Comparing Todays Media and the Chorus of Sophocles play, Antigone Ess

Comparing Today's Media and the Chorus of Sophocles' play, Antigone When you think of ancient Greece, what do you think of? Do you think of outrageous myths and impossible art? Do you think ancient Greek culture has absolutely no effect on today? What many people don't realize is that the ancient Greeks have immensely affected the world today. The chorus in Sophocles' play, Antigone greatly relates to Daniel McGinn's article, "Guilt Free TV." Antigone is a girl who wants to obey the gods and give her deceased brother a proper burial even though her uncle, Creon, King of Thebes, forbids it by law. The article and the play may seem very different but the media today is very similar to the chorus of the ancient Greek play, Antigone in many ways by informing, interpreting and making connections to today. Just as Newsweek, a form of media today informs the public about whether TV is good or bad for children, the chorus informs the audience about the play, Antigone. In the play, the chorus narrates the play and tells the audience what's happening. "These two only, brothers in blood, face to face in matchless rage, mirroring each the other's death, clashed in long combat" (Sophocles 314). The chorus gives background information such as this to better understand the plot of the play. The chorus is like a reporter on the news or a writer of this article. The chorus in Antigone interacts with the characters by asking questions just as a journalist would do in an article or interview. "But now at last our new King is coming: Creon of Thebes, Menoikeus son. In this auspicious dawn of his reign what are the new complexities that shifting Fate has woven for him? What is his counsel? Why has he summoned the old men to hear him?... ... media such as newspapers, TV, magazines, the Internet, and the radio. These are all similar to the chorus and choragos in Antigone, because they all inform the audience/public about the current events taking place. Without the media, no one would be notified about political events, world events, or even local events. Likewise, without the chorus, the audience would not be able to value the play as well. So next time you come across something from ancient Greece, don't quickly glance at it, but really take a look. Maybe you'll realize that a lot of ideas and culture that we have today were taken from the Greeks. Works Cited McGinn, Daniel. "Guilt Free TV." Newsweek November 11,2002: 52-59. Sophocles. Antigone. Trans. Dudley Fitts and Robert Fitzgerald. Prentice Hall Literature, Platinum. Eds. Eileen Thompson, et al. Englewood Cliffs: Simon and Schuster, 1991.