">Forum Views ()
">Forum Replies ()
Read more with google mobile :
Tarzan, Jane, and the animals, reviewed
Yahoo!
My Yahoo!
Mail
Yahoo! Search
Search:
Sign InNew User? Sign Up
News Home -
Help
Navigation
Primary Navigation
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Top Stories
Most Popular
Secondary Navigation
Asia Pacific
World
Search
Search:
Tarzan, Jane, and the animals, reviewed
AFP - Tuesday, June 16
PARIS (AFP) - - Jungle saviour, noble savage, or green superhero? Tarzan's many mythical faces come under the microscope at a Paris show complete with sounds of the forest, and the hero's distinctive cry.
ADVERTISEMENT
Tarzan's ululating call made famous by 1930s actor Johnny Weissmuller is to echo through the gardens and galleries of Paris' newest arthouse, the Quai Branly museum, from this week until September 27.
Bringing together books, films, comics, toy figures, stuffed apes and other animals, as well as some of the museum's top African artefacts, the show titled "Tarzan!" aims to explore the inspiration of Tarzan creator, US novelist Edgar Rice Burroughs.
"Popular western culture," said the head of the museum Stephane Martin, "whether it be books, fashion or music, is nurtured by non-European worlds. Tarzan shows how the West saw Africa."
Tarzan came to life in Rice Burrough's imagination in 1912 in "Tarzan of the Apes", with the writer penning 26 novels before his 1950 death about the feral child to be who was born in Africa to Lord Greystoke and his wife, abandoned there by mutineers.
The writer had never set foot on the continent, where the baby was brought up by apes after his parents' demise, but had read Rudyard Kipling's "Jungle Book" and visited the 1893 Chicago World's Fair -- his hometown -- where 46 countries were represented.
"He was influenced by Kipling's Mowgli, by stories of children brought up in the jungle, by Africans he saw at the Chicago fair," said anthropologist Roger Boulay, who curated the show.
It took years for the Tarzan books to circle the globe and eventually be published in more than 15 million copies.
But the ape-man won instant notoriety on screen, with the first of 42 Tarzan films, not including TV series, shot in 1916 during the silent-movie era, with Elmo Lincoln in the title role.
The jungle hero was played in subsequent years by sportsmen such as champion shot-putter Herman Brix or decathlon champ Glenn Morris. But it was star swimmer Weissmuller who turned the vine-swinging king of the air into the lord of the water, and claimed responsibility for inventing his iconic cry.
Tarzan's most-remembered Jane was Maureen O'Sullivan (Mia Farrow's mother), who appeared in 68 movies between 1930 and 1988 but was specially noted for half a dozen between 1932 and 1942 in which she played alongside Weissmuller in a scanty costume that caused a scandal.
Growing up as modern Chicago took shape, and writing as the depression years undermined the United States, Rice Burroughs sketched a hero who epitomised a loss of trust in Western consumer society and the possibility of returning to nature.
"Tarzan thought about how fragile the frontier between the primitive and the civilised is," wrote Rice Burroughs.
"Tarzan differs from other super-heroes because his resources are in himself," said curator Boulay. "He grew up in nature, the others such as Batman or others took their super powers from other galaxies."
Tarzan's Africa was a hotch-potch, however, peopled with ancient crusaders, female Amazon warriors, Asian tigers, and the like.
Throughout he was the perfect ecological warrior, eating what he hunted, protecting nature, fighting ivory poachers, slave traders and the trafficking of wild animals.
And in one of the last films to deal with the myth, the 1983 movie "Greystoke", the hero finally returned to the forest, saying "I am returning to my home because I now know what I am not."
The show also features original prints by Tarzan's most famous comic book illustrator Burne Hogarth as well as old photos, posters and even contemporary ads influenced by the cultural icon -- including a Guerlain men's perfume ad from last year featuring a man half-animal, half-human.
"The aim of this show is to get people thinking," said Martin. "The function of an anthropological museum nowadays is not to offer people a set portrait of a civilisation but to help visitors reflect."
