T. E. Lawrence References...

@Zedwardson I noticed David's distinct physical resemblance to Lawrence/O'Toole and a few of the other things you mention did ring - but, for me, they rang like a distant bell, in a far off land.......I simply thought I was going mad, gave my head a shake, and resigned myself to it. Apparently, I was wrong. When I saw your elaboration of, "Vickers", my brain at last gave a sigh - and that sealed it: of [i]course.[/i]... This is quite beautifully done. There may be other parallels to find, but I consider it established. Now, I'm much more curious to know how you interpret Lawrence's role - and whether you consider there is foreshadowing in that, as far as David is concerned?..

[img]http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7b/Vickers_machine_gun_crew_with_gas_masks.jpg[/img] WWI was a nasty bit of war. This is a vickers machine gun.

Well, if it "Echos" Lawrence of Arabia.... You would have Humans, Jockeys, and new species. Jockeys and species are fighting, and david helps one of them defeat the other, and Vickers/humans want to keep the wonderful genetic items david has created, while David wants them to be independent. (For the non-history buffs, T.E. Lawrence helped the Arabs defeat the Turks, and he pressed that they be granted full independence, but Europe divided the Arabs up into colonies. )

I thought that what I've already proposed as far as plot and references was too far out to include my Lawerence nods, ...actually to David Lean...I see more tributes to other films and directors as well. Well done

@Zedwardson Yes - although, myself, I think that would be reading too much into Vickers, directly. A tool is just a tool, after all - he who wields it calls the shot... Just a note, as far as those pictograms and images Hollaway briefs the team on? At least one of the Dynastys is Sumer. Another is Mesoptamia. It may be nothing - and I only recall it as those two things did enter my head and it seemed slightly pleonastic, at the time. Now, however, I can't help wonder: Sumer....Mesopotamia....Syria....Iraq.....: Lawrence.

I think it's already been mentioned, but the background plates for LV-223 were shot in Wadi Rum, Jordan. This was part of Lawrence's stomping grounds during the war. Also, it has been mentioned that David's role on the ship is one of a menial custodian. Lawrence began as a minor clerk in the British HQ, until giving a very prominent role inleading the Arab Revolt against the Turks. Perhaps this means, David is going to break out a have a large role in whatever happens.

@Outlander If it's been mentioned, I haven't seen it: and, if fact, that is, [i]genuinely,[/i] fascinating.

Zedwardson, After reading your post, I almost passed out. I love and study history as much as I do Science Fiction. I read the interview in which Ridley, Charlize, and Michael F. all commented on the parallels to 'Lawrence of Arabia,' but figured the topic would be lost in the midst of all the other threads. The similarities are definitely there for a purpose. I have no idea what the exact purpose is, yet. And I do think the questions won't be answered until after the movie is released.

Also, as a note - T.E.L. was one of the first diggers at Eridu, which was one of the clues in the promotion materials. (he was sent by the British to do diggings at sites, and also make detailed maps of water sources and so on for future British uses. )

@Zedwardson I wonder, now, if it is it possible for a brain to actually tingle and - if a person [i]does[/i] find their brain is actually tingling - whether that is to be considered an event of a healthy kind?..

Glad you all like the post, and @clad, brain tingle is a good thing, i think. Of course, David = David Lean, the director of Lawrence of Arabia. but I think that more of the A,B,C,D naming convention.

Yes, Zed....also Dave Bowman representing Mankind's ultimate evolutionary destination. David from A. I.- another transformational character David8....all that we now know suggests to me he is on a path as well....as the main theme of this film.

Great finds - vow! Another fact about TE Lawrence, not mentioned very often. In personal life, TE Lawrence was very gay indeed (as witnessed and described by, among others, Gore Vidal and Robert Graves). Are we perhaps looking at the first gay android?

Anyone noticed the similarities between the wwi biowar masks and the space jockey suit-mask;

[img]http://kete.digitalnz.org/image_files/0000/0000/0066/A3136-2_large.jpg[/img] I can see it. And yes Wirm, he was gay and enjoyed being whipped as well. He was a kinky dude.

Biomechanic, What? Are you talking about Lawrence's encounter with the Turkish Govenor? What do you mean sadistic? Thanks!

@Biomechanic, Ahhh.. I forgot about that scene... it was on Saturday, and I watched part of it. Great flick. So ya, he does become sadistic... lol

I believe RS also stated David gradually develops a wicked sense of humor, which then somehow goes haywire - would fit neatly with TE Lawrence becoming sadistic, as seen in the David Lean-directed movie. @Zedwardson Wait a minute... David Lean? Well, you can supplement your great finds above with why the android gets the name David, I guess. Named after the director of L of Arabia @SpaceCobra I don't remember the Turkish Governor bit from the movie, but in real life, Lawrence got caught and raped by some Turkish authority figures. On the sunnier side, Robert Graves chronicles some of Lawrence's gay romps at Oxford, and also emphasizes that Lawrence at Oxford was very much a prankster always inventing practical jokes (almost MIT-style).

