"Human subtlety will never devise an invention more beautiful, more simple or more direct than does Nature, because in her inventions, nothing is lacking and nothing is superfluous."
~Leonardo da Vinci
My little corner of the Kanto Plain (and apparently the entire globe) has gone Da Vinci Code Crazy.
As for me, the curiosity started two years before reading Dan Brown's Da Vinci Code novel when Rich bought me a copy of:
"How to Think Like Leonardo da Vinci"
"You do ill if you praise, but worse if you censure, what you do not understand"
Your zip code would be under a nearby rock if you haven't heard about the controversy accompanying (and boosting sales for) the release of The DaVinci Code film. Boycotts, fiery air-time, and the occasional thoughtful speculator mixed in with picketing protesters join dusty Dead Sea Scroll scholars and isolated Ivy League professors to make a savory and highly entertaining Media Salad.
"Anyone who conducts an argument by appealing to authority is not using his intelligence; he is just using his memory."
This is an engaging curiosity for me, living in Japan and attempting to explain the depth of the DaVinci Code controversy to my Japanese friends. Friends like Kazumi (above) who have read and enjoyed the book give me great insight into their culture by asking questions about why there even is a controversy and why this seems to be the media focus.
"Experience does not err. Only your judgments err by expecting from her what is not in her power."
Living abroad gives me yet another reminder that not every culture places the entire responsibility for an individual's morals, values and absolute truths on religious dogma -- even if that particular culture also happens to be intensely spiritual and even full of sacred religious rituals.
Here in Japan I get the overwhelming sense that this culture is more pantheistic; rules of morals and values are more defined as individual family responsibilities and placed within the needs of the overall interconnected social structure. From what little I've experienced it feels as if the religious contribution here is more of a flexible overall "spiritual guidance" than intractable dogma. I'd love to learn more.
"I have been impressed with the urgency of doing. Knowing is not enough; we must apply. Being willing is not enough; we must do."
I'm happy. No matter where the did-Jesus-wed-Mary-Magdalene opinions fall, at least it's getting certain populations of people off of their collective butts and moving to care about more than just what's for dinner. Rich and I tried to see the film in Yokohama on Sunday with about 10,000 of our new best friends who got to the theatre first. This meant a sold out English language show (Japanese subtitles) so we'll catch it this weekend in Honmoku.
"As a well-spent day brings happy sleep, so a life well spent brings happy death."
Our well-spent day on June 19 will include a very cool and rare chance to experience Leonardo Da Vinci's work through the world's first Digital Da Vinci museum tour at the Mori Arts Center Gallery in Roppongi. The tour allows fans to experience full sized high-definition reproductions of Da Vinci's master paintings, and depicts the novel's surroundings in four galleries. This is a geeky-girl's paradise, and I can't wait to share the review.
Da Vinci Code Museum (English)
Da Vinci Code Museum (Japanese)
Maybe I'm just so excited because the exhibit finally highlights the Most Valuable Player in Dan Brown's work of fiction....Leonardo da Vinci. I hate that that such a brilliant innovator is getting the short end of the stick through all this media attention. You just know a guy like that is laughing about it somewhere, though.
"For once you have tasted flight you will walk the earth with your eyes turned skywards, for there you have been and there you will long to return."
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