Prometheus and Cannibalism

Coincidences? Synchronicity? A Maryland man was charged with killing another man and eating his heart and portions of his brain. Maryland, Miami, and many, many more, as, literally, cannibals abound. Now, a new movie opens named after a character who had his liver eaten every day. Science fiction becomes reality? Reality becomes science fiction?

The newest "cannibal attack" has occurred in Louisiana, in, yes, Lafayette Parish. (Read more about the powerful name game at the "Fayette Factor.")

What is going on? What myths are being worked out in front of our eyes?

Prometheus (Greek: Προμηθεύς) is a Titan, culture hero, and trickster figure who in Greek mythology is credited with the creation of man from clay.  Prometheus stole fire from Zeus and gave it to the mortals, an act that enabled progress and civilization. He is known for his intelligence, and as a champion of mankind.

The punishment of Prometheus as a consequence of the theft is a major theme of his mythology, and is a popular subject of both ancient and modern art. Zeus, king of the Olympian gods, sentenced the Titan to eternal torment for his transgression. The immortal Prometheus was bound to a rock, where each day an eagle, the emblem of Zeus, was sent to feed on his liver, only to have it grow back to be eaten again the next day. In some stories, Prometheus is freed at last by the hero Heracles (Hercules).

Charlize Theron plays Meredith Vickers

Today, is the date for the June 8th opening in the USA of director Ridley Scott's and producer Tony Scott's Prometheus.

In a review of Prometheus published in The Times of India, Allen O'Brien, TNN, notes one actor above all others, and additionally adds a note tied to our theme here: 

The one standing tall is Noomi Rapace  (Elizabeth Shaw) who has her priorities -- religion versus science -- in place while she is out getting answers to phenomena unexplained. So what if she does not have the muscular frame and steely nerves of Alien's Riley (Remember Sigourney Weaver?); Elizabeth's willpower grows with every situation as she finally stands up to a cannibalistic alien force. Clap! Clap!

"Cannibalistic alien force"? Of course, the aliens aren't eating each other. They are eating humans. The term is being used incorrectly, but that's the way the word "cannibalistic" is employed sometimes.

David (Michael Fassbender) looks in on Dr. Elizabeth Shaw (Noomi Rapace)

Sources on linkages and symbolic connections in Blade Runner and Prometheus are to be found in the hundreds throughout the Internet, and specifically include various trivia authored by many contributors to IMDb and the two movies commentary websites. Additionally, Wikipedia has been used throughout, when appropriate, for information that is well-cited and generally known. Please do your own background original research, if you wish, to dig into any specific area of interest to you. 

For more insights on Prometheus, please see also my Twilight Language postings here and here.