Tacitean Visual Narrative

Description

Combining the studies of modern film, traditional narratology, and Roman art, this interdisciplinary work explores the complex and highly visual techniques of Tacitus' Annales. The volume opens with a discussion of current research in narratology, as applied to Roman historians. Narratology is a helpful and insightful tool, but is often inadequate to deal with specifically visual aspects of ancient narrative. In order to illuminate Tacitus' techniques, and to make them speak to modern readers, this book focuses on drawing and illustrating parallels between Tacitus' historiographical methods and modern film effects. Building on these premises, Waddell examines a wide array of Tacitus' visual narrative devices. Tacitean examples are discussed in light of their narrative effect and purpose in the Annales, as well as the ways in which they are similar to contemporary Roman art and modern film techniques, including focalization, alignment, use of the ambiguous gaze, temporal suggestion and quick-cutting. Through this approach the modern scholar gains a deeper understanding of the many ways in which Tacitus' Annales act upon the reader, and how his narrative technique helps to shape, guide, and deeply layer his history. Cover page Halftitle page Series page Title page Copyright page Dedication Contents Figures Acknowledgments Introduction1 Classics and Film Roman Visuality The Romans’ Visual World Feldherr’s Visual Historiography Visual Historiography Narratology Toward an Understanding of Visual Narrative Visual Methodology Film Paradigm: The Classical Hollywood Film How Classical Hollywood Cinema Applies to Tacitus Part One Lens and Voice 1 Focalizing Empire Focalization and Visual Control The Third Man Pompeian Ariadne Tiberius Asinius Gallus Agrippina at the Bridge Choosing a Successor Sejanus Plotting against Drusus Destroying the House of Germanicus Convincing Tiberius Agrippina the Younger The Murder of Agrippina: Th e Ideal Spectator and the Shot-Reverse-Shot Strangers on a Train Nero’s Plan What the Rowers Saw Desertion, Murder, and Aft ermath Final Thoughts 2 Vox Caesaris, Vox Taciti: Imperial Alignment Excursus, Voice, and Alignment Alignment Pompeian Narcissus Murder, My Sweet Tiberius: The (Mis)Rule of Law Tiberius and Justice Lex Maiestatis Rule of Law State of the Empire Tiberian Rome Claudius: The Professor- in-Chief The Oblivious Scholar Altering the Alphabet Expanding the Pomerium Final Thoughts 3 The Directed Gaze and the Construction of Meaning Imperial Close-ups and Touch of Evil Tiberius The Trial of Calpurnius Piso The Persecution of Nero Caesar Nero The Maltese Falcon and the Threatening Gaze The Nobiles Nero Agrippina Octavia Damnatio Memoriae, Rebecca, and Watching the Invisible Invisible Cursus Inverted Thanksgivings Invisible Ancestors Final Thoughts Part Two Transition and Connection 4 Shadows over Rome: Temporal Suggestion Double Indemnity and Roman Narrative Sarcophagi Foreshadowing Tiberius What’s in a Name Nero: Tiberius by Another Name Like Mother Like Daughter: The Two Agrippinas24 Prophecy and Prediction Gaius Caligula: A Monster Foretold Claudius: The Forgotten Emperor Impending Doom Germanicus Drusus the Younger Sejanus Backshadowing in the Annales Just Like Pa Teutoburg Forest64 Caecina’s Nightmare Behold Varus Again! Livia and Agrippina First of the New Principate Final Thoughts 5 Eloquent Collisions: The Quick-Cut1 The Narrative Quick-Cut and Strangers on a Train Tiberius and Germanicus Empty Arches Collision Quick-Cut and The Godfather Triumph and Trial Marriage and Flames Attractive Quick-Cut and Lawrence of Arabia A Dead Tree Grows in Rome Final Thoughts Notes Works Cited Index Locorum General Index