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

Description

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 WWII, 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. Title Page Copyright Page Contents List of Illustrations Acknowledgements Introduction A History of Meaning Defining the Epic Notes Chapter 1: War and Empire: The Ancient World Epic, Combat Films and Genre An American Empire? The Epic and Empire The Combat Film Notes Chapter 2: The Time of Achilles: Memory and Warfare in Troy (2004) Adaptation The Combat Film The Storyteller Notes Chapter 3: The Dreamers Exhaust Us: Storytellers and the Combat Film in Alexander (2004) Prometheus Unbound Alexander as Allegory The Combat Film The Unreliable Narrator Notes Chapter 4: Is This Sparta?: War, Freedom and America in 300 (2007) The Spartan Mirage Analogy, Allegory or Propaganda The Combat Film Notes Chapter 5: Body Politics: Gods, Men and Monsters in 300 (2007) and Greek Mythological Epics Men and Monsters The Unreliable Narrator Gods and Monsters Notes Chapter 6: Land of the Free, Rome of the Brave: Faith, Torture and Imperialism in King Arthur (2004) Roman Britain King Arthur Torture Notes Chapter 7: American Eagle: Imperialism in The Last Legion (2007), Centurion (2010) and The Eagle (2011) Centurion The Eagle The Last Legion Notes Chapter 8: Rome on the Range: The Western in King Arthur (2004), Centurion (2010) and The Eagle (2011) The Western King Arthur Centurion The Eagle Notes Chapter 9: Religious Violence: Christianity and Extremism in Agora (2009) Religious Conflict Agora Notes Chapter 10: Passion Project: Faith, Horror and Propaganda in The Passion of the Christ (2004) Directing Traffic ‘Torture Porn’ Supernatural The Passion as Propaganda Notes Chapter 11: The New Wave: Tales of Hercules and the Return of the Biblical Epic The Legend of Hercules 300: Rise of an Empire Pompeii Hercules Noah Exodus: Gods and Kings Risen Ben-Hur Notes Conclusion Notes Bibliography Filmography Works Referenced Index