h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Entry: Deus Ex Machina - A1112392
Author: Gnomon - U151503

I'm going on holidays for a week, starting Saturday, so here's something for you to talk about while I'm gone. I'll answer any comments when I get back.

I thought this might be about the rock band, but apparently not.

All done in typically Gnomonishly good style - no problems here.

Actually, one small problem: You've used both 'godlike' and 'god-like' at places. You'd better decide which one.

B

You could also mention Woody Allen's surreal play 'God', parts of which are set in Ancient Greece and feature a Deus Ex Machina quite prominently (hence the title). I don't know how closely 'Mighty Aphrodite' is related to the stage play (which is very strange, jumps about in time, has actors emerging from the audience and, at one point, features a complete breakdown in reality), but from your description they sound as though there are similarities.

Spoken like a true sub-ed!

Changed to 'godlike' throughout.

I haven't seen Woody Allen's 'God'. 'Mighty Aphrodite' was a fairly normal Woody Allen, except that a Greek chorus comments on many of the scenes and Allen gets into long conversations with Cassandra.

'God' also has a Greek chorus. You can find the full text of the play by doing a Google search for 'Woody Allen God' - it's the first result returned. I would post a link here, but the page in question is probably a little naughty in reproducing the whole text, so I'd better not

Having had a quick glance through Woody Allen's 'God', I can see that it is nothing whatseover like 'Mighty Aphrodite'.

It might be worth a mention at the start in the section on Greek plays. Have you seen the play? I'd like to know that it is a good play before I mention it. Unfortunately, I can't tell from reading the script whether it is an enjoyable play or not.

Is it a good play..?

Well, I've seen one production and been in one production (at the last minute, as part of the Greek chorus, with a script!)

In theatrical terms, it's probably not a 'good play' in the way that, say, 'Romeo and Juliet' is, but...

It's a fun play, both to watch and be in. I can't imagine that the humour is to everybody's taste - it is very surreal and very self-referential ('Woody Allen' appears as a character and the director is encouraged to change the names of people and locations to specific local references).

If you're in the mood for that sort of silliness (and I usually am ), it's great fun, but I imagine some (a lot?) of people might find it annoying. I could also imagine that it would be very easy to come up with a dreadful production of it...

Well, that was a long answer to a short question. I hope it helps! If not, I'm sure the Entry won't suffer too much if you don't mention it. It was just my

I've added a footnote, so as not to disturb the flow too much.

A perfect compromise

Cheers, Gnomon!

(Oh, and great Entry, by the way )

Um, Gnonom, one has to argue with using Blake's 7 as an example of the device. Half the time the crew on the planet end up in worse peril becasue the teleporter's broken, the crewman manning it is unconscious/drunk/flown off somewhere.

Let me have a think about a better example....

So the Avon in your name isn't a tribute to the Avon Lady, then?

Err, no

Seriously though, I'm sure there are better examples somewhere...

Good work. Thanks for the erudtion.

T

Now if you can just help me out with my speeling.

Do any of the John Grishams end in any way other than the Witness Protection Programme?

Nicely done! It's about time somebody tried to clear up the meaning of deus es machina. If I ever mention it when faced with a movie or book containing one, those around me sort of stare while drooling over the fact that a) I just said something in a language they don't understand and b)They have no inkling about anything about ancient Greek plays. Everything here seems to be cleared up, how's your speeling coming along?

Intersturber

If it comes from Greek plays, why it it in Latin?

Because life is out to confuse you and only you.