"Everyone loves a conspiracy." And that is exactly what The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown is all about. The plot is along the lines of a National Treasure movie: Deciphering codes, uncovering priceless clues, staying one step ahead of the enemy and solving one of history's greatest mysteries. Centered around the Holy Grail, Robert Langdon, a professor of symbology, along with Sophie Neveu, an agent in the department of cryptology, start their escapade at the Louvre in Paris, France. (For those of you who don't know, the Louvre is a famous art museum that houses the Mona Lisa and other famous works.) Suspected of murder and running from the government, Robert and Sophie find enemies at every turn, all the while working to uncover the greatest artifact of all time: the Holy Grail. Full of plot twists, deceit, murder, and splashes of humor, The Da Vinci Code was an excellent book.
There is a quote is this book that I think provides us with a very interesting perspective of history: "History is always written by the winners. When two cultures clash, the loser is obliterated, and the winner writes the history books- books which glorify their own cause and disparage the conquered foe. As Napoleon once said, 'What is history, but a fable agreed upon?'" There are several real, historical examples of when propaganda was used in just this manner. One that comes to mind is Hitler and the Nazi's, spreading propaganda about the Jews while controlling the media. Hitler was controlling Germany; therefore, he got to control it's account of history. Another example is Apartheid in South Africa, where the Europeans came and took over, attempting to obliterate the African culture and replacing it with their own.
To end this blog on a happier note, I wanted to provide you with a quote that showcases one of the small rays of humor that peek through The Da Vinci Code every now and then:
" "These books can't possibly compete with centuries of established history, especially when that history is endorsed by the ultimate bestseller of all time."
Faukman's eyes went wide. "Don't tell me Harry Potter is actually about the Holy Grail."
"I was referring to the Bible."
Faukman cringed. "I knew that." "
