats Mola Ram by invoking a type of spell by declaring that Ram has "betrayed Shiva." Whether it's Ram's world domination plot or worship of Kali that offends the Sankara stones is not explained.

The depictions of Hinduism - featuring the aforementioned gods along with a comedic yet grotesque  dinner scene - resulted in the Indian government denying  the film crew permission to film and banning the film itself from being shown in the country years after its release [Ramnath]. However, the film portrayal of Hindu elements stem from Steven Spielberg and George Lucas' decision to make the film darker than its predecessor Raiders of the Lost Ark due to personal matters they faced at the time [Vespe]. Similarly, Temple of Doom has widely been acknowledged to be heavily influenced by, if not a near complete remake of, the 1939 film Gunga Din [TheRaider.net]. One aspect the film does get right is that the real-life Thuggee cult did worship Kali and kill travelers as sacrifices to her; the exact nature remains unknown, though [www.indyintheclassroom.com].

A more recent second case depicting an "evil" version of Kali appear in "Kali Yuga," a 2015 episode of FOX's Sleepy Hollow. While little time is spent elaborating on the nature of Kali in Hinduism, the episode's villain invokes Kali as a malevolent entity in order to become a vampire-like creature. The episode received scathing criticism from some Hindu groups offended at the portrayal of Kali and Hinduism in the episode [Rahman, Television Post Team]. Of particular note was the episode stating the the demonic spirit Vetala was a servant or follower of Kali when, in fact there is little if any connection between them in myth [Rahman, Television Post Team]. In the end, FOX eventually apologized for the depiction in the episode.

In the end, media portrayals of mythological figures will often take the version that sounds most interesting or familiar to viewers. This will end up reinforcing a perspective of mythological figures - whether that figure be Kali, Satan, Hades, Muhammad or any other number of mythological figure that has a traditional "image" to wide audiences - that will essentially pain future depictions of these figures.

With people ostracizing each other because of their faiths, I think it's deeply important that myths in film and television put more effort into depicting mythology and mythological figures to a reasonable degree of accuracy.

Sources & References

1. Vespe, Eric. “FORTUNE AND GLORY: Writers of Doom! Quint Interviews Willard Huyck and Gloria Katz!” Aint It Cool News. N.p., 23 May 2014. Web. 19 Nov. 2016. http://www.aintitcool.com/node/67450>.
2. Burke. “Colbert Corrects CNN on a Lord of the Rings Gaff!” Observation Deck. N.p., 13 Jan. 2014. Web. 19 Nov. 2016. <http://observationdeck.kinja.com/colberyt-correct-cnn-on-a-lord-of-the-rings-gaff-1500517752>.
3. Das, Subhamoy. “Meet Kali, the Dark Mother Deity of Hinduism.” About.com Religion & Spirituality. N.p., 21 Oct. 2014. Web. 11 Nov. 2016. <http://hinduism.about.com/od/hindugoddesses/a/makali.htm>.
4. Doniger, Wendy. “Kali.” Encyclopedia Britannica Online. Encyclopedia Britannica, 5 May 2015. Web. 11 Nov. 2016. <https://www.britannica.com/topic/Kali>.
5. Lindemans, Micha F. “Kali.” Encyclopedia Mythica. 2016. Encyclopedia Mythica Online. 11 Nov. 2016 <http://www.pantheon.org/articles/k/kali.html>.
6. “Explanation of Goddess Kali's Form.” Http://www.goddess.ws/. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Nov. 2016. <http://www.goddess.ws/mother-kalis-picture.html>.
7. Rahman, Abid. "Hindu Group Accuses 'Sleepy Hollow' of "Distorting" Faith, Seeks Fox Apology." The Hollywood Reporter. N.p., 28 Jan. 2015. Web. 11 Nov. 2016. <http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/hindu-group-accuses-sleepy-hollow-768179>.
8. “The History and Archaeology of Temple of Doom.” The History and Archaeology of Temple of Doom. Indy in the Classroom.com, n.d. Web. 11 Nov. 2016. <http://www.indyintheclassroom.com/projects/archaeology/temple.asp>.
9. “Gunga Din.” TheRaider.net - Indiana Jones' Influences. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Nov. 2016. <http://www.theraider.net/information/influences/gunga_din.php>.
10. Ramnath, Nandini. “‘Temple of Doom’ Is the Indiana Jones Movie That Indians Won't Forget in a Hurry.” Scroll.in. N.p., 31 Mar. 2016. Web. 11 Nov. 2016. <http://thereel.scroll.in/805944/temple-of-doom-is-the-indiana-jones-movie-that-indians-wont-forget-in-a-hurry>.
11. TelevisionPost Team. “Hindu Religious Outfit Seeks Apology from Fox over ‘Sleepy Hollow’” TelevisionPostcom. N.p., 29 Jan. 2015. Web. 12 Nov. 2016. <http://www.televisionpost.com/news/hindu-religious-outfit-seeks-apology-from-fox-over-sleepy-hollow/>.