The Desperate Discourse of The Odyssey | The Backdrop

This type of commentary is why I support you on Patreon. Great work distilling down a lot of complex, emotionally charged cultural topics into a timely and concise video that speaks deeply to me.

I’m not really conservative but I do hold some conservative views (advocation for race blindness, ableism, kind of iffy on abortion) and I will say it is frustrating to see media which is ideologically opposed to those ideas be so successful. As for The Odyssey’s casting choices, White isn’t that much more accurate than Black considering it’s generally around the Iberian Peninsula. A lot of tanned skin around that area. So it’s a “whatever” feeling from me.

My own curious experience speaking about The Odyssey with friends/colleagues who follow more Right-aligned media (I think I mostly mean Joe Rogan) is that they were all aware that there was SOME controversy but weren't sure what, as if they've just skimmed the headline. They all went on to really enjoy the movie (albeit one did have an issue with Helen's casting. Can't win 'em all, I guess.) Anyway, as a related aside, wondering if you've joined the throngs reading Emily Wilson's criticism in the LRB? Harsh in parts, maybe, but entertaining. Enjoyed reading it, but it takes nothing away from my own enjoyment of the movie.

It's weird being one of the only people not following the odyssey discourse, people keep mentioning something i cant see yet for spoilers, but im pretty confident the internet will be totally normal about it ;) (I'll be joining in this weekend)

While I 100% agree, I think its also worth noting that while WE know this, we're not the ones ultimately their tring to convince. The one's they want to convince are the people paying to have these movies made. See Disney telling Pixar when making Inside Out 2 to make Riley seem "less gay", because Disney was worried how fans would see her admiring another hockey play thats female.