Email Story
IM Story
Printable View
Blog This
Sign in to recommend this article »
0 users recommend
Related Articles: Entertainment & Lifestyle
Curtis, Chenoweth sign on for comedy "Again"Reuters - 2 hours 13 minutes ago
Docu to chronicle Swinton's Berlin Wall bike rideReuters - 2 hours 15 minutes ago
Former Nirvana bassist ends Wash. protest campaignAP - Tuesday, June 16
Clear Channel deal gives musicians Web channelsReuters - Tuesday, June 16
Tarzan, Jane, and the animals, reviewedAFP - Tuesday, June 16
Enlarge Photo
The exhibition "Tarzan" at the Quai Branly museum in Paris. Jungle saviour, noble savage, or green superhero? Tarzan's many mythical faces come under the microscope at a Paris show complete with sounds of the forest, and the hero's distinctive cry
Most Popular – Entertainment
Viewed
Men's 'stiff upper lip' may explain cancer death rate
Earth-Venus smash-up possible in 3.5 billion years: study
Obama signs note for girl who played hooky to see him
Luanda is world's most expensive expat city: survey
Paris bailiffs chase Saudi princess for unpaid bills
View Complete List »
Search:
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Top Stories
Most Popular
Copyright © 2009 Yahoo! Southeast Asia Pte Ltd. (Co. Reg. No. 199700735D). All Rights Reserved.
Privacy Policy
- Terms of Service
- Community
- Intellectual Property Rights Policy
- Help
Other News on Tuesday, 16 June 2009 Iran protester slain after huge pro-reform rally
Air France planes get new speed probes after probe
US-TECH Summary
Palestinians angered by Netanyahu peace terms
Men's 'stiff upper lip' may explain cancer death rate
Nokia and Samsung heat up smartphone contest
North Korea's May nuclear test few kilotons: U.S.
| International
|
Obama cranks up health reform hard sell
One protestor shot dead at Tehran rally: local photographer
Universal, Virgin hail 'world first' unlimited music downloads
Virgin Media, Universal to offer unlimited music
EU "disturbed" by Iraq executions, calls for freeze
Analysis: Netanyahu's overture likely too little
Indian, Pakistani leaders expected to meet on Tuesday
| International
|
Protestor 'shot dead' at mass anti-Ahmadinejad rally
Russia threatens to veto West's U.N. Georgia plan
| International
|
U.S. commander sees fewer foreign fighters in Iraq
EU disturbed by Iraq executions, calls for freeze
| International
|
U.S. and EU cautious on Netanyahu
Nokia, Samsung heat up smartphone contest
Nokia and Samsung heat up smartphone contest
| Technology
|
US Gen McChrystal takes command in Afghanistan
Calif wants to cut legal aid attorneys for poor
China-US naval incident part of a rising trend
U.S. senators ask FCC to review mobile handset deals
| Technology
|
Higher-ed pinching pushes college presses to brink
Alleged Khmer Rouge torturer cries in court
Pentagon struggling to explain bombing incident
SKorean president arrives for talks with Obama
Ill. blogger who lied about sick baby apologizes
Lawmakers want IRS to suspend tax shelter penalty
Sheriff: 4 dead in Fla. family murder-suicide
Afghan presidential candidates prepare to campaign
US called `deeply troubled' by events in Iran
Court: Anti-aging guru's ex can't discuss divorce
Hundreds riot in China over new furniture tax
Photos of girl's body allowed in Ore. prayer case
Malaysia police fire tear gas on Iran election protest
Seventh Sumatran elephant killed in Indonesia
NASA will try to launch space shuttle Wednesday
Vietnam Airlines planning to buy 18 Airbus jets
Filipino remittances up 2.2 percent in April
Moody's wants clarity on Pakistan's foreign support
Harry Potter publisher denies plagiarism claim
| Entertainment
|
French prosecutor seeks dissolution of Scientology
Idol auditions attract thousands in Mass.
