CLT
3510: Ancient Rome in Film and Fact
University of Florida, Spring, 2002. Sec. 3319; MWF 8; Film Lab
T, 10-E 1; all sessions meet in FLG
210 (General Education requirements: H (I is pending; not a Gordon rule
course) 1/8/02
Course Statement and
Description: This course provides undergraduates with
detailed interpretations of popular and artistic representations of Roman
history and society in the modern medium of cinema. Thus it also deals with a particular aspect of the survival
of classical culture in 20th century America in that major directors have
reimagined some of the best-known periods of Roman history, especially the late
Republic and early Empire, in a visual form of popular art. In this, cinema has followed the lead
of a series of extremely popular plays and novels, the then reigning media,
especially of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, many of which themselves
were then turned into movies (e.g., ‘Ben-Hur,’ ‘Quo
Vadis’). This course will
focus on some of the most important, influential, lavish, and imaginative
American films recreating ancient Rome, primarily of the very productive post
World War II period of the years 1951-1964, but later films will be
represented.
There
will also be some attention to cinema as a popular art form. Thus we will also interpret the films
both as cinema and in connection with their ancient and modern sources. For our purposes, however, since this
is not primarily a ‘cinema’ course, we will tend to define the
films as ‘visual texts,’ which are capable of being analyzed and appreciated on their own
terms, as well as by comparison with other literary genres. To repeat: this is not a cinema class
such as those taught in other programs, but rather one which views the film as
a visual literary text to interpret and analyze.
Prerequisites and
Format: This offering does not require prior
course work in classical civilization or in film. Students are expected to be able to express themselves in
clear, precise, and accurate English, both in writing and in speaking. You will
be also expected to bring your varied experiences and backgrounds into
classroom discussion.
This most emphatically will not be a one-way educational experience,
where the instructor always lectures and the student passively sits in class
and receives the ‘revealed’ wisdom of the instructor. Instead, the instructor will serve as a
facilitator, information source, and discussion leader, although he will give
several formal presentations. You as students (the word comes from the Latin studere, ‘to be eager’) will be
expected eagerly and actively to develop your knowledge by discussing as well
as reading and watching the films.
Watching the films is not to be a passive experience. You are expected to exercise your
critical faculties and your memory to retain and interpret what you saw, and to
develop meaningful and intelligent opinions on the films based on your reading
and further discussion in class.
Objectives: Students will demonstrate:
·
ability to
compare and contrast the cinematic and factual views of Rome and the Romans
·
knowledge
of the social structures, living conditions, and major political figures of
ancient Rome from the late Republic to the early and also later Empire periods.
·
ability to
interpret and understand the behavior of the major political figures of the
period in
the light of the historical context and social structure
·
familiarity
with the modern popular view of Rome as found in films and television
productions about this period
·
ability to
evaluate Roman society through comparison with contemporary American society,
especially in relation to politics, family life, leisure, and entertainment
·
appreciation
of the multi-cultural, multi-ethnic, and multi-religious nature of the Roman
Empire, which spread over a huge area of the Mediterranean basin, but which
largely succeeded in establishing for a long period a stable, effective, and
just government of very disparate peoples
· appreciation of the cinematic
achievements--and failures--of major 20th century directors and
actors/actresses artistically and in portraying the Roman world
Methods: Class discussion, supplemented by
occasional formal presentations by the instructor. Critical viewing of films in the light of assigned readings
and class presentations; cooperative projects in class and panel
presentations; regular writing in
and out of class of short reaction papers discussing and criticizing the films
presented; background research where necessary in the library or on the
internet.
Panels: All students will participate in at least two panels analyzing
feature length films. For each
panel the class will be divided into teams. The teams will discuss the accuracy
of the film in portraying particular aspects of Roman history or society and
other topics appropriate to the film under investigation. Individual team members will speak to
the class as experts on their particular topics, presenting their views and
answering questions from the floor. At the conclusion of the presentations, the
entire class will attempt to ascertain why the filmmaker may have manipulated
or distorted the facts.
Specific Course
Information:
1. Instructor: Dr. Lewis A. Sussman, Professor of
Classics, 139 Dauer Hall; 392-2075 ext. 268; e-mail sussman@ufl.edu; fax
846-0297; office hours to be announced, or by appointment. Sussman received his
B.A. from Princeton and the Ph.D. from the University of North Carolina. His
field of scholarship is Roman oratory and rhetoric (about which he has written
three books), but he pursues wide-ranging interests in the history and
archaeology of Greek and Roman civilization through reading, travel, and the
courses he teaches. He was the recipient of a State University System Teaching
award several years ago. Materials for this course can be accessed at: http://www.classics.ufl.edu/sussman/index.html). Student Assistant: Ms. Rachel Brewer.
