Politics, Racism, the Curse of White Supremacy, and the Importance of Multiculturalism in Christopher Nolan’s Adaptation of Homer’s The Odyssey

Abstract

In the famous Greek poem, The Odyssey, Homer immortalized Odysseus and the Trojan War. But the racial truths about the Greek people over the centuries are lacking. Unfortunately, white supremacists/nationalists across the planet, as well as right-wing critics like Elon Musk, with their historical prejudices, believe that pale-skinned humans are superior to all other humans. Therefore, Christopher Nolan’s new Odyssey is (perhaps) offensive to white supremacists everywhere. And the success of Nolan’s adaptation of The Odyssey has caused some white racists and traditionalists to lose their lunch, so to speak, because of his multicultural cast of actors in the film. Of course, the shrewd movie director uses a holistic approach in his brilliant rendering of Homer’s work. Specifically, Nolan blurs the line between the facts and ancient Greek history.

To be sure, some Greek myths are a matter of hearsay and speculation. Also, there is a great deal of superstition about relatable Egyptian and Greek cultures. Furthermore, when it comes to ethnic groups, there is no reason not to believe that Blacks or dark-skinned people were involved, or a part of Greek society in ancient times. Notably, in our cultural memory, with confounding ambiguity, the real story of The Odyssey is about a series of tragedies, deaths, horrors, and confrontations between different humans. Moreover, this epic story serves as a counterpoint to the Golden Rule, Zeus’ Law, or Xenia, as the Greeks called being hospital to others.

To be certain, Homer’s epic poem is a nightmare, so to speak, of Greek gods. Also, The Odyssey articulates the perceptions of the hero Odysseus, his legacy, and what he was able to accomplish in 20 years. In a nutshell, The Odyssey means different things to different people. Paradoxically, we know for a fact that the original Greeks were not so-called white Europeans; never mind the pointless diatribe to the contrary by right-wing fanatics. In the end of this fantastical Greek mythology/epic, Nolan’s consistent theme is to present the notion of homecoming despite the obstacles put before a person. Finally, the formidable warrior Odysseus wasn’t grateful for the disruptions in his life, particularly after spending two decades to get back to his wife Penalope. In this respect, Odysseus had come full-circle upon his return to Ithaca, his kingdom in The Odyssey.