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 107-113 The Ancient World on Film

Availability

2nd and 3rd year

Credit Points

12.5

Coordinator

Dr Parshia Lee-Stecum

Prerequisites

Usually 12.5 points of first year Classics and Archaeology see Prerequisites

Semester

1 (view timetable)

Contact

A 1.5 hour lecture and a 1-hour tutorial per week

Subject Description

The ancient world - Egyptian, Hebrew, Greek and Roman - has proved a popular setting for films, from the inception of cinema to the present day. Focusing on the cinema of two nations - Italy and the U.S. - and on two golden ages of 'ancient film' - 1910-25 and 1950-65 - this subject examines the way the image of antiquity is exploited and manipulated on film. Issues which come to the fore include the role of the body and the gaze, the construction of the 'Epic' genre, the influence of other visual arts (such as nineteenth century historical painting) on early filmic representations of the ancient world, the projection and contestation of ideology, conventions of gender role, Christianity and Imperialism, the changing meanings of antiquity in the twentieth century, and the critical reception of these films.

Assessment

A research essay of 2500 words, and a reflective essay of 1500 words, and tutorial participation.

Prescribed Texts

A subject reader will be available.



Search : Index : Faculty of Arts : Classics and Archaeology
Prev 107-112 The Byzantine World 330-1204: Aspects of its History, Literature, Thought and Art
Next 107-114 Special Study Research Project
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