Blog #3

Blog #3

This week’s allusion presentation of David and Goliath really opened my eyes to the underlying context in the majority of media surrounding us today. When you think about popular books and movies, in essence they all have a theme of “good guy verses bad guy” or “underdog versus the favorite”, which is basically the foundation of the famous Bible story. For example, one of my favorite movies of all time is Top Gun. This movie exemplifies how the story of David and Goliath is integrated into modern (well in this situation all-most-modern because it was filmed in the eighties) cinema. Some background for this movie is that there are two main characters, a pilot named Maverick and his GIB (Guy In Back) who’s call-sign is Goose. These two men are stationed somewhere over the Indian Ocean and after an unexpected turn of events, are allowed to attend the most prestigious flight school in the United States. Due to the fact that Maverick and Goose were not supposed to attend this flight school in the first place, puts them at an automatic disadvantage to the other pilots. This is the major element that creates the “David” effect upon these two men. Much like the Biblical story, there is a prominent character in this movie that asserts immediate dominance over these underdogs. This character, Ice Man, essentially portrays the “Goliath” of this movie. Throughout the movie there are certain flight scenes, sports scenes, and dialogue scenes that show Ice Man’s superiority to Maverick and Goose. However in the very end scenario, Maverick in a sense “defeats” the stereotype of the underdog by saving Ice Man from being shot down by enemy plane. Upon landing his plane and returning to the aircraft carrier, Maverick is greeted by masses of celebrating soldiers. This reflects the acceptance and celebration that David receives when he returns to camp after he killed Goliath. I find it interesting that many popular cultural icons such as the movie Top Gun are centered on Biblical allusions. The majority of Top Gun scenes are not considered “religiously appropriate”. There are multiple killing scenes, curse words, and sexual references. However, the story is still based on a direct reference to the Bible. This oxymoronic connection is interesting when related to our society as a whole. It reflects the common societal aspect of having one religious preference while exhibiting the actions that completely go against that. In my immediate society, there are males and females who claim to be avid Christians however they break the majority of the Ten Commandments in one weekend. I am not judging these people, I am merely questioning whether movies and situations like that of Top Gun influence society, or if rather society has influenced the making of such oxymoronic movies like Top Gun.