Blockbusters and the Ancient World: Allegory and Warfare in Contemporary Hollywood

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Chris Davies (University of Exeter, UK)

Blockbusters and the Ancient World

Allegory and Warfare in Contemporary Hollywood

Chris Davies (University of Exeter, UK)

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English

Bloomsbury Academic
21 March 2019

Film theory & criticism; Film & movie: styles & genres; Iraq War; Terrorist attack; Cinema industry

Following the release of Ridley Scott's Gladiator in 2000 the ancient world epic has experienced a revival in studio and audience interest. Building on existing scholarship on the Cold War epics of the 1950s-60s, including Ben-Hur, Spartacus and The Robe, this original study explores the current cycle of ancient world epics in cinema within the social and political climate created by September 11th 2001. Examining films produced against the backdrop of the War on Terror and subsequent invasions of Iraq and Afghanistan, this book assesses the relationship between mainstream cinema and American society through depictions of the ancient world, conflict and faith. Davies explores how these films evoke depictions of the Second World War, the Vietnam War and the Western in portraying warfare in the ancient world, as well as discussing the influence of genre hybridisation, narration and reception theory. He questions the extent to which ancient world epics utilise allegory, analogy and allusion to parallel past and present in an industry often dictated by market forces. Featuring analysis of Alexander, Troy, 300, Centurion, The Eagle, The Passion of the Christ and more, this book offers new insight on the continued evolution of the ancient world epic in cinema.

By: Chris Davies (University of Exeter UK)
Imprint: Bloomsbury Academic
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Dimensions: Height: 234mm, Width: 156mm,
Weight: 540g
ISBN: 9781788313117
ISBN 10: 1788313119
Pages: 256
Publication Date: 21 March 2019
Audience: College/higher education , Professional and scholarly , Primary , Undergraduate
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Active

Introduction Chapter One: War & Empire: The Ancient World Epic, Combat Films and Genre Chapter Two: The Time of Achilles: Memory and Warfare in Troy (2004) Chapter Three: The Dreamers Exhaust Us: Storytellers and the Combat Film in Alexander (2004) Chapter Four: Is This Sparta?: War, Freedom and America in 300 (2007) Chapter Five: Body Politics: Gods, Men and Monsters in 300 (2007) and Greek Mythological Epics Chapter Six: Land of the Free, Rome of the Brave: Faith, Torture and Imperialism in King Arthur (2004) Chapter Seven: American Eagle: Imperialism in The Last Legion (2007), Centurion (2010) and The Eagle (2011) Chapter Eight: Rome on the Range: The Western in King Arthur (2004), Centurion (2010) and The Eagle (2011) Chapter Nine: Religious Violence: Christianity and Extremism in Agora (2009) Chapter Ten: Passion Project: Faith, Horror, and Propaganda in The Passion of the Christ (2004) Chapter Eleven: The New Wave: Tales of Hercules and The Return of the Biblical Epic Acknowledgements Bibliography Filmography Endnotes

Chris Davies is an Honorary Research Fellow at the University of Exeter, UK, from where he graduated with a Ph.D in Film Studies. His research interests include history on film, especially the ancient world, combat films and westerns, as well as comic book, sci-fi and fantasy films.

Reviews for Blockbusters and the Ancient World: Allegory and Warfare in Contemporary Hollywood

Including several topical black-and-white photographs, extensive chapter end notes, and a comprehensive bibliography of literary and dramaturgical sources, this is a useful resource for scholars of literature and history as well as those interested in film. * CHOICE * The book undoubtedly adds a set of valuable contributions to the scholarly literature on each piece; its real strength lies, however, in the way in which the author draws comparisons between these case studies while simultaneously situating the movies within their wider historical, political, and cultural contexts. Davies' introduction alone ... provides an excellent starting point for those new to thinking about ancient world films, and a comprehensive filmography of works referenced is a useful research tool. * Greece & Rome *