5 ms·

I'm honestly more concerned about reducing >800 years of mythology to a filmed image of a photogenic dude with cheekbones and silly costumes than about question

I'm honestly more concerned about reducing >800 years of mythology to a filmed image of a photogenic dude with cheekbones and silly costumes than about questionable copyright claims. Although the claims are an outrage too.

krapp 5y ago
>I'm honestly more concerned about reducing >800 years of mythology to a filmed image of a photogenic dude with cheekbones and silly costumes than about questionable copyright claims. Why? Most people will never have even heard of, much less care, about Loki or Norse mythology in any context until Marvel and Disney came along. Now far more people are aware of the mythological version through the popular version than ever. Also, no one is attempting to replace the mythological Loki with the Marvel version, not even Disney is trying to burn copies of the Eddas or break carvings of Loki Taliban style. That's not even the only version of Loki that appears in modern pop culture. Also, don't talk about cheekbones or silly costumes when this[0] is your template. [0]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Processed_SAM_loki.jpg https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Processed_SAM_loki.jpg
- Tenoke 5y ago
  >Most people will never have even heard of, much less care, about Loki or Norse mythology I doubt that's the case. Thor for example at least has been pretty popular from before, maybe on the level of Zeus, I'm guessing Loki was at least half as popular of a mythological character. Even separately, I must've read at least 10 fantasy works with a trickster god named Loki.
  - krapp 5y ago
    Bear in mind that Marvel started their Asgardian mythology in the 1960s. This didn't all just start with the MCU.
    - ghaff 5y ago
      Short-lived, but there was at least one other 1960s vintage cartoon Asgardian series as well. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0156221/ https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0156221/ From my perspective, Norse mythology was maybe not quite as generally known as the Greek/Roman pantheon (outside of northern Europe anyway). But it was certainly not obscure--at least as far as the Odin, Thor, Loki basics.
    - ghaff 5y ago
      Not sure why the downvotes. Thor appeared in various Marvel comic book properties starting in the early 1960s. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thor_(Marvel_Comics) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thor_(Marvel_Comics) I'm sure this contributed to public knowledge of Thor at least among a certain demographic.
      - Tenoke 5y ago
        Likely because while technically correct, it's probably a very small fraction compared to how many have heard of Loki through other means.
        ghaff 5y ago
        You might be surprised. I sort of went through a mythology phase so I was probably familiar with the Norse pantheon from other sources. But I also certainly remember watching both that 1960s cartoon (though only remember the theme song) and reading the comics in (mostly) the 60s. I'd be willing to bet that the majority of Americans who can give a vaguely correct answer to Who is Loki? (or Who is Thor?) know that answer because of Marvel at some point in their lives.
  - sovande 5y ago
    >Thor for example at least has been pretty popular from before That’s safe to say. Thursday is literally Thor’s day
- hugi 5y ago
  As an Icelander, we are very aware of our heritage and mythology and I'd really prefer that it not be copyrighted by greedy American corporations.
  - dragonwriter 5y ago
    Fortunately for you, copyright doesn't work in a way which would allow that, so you are safe.
- runarberg 5y ago
  As a fan of the stories from Norse Mythology, I’d argue that the MCU has done a great disservice. Thor for example is nothing like the mythology figure. In Norse Mythology Þór is not a good person, his violence is actually blamed for the fall of Ásgarðr. His stories most often revolve around his overdrinking and the troubles he gets into. I can’t remember a story where he actually does a good deed. Previously I was able to tell people these stories and they would enjoy them for what they are. Now most people giggle at them because they can only think of the Marvel characters.
  - ghaff 5y ago
    For the most part, the majority of the pagan gods are not exactly nice people in the stories. Plenty of rape and killing relatives to go around. Not that the Old Testament Yahweh is exactly a shining role model either.
    - runarberg 5y ago
      I think Baldr is supposed to serve as the role model in these stories (and is arguably inspired by Jesus). And that is sort of why Loki is such a villain, since he conspired to have Baldr killed.
      - foozblayd 5y ago
        Loki was more a trickster than an outright villain. Most of his stories are about him cleaning up the Æsirs' messes and getting zero respect for it.
    - UnpossibleJim 5y ago
      Most of the old stories/religions have been cleansed for the modern palette. For better or worse, I suppose it's bound to happen, religions have to evolve or suffer the fate of extinction. A little ironic =)
      - ghaff 5y ago
        Pre-MCU at least, Loki in particular had come to be seen as god of merely mischief/trickery--I assume in part from various comic/cartoon treatments. Heinlein spends some time on this "rehabilitation" in Job: A Comedy of Justice.
- TomSwirly 5y ago
  > Why? Most people will never have even heard of, much less care, about Loki or Norse mythology in any context until Marvel :-o For one datapoint, when I grew up in England, you'd learn about the Greek Myths and the Norse Myths in school. I was an adult before I ever heard of the Marvel comics.

