CLA232H1 Lecture : Aristophanes' Clouds
Document Summary
Extreme form of alterity (scapegoat: one individual forced to embody all differences and by his banishment, homogeneity restored to society. Fantasy of sameness blood brotherhood, womenless world, panhellenism. Impossible to get rid of / live without differences. Differences of opinions despite equality in rights. Dream of homogeneity existed with tolerance for the other (athens) Athenian autochthony ~ metics, new men; exist with them. Democracy stable for so long but end of 5th c. , oligarchic coups broke out. Through literature, their drama, athenians able to deal with their differences. Villainized the other to define / set up self (negative lessons) Others = gadflies" to their horses" (= athenian culture) Positive lessons = how to be a good man: to make them more alert, awake. Sophist"s rise in athens start in this period (5th c. ) Traditional vs. sophistic education: sophist"s moral relativism and emphasis on rhetoric. Comedy pointing out people who are different, laughing at them and disempowering them.
