![]() For example, the character Rodin in Bayonetta runs a bar named “The Gates of Hell.” In 1917 French artist Auguste Rodin completed a sculpture, The Gates of Hell depicting scenes and characters from The Divine Comedy. ![]() The depth of these parallels is not exclusive to factors in Dante’s masterpiece, as there are also references to other art and literature inspired by Dante’s legacy. This is a significant factor relating to The Divine Comedy as these realms also form the areas explored by Dante in his epic poem. However, there are stages within the game where Bayonetta finds herself in Paradiso and the human realm. In the game, Bayonetta travels throughout these realms, primarily in the realm of Purgitorio, the area in which magical and divine entities may conduct their business. The world of Bayonetta is set in the Trinity of Realities, three realms that co-exist forming the universe: Inferno, Paradiso and the Chaos realm-realm of humans-and connected by Purgitorio-the intersection of the trinity. Dante’s work was also revolutionary in its innovative contemplations on religion, art and sciences, creating a literary collage of such depth that it would continue to inspire hundreds of years after its first publication.įigure 2: Domenico di Michelino’s fresco of Dante and his Divine Comedy, surrounded by depictions of scenes in the textīayonetta explores the themes of The Divine Comedy in a variety of ways, using them as an obvious backdrop, along with subtle homages and references scattered throughout the game. The Divine Comedy, written by Dante Alighieri during the 1300s, was a revolutionary piece of literature for its time, in that it was one of the first texts that formalised the vernacular Italian language by omitting the use of Latin, the academic language of the time. This description laid the foundations for what was to become the hack and slash fantasy heroine that would come to be known as Bayonetta. The development of Bayonetta began with Kamiya requesting a character design that included three traits: a female lead, a modern witch, and four guns. The concept of Bayonetta was originally developed by video game designer Hideki Kamiya, known previously for his work including The Devil May Cry and the Resident Evil game series. The Vestibule: The Concept of Bayonettaįigure 1: Bayonetta Concept Art Bayonetta Concepts The main sources are Dante’s Divine Comedy, the projections of John Dee and his mystical practices as well as the medieval history of witches. The video-game franchise Bayonetta draws inspiration from distinct sources creating the foundation for the universe and some plot points to enhance the narrative. The film maintained the concepts of the original narrative and retained key characters but re-imaged them to fit the science fiction genre (Clements and Musker). For example, the novel Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson published in 1883 was adapted into the 2002 Walt Disney animated film Treasure Planet. Media formats, such as film adaptations and even books, take the core characters or narrative from the original and re-work them into a different context. ![]() The forms that these appropriations take vary widely. These writers created stories and characters that have developed a level of acclaim and resonated with many individuals, resulting in countless homages over the years. Carmel Cedro cites Northrop Frye in the example of William Shakespeare and Charles Dickens. Ideas and themes, art and literature are frequently borrowed and recast. Her character shows how history and literature may be used, re-used, and evolve into new formats, and how modern games travel abroad through time and space.ĭrawing creative inspiration from other works is nothing new. Bayonetta is modern in the sense that she is a woman of the world. In particular, references to Dante’s Divine Comedy, the works of Dr John Dee, and European traditions of witchcraft are examined. This article discusses the global, historical and literary references that are present in the video game franchise Bayonetta.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |