The Owl's Legacy
Miniseries
A 13-part documentary series by Chris Marker examining how ancient Greek ideas continue to shape modern Western thought. Each episode centers on a single Greek word—such as “democracy,” “philosophy,” or “mythology”—through conversations filmed in cities around the world. Combining symposium-style discussions with archival footage and visual motifs of the owl, Marker creates an expansive reflection on the enduring legacy of Greece.
Where to Watch The Owl's Legacy • Miniseries
13 Episodes
- Democracy, or the City of DreamsE3
Democracy, or the City of DreamsThe City of Dreams examines what was meant by Democracy in ancient Greek cities such as Athens, what were it's limitations, and how it relates to what we mean by the word today. Some, such as Elia Kazan, do not think it amounted to much. - Nostalgia, or the Impossible ReturnE4
Nostalgia, or the Impossible ReturnSpinning off from the stories of the Odyssey and of updated migration epics such as that of Elia Kazan 's family, Nostalgia questions to what extent we can actually put ourselves back in ancient times we do not fully understand. - Logomachy, or the Root of WordsE7
Logomachy, or the Root of WordsAll the meanings of "logos" originated from a small territory between Ephesus and Patmos. According to Aristotle the human animal fights with a specific weapon: speech... Logos' destiny would it be the "logomachy"? The fight over words. - Mythology, or the Truth of LiesE10
Mythology, or the Truth of LiesWhat were the stories Greece shared that were a kind of religion, how do the stories relate to ones in Japan,and was violence involved or did polytheism prevent the more extensive violence accompanying, several speakers argue, monotheism?