krapp 5y ago

>I'm honestly more concerned about reducing >800 years of mythology to a filmed image of a photogenic dude with cheekbones and silly costumes than about questionable copyright claims. Why? Most people will never have even heard of, much less care, about Loki or Norse mythology in any context until Marvel and Disney came along. Now far more people are aware of the mythological version through the popular version than ever. Also, no one is attempting to replace the mythological Loki with the Marvel version, not even Disney is trying to burn copies of the Eddas or break carvings of Loki Taliban style. That's not even the only version of Loki that appears in modern pop culture. Also, don't talk about cheekbones or silly costumes when this[0] is your template. [0]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Processed_SAM_loki.jpg https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Processed_SAM_loki.jpg

Tenoke 5y ago
>Most people will never have even heard of, much less care, about Loki or Norse mythology I doubt that's the case. Thor for example at least has been pretty popular from before, maybe on the level of Zeus, I'm guessing Loki was at least half as popular of a mythological character. Even separately, I must've read at least 10 fantasy works with a trickster god named Loki.
- krapp 5y ago
  Bear in mind that Marvel started their Asgardian mythology in the 1960s. This didn't all just start with the MCU.
  - ghaff 5y ago
    Short-lived, but there was at least one other 1960s vintage cartoon Asgardian series as well. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0156221/ https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0156221/ From my perspective, Norse mythology was maybe not quite as generally known as the Greek/Roman pantheon (outside of northern Europe anyway). But it was certainly not obscure--at least as far as the Odin, Thor, Loki basics.
  - ghaff 5y ago
    Not sure why the downvotes. Thor appeared in various Marvel comic book properties starting in the early 1960s. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thor_(Marvel_Comics) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thor_(Marvel_Comics) I'm sure this contributed to public knowledge of Thor at least among a certain demographic.
    - Tenoke 5y ago
      Likely because while technically correct, it's probably a very small fraction compared to how many have heard of Loki through other means.
      - ghaff 5y ago
        You might be surprised. I sort of went through a mythology phase so I was probably familiar with the Norse pantheon from other sources. But I also certainly remember watching both that 1960s cartoon (though only remember the theme song) and reading the comics in (mostly) the 60s. I'd be willing to bet that the majority of Americans who can give a vaguely correct answer to Who is Loki? (or Who is Thor?) know that answer because of Marvel at some point in their lives.
- sovande 5y ago
  >Thor for example at least has been pretty popular from before That’s safe to say. Thursday is literally Thor’s day
hugi 5y ago
As an Icelander, we are very aware of our heritage and mythology and I'd really prefer that it not be copyrighted by greedy American corporations.
- dragonwriter 5y ago
  Fortunately for you, copyright doesn't work in a way which would allow that, so you are safe.
runarberg 5y ago
As a fan of the stories from Norse Mythology, I’d argue that the MCU has done a great disservice. Thor for example is nothing like the mythology figure. In Norse Mythology Þór is not a good person, his violence is actually blamed for the fall of Ásgarðr. His stories most often revolve around his overdrinking and the troubles he gets into. I can’t remember a story where he actually does a good deed. Previously I was able to tell people these stories and they would enjoy them for what they are. Now most people giggle at them because they can only think of the Marvel characters.
- ghaff 5y ago
  For the most part, the majority of the pagan gods are not exactly nice people in the stories. Plenty of rape and killing relatives to go around. Not that the Old Testament Yahweh is exactly a shining role model either.
  - runarberg 5y ago
    I think Baldr is supposed to serve as the role model in these stories (and is arguably inspired by Jesus). And that is sort of why Loki is such a villain, since he conspired to have Baldr killed.
    - foozblayd 5y ago
      Loki was more a trickster than an outright villain. Most of his stories are about him cleaning up the Æsirs' messes and getting zero respect for it.
  - UnpossibleJim 5y ago
    Most of the old stories/religions have been cleansed for the modern palette. For better or worse, I suppose it's bound to happen, religions have to evolve or suffer the fate of extinction. A little ironic =)
    - ghaff 5y ago
      Pre-MCU at least, Loki in particular had come to be seen as god of merely mischief/trickery--I assume in part from various comic/cartoon treatments. Heinlein spends some time on this "rehabilitation" in Job: A Comedy of Justice.
TomSwirly 5y ago
> Why? Most people will never have even heard of, much less care, about Loki or Norse mythology in any context until Marvel :-o For one datapoint, when I grew up in England, you'd learn about the Greek Myths and the Norse Myths in school. I was an adult before I ever heard of the Marvel comics.