What if it turns out that there are seven domes on LV-223. Seven pillars of wisdom? TE named gave motorcycles names. Could only find one: Boanerges (Son of Thunder). Too far out i guss, but fun anyway. Mies.

I hope this thread revives now that the movie is out. The android David is definitely watching Lawrence of Arabia while the crew is in stasis and immediately after watching the movie he is seen grooming his hair to look just like him.

a couple things that might have been overlooked in the myriad references to T.E. Lawrence were: Yes, T.E. LAWRENCE (i.e. Lawrence of Arabia) enrolled as T.E. [b]Shaw[/b] into the RAF after WW1, but did you know [b]Elizabeth[/b] was the name of Lawrence's gran. [i]During the (first world) war, Lawrence fought with Arab irregular troops under the command of Emir Faisal, a son of Sherif Hussein of Mecca, in [b]extended guerrilla operations[/b] against the armed forces of the Ottoman Empire.[/i] and this: from the same article: [i]Contrary to later myth, it was neither Lawrence nor the Army that conceived a campaign of internal insurgency against the Ottoman Empire in the Middle East, but rather the Arab Bureau of Britain's Foreign Office. The Arab Bureau had long felt it likely that a campaign instigated and financed by outside powers, supporting the breakaway-minded tribes and regional challengers to the Turkish government's centralised rule of their empire, would pay great dividends in the diversion of effort that would be needed to meet such a challenge. The Arab Bureau had recognised the strategic value of what is today called [b]the "asymmetry" of such conflict[/b]. The Ottoman authorities would have to devote from a hundred to a thousand times the resources to contain the threat of such an internal rebellion compared to the Allies' cost of sponsoring it.[/i] Sound like (the WW1 version of) [b]ARAB SPRING[/b] (or Libya (or Syria)) to you guys, too? My theory here is that THE BLACK GOO is something akin to a valuable resource; e.g. Dune's [i]OIL[/i] or SPICE. Some asset that allows real power to those who 'possess' it. What we're seeing in Prometheus then, by logical excavation of this trail of thought, is that the ship is on a covert spy mission that nobody in either (the gigantic) Weyland or Yutani conglomerates knows about, yet. A COVERT (and dirty) WAR FOR THE BLACK GOO?

"..Seems that there is a lot of T. E. Lawrence references so far. I wanted to make a thread that listed out all that people could find. So far I have seen.. T. E. Lawrence enlisted in the RAF under the name "Shaw" After WWI. "big things have small beginnings" Direct quote from the movie. Ted Talk - Direct reference to T. E. Lawrence David Viral - he painting a T.E. Lawrence figurine Fifield - publisher of some of T.E. Lawrence literary works and also his fave author who he had it republished under Fifield publishing arm. David - David looks are almost a direct copy of the movie's T.E. Lawrence. Vickers - Vickers was a major WWI Machine gun supplied to the Arabs by T.E. Lawrence. T.E. Lawrence was very involved in archeological digs Anything else?

(Note . please ignore or delete muy previous post as I could not figure out how to properly edit it) "..Seems that there is a lot of T. E. Lawrence references so far. I wanted to make a thread that listed out all that people could find. So far I have seen.. T. E. Lawrence enlisted in the RAF under the name "Shaw" After WWI. "big things have small beginnings" Direct quote from the movie. Ted Talk - Direct reference to T. E. Lawrence David Viral - he painting a T.E. Lawrence figurine Fifield - publisher of some of T.E. Lawrence literary works and also his fave author who he had it republished under Fifield publishing arm. David - David looks are almost a direct copy of the movie's T.E. Lawrence. Vickers - Vickers was a major WWI Machine gun supplied to the Arabs by T.E. Lawrence. T.E. Lawrence was very involved in archeological digs Anything else?.." I recently watched about 1/2 of LoA and was struck by many similarities used in our movie. One that I had not seem mentioned was a charactor named 'Daud'. In LoA Closed Captiooned it showed the spelling of this name and it seemed the procunciation was close to David. A quick wiki check showed that Daud was a root name for David our robotic name. I have to admit that I was sort of looking for connections to our movie and spotted a few: *The landscape reminded me of the moon *The rounded shapes of the Prometheus pytamids were duplicates of several mountains. were almost a copy of the Pyraminds,,

I come back here and my old thread is still being discussed :)

@Zedwardson After I wached the movie I did a search and up popped your thread..and I was glad you started one. You pointed out several items trhat I had missed. After seeing Ptometheus the viewing of LoA was tainted by me comparing the two movies especially the David charactor. Your thread is a good thread that needed attention.