Representations of Antiquity in Film: From Griffith to Grindhouse

Movies have the potential to help us think about antiquity and their relationship to more traditional academic historical work. McGeough's book explores how contemporary issues are drawn out through the cinematic presentations of the past and how modern values are naturalized through their presentation in ancient settings. It discusses films from the silent film era to the present, including comedies, action films, art house fare, exploitation flicks, and historical epics.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 392 pages
Publication date: 15 June 2022
Publisher: Equinox Publishing Ltd

Representations of Antiquity in Film offers an insightful introduction to the portrayal of the ancient world in film, particularly in Hollywood cinema. Author McGeough delves into the potential of movies to facilitate our understanding of antiquity and its relationship to traditional academic historical work. The book demonstrates how contemporary issues are explored through the cinematic representations of the past, while also naturalizing modern values through their presentation in ancient settings.

McGeough traces the formative role that films of various genres have played in shaping our perceptions of Egypt, Mesopotamia, the Holy Land, Greece, Rome, barbarian Europe, and the Maya. The book does not overlook the traditional historical epic film, but also provides detailed analyses of comedies, action films, art house fare, exploitation flicks, and any other movie that presents depictions of the past. By considering cinematic narrative and various elements of film design, McGeough presents a comprehensive overview of the topic, designed to appeal to students and scholars with diverse backgrounds in media studies, archaeology, religious studies, and ancient history.

Weight: 3756g
Dimension: 244 x 170 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781781799819