Scooby-Doo vs. Beowulf

It seems that we're all about books this week. Note to Harper-Collins: Place your ad here.

I’m going to ask for a show of hands and I solemnly swear not to share with the others, which of you answers affirmatively.

Who among you is at least a teeny bit excited to see Beowulf coming to the big screen?

Stop laughing. I’m not kidding. Seriously, STOP LAUGHING. Sheesh. I show you my nerdy panties and that’s the thanks I get?

Let me admit right off the bat that I am not well-read, and I’m not proud of it. CG1 and CG3 were English majors – they’re well read. Ask Comet Girl to tell you sometime about her epic (ar-ar) struggle with Milton.

Having said that, I think more people would be fans of literature in general, but especially of The Epic Poem, if as wee tots we were exposed to these mighty feats of linguistic engineering via…The Cartoon Network.

Instead of My Gym Partner’s a Monkey, we'd get The Aeneid! Instead of Out of Jimmy’s Head, The Canterbury Tales*. Instead of Scooby-Doo, Beowulf! And on Sundays? Dante and The Book of Job, natch.

Stop, STOP rolling your eyes, shaking your collective heads and thinking, “How base. How low-brow. How tragically postmodern and LAZY.” Because I know you’re doing it.

But THINK about it. What if Disney, instead of cranking out a pink-and-poufy Princess movie every damn year, produced an annual animated epic? Imagine kids running around with THOSE action figures! Posters of Aeneas in McDonalds! Penelope costumes at Halloween!

In a single generation, in any socio-economic circumstance, you wouldn’t be surprised to overhear someone at a cookout whisper, “Which Tamil epic was written by a Buddhist again? I’m embarrassed that I can never remember.”

Truly a nerd’s dream-come-true!

*Not technically an epic, I know, but The Hubster calls me “Wife of Bath” so I had to throw it in there.

Comments

wineandroasts said…
Girls, I just noticed this is our 100th post: woo-hoo!

And on Beaujolais Nouveau Day - how appropriate. ;o)
Comet Girl said…
GIRRRLLL, you know I'm excited!! I keep company with people who name their dog Grendel. BTW, Shakespear Saturdays sounds great to me. You know I almost named the princess Rosalind.
Country Girl said…
Now see, this makes my point. I thought Tamil was married to The Captain.
Country Girl said…
Now THAT didn't make sense because somewhere out there in NeverLand is a comment I did about how NOT well-read I am these days. It's bad enough there's no logical progression to my life without my COMPUTER conspiring against me. Elvis told me it would be like this.
Country Girl said…
And how did that fucking picture get on here?
Unknown said…
I am not nearly as well read as I should be or as I would like to be. I've always wanted to know more about the epic poems and the stories that I've always heard about. I'm pretty pumped about Beowulf coming out. It's gonna rock!!
Anonymous said…
Disney needs to take a hint from PBS... Wishbone, anyone?
Melissa said…
I was excited, too. Then I saw the cast. I'm a little afraid.

But I have to admit to liking my Gym Partner's a Monkey. That and Camp Lazlo. Sorry...
fatboyfat said…
I'm still drying up coffee from my keyboard after the "Captain and Tamil" line....
Rurality said…
What a great idea. And if you could somehow combine Beowulf and Scooby, just think how great *that* would be...