French prosecutor seeks dissolution of Scientology
| Entertainment
|
Bill Engvall `nervous' about hosting CMT awards
Brad Pitt, family give $1M to Missouri hospital
Gory British prison drama wins Sydney Film Festival
| Entertainment
|
Makana shares aloha with his slack key music
McCartney and Yoko push 'meat-free Mondays'
7 killed as anti-Ahmadinejad protests turn deadly
Plane makers scramble for deals at Paris Air Show
Seven killed at Tehran rally, more protests planned
| International
|
Twitter streams break Iran news dam
Iran state TV says seven people killed near rally
Court orders Exxon to pay $507.5 mln for 1989 spill
Son of North Korea's Kim visits China as heir-media
| International
|
Sun Micro kills "Rock" high-end chip project: report
Indian, Pakistani leaders expected to meet on Tuesday
| International
|
Seven people killed near Tehran rally site: radio
YouTube testing video ad viewing options
US urges Iran to accept invite to nuclear talks
Russia hosts first BRIC summit, India-Pakistan meet
| International
|
U.S. senators ask FCC to review mobile handset deals
Tweeting Iran: Elex news in 140 characters or less
U.S. commander in Afghanistan reviews strategy: report
| International
|
U.S. and EU cautious on Netanyahu
Berlusconi eyes concrete results for G8 summit
| International
|
US commander: US to stick to Iraq withdrawal date
China to swap bullets for lethal injections
| International
|
Samsung, Nokia heat up smartphone contest
Bomb kills two police, teacher shot in Thai south
| International
|
Obama welcome's Israeli prime minister's speech
Iran's supreme leader becomes political referee
Aussie senator unsure humans cause climate change
Chinese waitress walks free after killing official
| International
|
Officials vow support for renewable energy in West
Darkness at noon: Beijing's skies turn black
US calls for release of arrested Vietnam activist
RIM aims to cross categories with BlackBerry Tour
| Technology
|
China to execute inmates by injection, not bullets
Sun Micro kills Rock high-end chip project: report
| Technology
|
Waitress on trial in stabbing of Chinese official
Adobe to charge users for Acrobat.com
| Technology
|
Sen. Coburn questions 100 stimulus projects
Opera adds media, file sharing services to browser
| Technology
|
Son of North Korea's Kim visits China as heir
Clear Channel deal gives musicians Web channels
| Technology
|
Weather forecast for the Asia-Pacific region
Indian, Pakistani leaders expected to meet on Tuesday
Detainee sheds light on CIA interrogations
Another school closed by swine flu in Hong Kong
Britain to unveil plans for digital future
| Technology
|
Ore. woman indicted in death of pregnant woman
NKorean 'heir apparent' visits China: report
SKorea condemns slaying of SKorean woman in Yemen
Co-worker arrested in Va. bus station shooting
Florida man dies in Yosemite National Park
Chief blames `knuckleheads' for Lakers disturbance
ACLU: Hospital discriminated against gay couple
Hollywood rep: private sector key in China access
Judge nixes move to charge `Bounty Hunter' star
A new role as 'risk regulator' could reshape Fed
Wash. murder charge for man accused in AZ killings
Big four emerging economies meet for first summit
Offshore holdings of NZ govt debt rose in May
Docu to chronicle Swinton's Berlin Wall bike ride
Korea Hot Stocks
Taiwan dlr firms as stocks cancel US dlr appeal
China, Nigeria state firms find oil in Niger Delta
S.Korea government bonds rise on U.S. lead
Seoul shares fall led by banks; MSCI news weighs
Nigeria urges court to dimiss S. Korea firm's oil suit
Docu to chronicle Swinton's Berlin Wall bike ride
Former Nirvana bassist ends Wash. protest campaign
David Letterman apologizes for flawed Palin joke
| Entertainment
|
Clear Channel deal gives musicians Web channels
Blame gets shared for dark side of reality TV fame
| Entertainment
|
Tarzan, Jane, and the animals, reviewed
Susan Boyle returns to tour after rest day
| Entertainment
|
David Letterman apologizes for "flawed" Palin joke
DiCaprio playing poker in new drama
| Entertainment
|
DiCaprio playing poker in new drama
Clear Channel deal gives musicians Web channels
| Entertainment
|
Architect slams Prince Charles' 'unconstitutional' intervention
Docu to chronicle Swinton's Berlin Wall bike ride
| Entertainment
|
Curtis, Chenoweth sign on for comedy Again
| Entertainment
|
Letterman apologizes for Palin daughter joke
Natalie Portman in step with Black Swan
| Entertainment
|
Letterman apologizes to audience for 'bad' joke
Docu exposes disturbing truth about U.S. food supply
| Entertainment
|
Review: `Food, Inc.' offers plenty to chew on
Opera launches new media, file sharing service
Saab to be bought by sports-car Koenigsegg
Iraq lawmakers to question oil minister over deals
Broadband gains traction despite economic crisis
Iranian blogosphere backs Mousavi as protests mount
Israel sees deal soon with Obama over settlements
| International
|
Microsoft files lawsuit over "click fraud"
Iraqis take control of Baghdad's Green Zone
| International
|
Bing search makes porn easy to filter out
Campaign underway for Afghan presidential poll
| International
|
Yahoo expands mobile presence in Asia
Italy quake survivors protest reconstruction plans
| International
|
Pakistan face tough Taliban foe in tribal belt
Adobe to charge users for Acrobat.com
World sleepwalking into disasters: U.N. aid chief
| International
|
Cyber attacks gow on SKorea military networks
Asia set to become biggest climate change driver
Georgia angry after Russia vetoes U.N. monitors
| International
|
Britain to unveil plans for digital future
Yahoo expands mobile presence in Asia
Ky. authorities investigate boy's elevator death
China acknowledges incident between sub, US ship
Ohioans ticketed for parking in own driveways
Indonesia coal mine explosion traps 30
The Nation's Weather
Police: SKorea man kills boy to hide drunk driving
Low tide: Shrimp industry hit by imports, prices
Twitter delays down time to aid Iranian protesters
| Technology
|
Teacher, 2 policemen killed in troubled Thai south
Obama's Day: Meeting with South Korean leader
Fighter plane crashes in Bangladesh, pilot safe
Iranian blogosphere backs Mousavi as protests mount
| Technology
|
Irish family's road trip ends tragically in crash
Asia set to become biggest climate change driver
Judge upholds ND's anti-corporate farming law
6 die after a mine blast in Indonesia
Microsoft files lawsuit over click fraud
| Technology
|
Italy agrees to take 3 detainees from Guantanamo
China Communist Party newspaper to expand coverage
ADB approves $3.4B loans for Asia to ease crisis
UK company debuts 2-seat hydrogen car prototype
Private equity firms eye Taiwan's services sector
Asia's economic growth bolsters climate change: ADB
Pakistan stocks fall further, budget fails to impress
HK officials face pay cut, jobless rate at 5.3 pct
Hopes fade for Indonesian miners after explosion
HK officials face pay cut, jobless at 3-year high
6 die, at least 24 trapped in Indonesia mine blast
Q&A-Is South Korea's economy ready for higher rates?
Indonesia Bukit Asam says 30 staff trapped in landslide
Japan's SMFG plans to raise $9.6 bln in share sale
Bank of Japan holds rate
Fashion world honors new stars Rodarte _ and Obama
`Transformers' toys live up to big-screen robots
Sharon Gless is a scene-stealer on 'Burn Notice'
Albert Hall loading bay gets pop music makeover
| Entertainment
|
Another move for 'Chess' _ on public television
Taylor Swift's CMT opener sounds simply dreamy
Docu exposes disturbing truth about U.S. food supply
Natalie Portman in step with "Black Swan"
Curtis, Chenoweth sign on for comedy "Again"
Greece at new risk of being pushed off euro
Bodies of missing Tenn. mom, Jo Ann Bain, and daughter found
Female Breasts Are Bigger Than Ever
AMD Trinity Accelerated Processing Units Now in Volume Production
The Avengers (2012 film), made the second biggest opening- and single-day gross of all-time
AMD to Start Production of piledriver
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs
Islamists Protest Lady Gaga's Concert in Indonesia
Japan Successfully Broadcasts an 8K Signal Over the Air
ECB boosts loans to 1 trillion Euro to stop credit crunch
Egypt : Mohammed Morsi won with 52 percent
What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up
AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform
Fed Should not Ignore Emerging Market Crisis
Fed casts shadow over India, emerging markets
Why are Chinese tourists so rude? A few insights