2. Attendance: The information presented and developed
in class lectures, discussions and video screenings will be an extremely
important part of this course. Therefore,
regular attendance is required.
Absence in more than 3 instances will result in automatic lowering of
your grade one full grade point. Further absences may result in automatic failure.
3.
Videos: Unless otherwise announced, all
videos will be shown during the three hour afternoon viewing block which is
scheduled for the class. If
you are unable to attend the screening it will be assumed that you have viewed
the movie. For this purpose, and since you may want to review movies on your
own multiple times for study purposes or for your panel assignments, the
assigned video tapes and DVDs will be on reserve in the OIR language lab
facility on the ground floor of Turlington Hall, Room 1317. You must watch the
movie there. There are facilities for several students to watch the same movie
at the same time through the use of multiple headphones. You may call ahead to
reserve these locations and the video: 392-2112. (Alternatively, many of these
may be available in local video stores or can be purchased or rented through
www.reel.com.) While videos
are being shown in the three-hour session you will be expected to watch
attentively and refrain from any disruptive activities, eating, or drinking.
You should, of course, be taking notes for your reacation papers and/or
for review purposes.
4. Assignments: This syllabus contains the assignments for the entire
semester. They are due on the day
indicated. Changes in the schedule, if any, will be announced in class. Some
reading selections are longer than others, since it is impossible in a course
of this nature to divide them up equally.
You should look over the week’s assignments well in advance to
make sure that you budget your study time wisely. You must do the
readings in advance of the class for which they are assigned; otherwise you
will derive little, if any, benefit from the films and discussions.
If you are unable to attend class, if a class is canceled, or if for any
reason the normal activities of the University are suspended, it will be
assumed that you have kept up with the schedule.
5. Writing: This is not a Gordon Rule class. But it
will require some writing during the semester. The bulk of this will consist of
writing one or two page reaction narratives on the films; some will be done in
class; some overnight. These will be handed in, read, checked, and then
returned to you. The exact
procedures will be discussed in class. Before viewing each film you are to
compose a short ‘filmography,’ since you may not be able to watch these tapes
again. In this you will need to write down for later reference the major points
about the movie: e.g., year, plot, characters, major actors, director (a
checklist is included in the course packet and on the course web page). These
are due before
viewing each movie and will be collected by the student assistant and then
returned. There is a forgiveness policy on the fimographies and reaction
papers: you may miss one of each. For help on the basics of writing clear,
concise, English prose buy a copy of W. Strunk & E. White’s
marvelous, small guide, The Elements of Style.
This component of the course will form 20% of your final grade.
6. Tests and Grades: There will be a mid-term
examination on class on Friday, February 22 and a final examination
on Tuesday, April 30, 5:30-7:30 PM.
Make-up examinations will not be administered. The mid-term will form
20% of the final course grade, the final exam 40%, and the writing component
20%. The remainder will be figured
in according to classroom participation, preparation, performance on the film
panels, and attendance (20%).
There may be occasional 10-minute class writing assignments/quizzes
based on the assignment for the week. These scores will be figured into the
class grade.
7. Academic Honesty: Students are responsible for reading and abiding by the University's honesty policy regarding cheating and use of copyrighted materials. Please see the 2000-2001 Student Guide, Standard of Ethical Conduct ( http://www.dso.ufl.edu/stg/ ).
8. Students with Disabilities: If you require accommodations due to a disability, please make an appointment during my office hours so that we may discuss your needs. According to official policy, “Students requesting classroom accommodation must first register with the Dean of Students office. The Dean of Students office will provide documentation to the student who must then present this documentation to the instructor when requesting accommodation.”
9. Classroom Demeanor: Students are expected to respect the
rights of their fellow students to a proper learning environment. Talking out
of turn, ringing cell phones, eating, drinking, and other activities
incompatible with classroom activity will not be tolerated. Students are
expected to arrive promptly at class and not to disturb the session if for any
reason they must be late.
10. Texts: These are
available at the HUB, other bookstores in town, or through internet vendors.
G. I. F. Tingay & J. Badcock, These
Were The Romans (Dufour Editions; 2nd ed.) ISBN 0-8023 1285-3
Robert Graves (transl.), Suetonius:
The Twelve Caesars (Penguin) paperback ISBN 0140440720
Course Packet: CLT 3510 Sussman: Ancient Rome in Film
and Fact is available only from Custom
Copies, 309 NW 13th Street.
11. The Course Movies:
A Funny Thing
Happened On the Way to the Forum (1966 Color; 99 min.)
Spartacus (1964 Color; 184 min.)
Cleopatra (1963 Color; 246 min)
I, Claudius (1978/9 Color; BBC TV
series; episodes 1 & 2, 53 min. each)
Life of Brian (1979 color; 98 min.)
Ben-Hur (1959 Color; 212 min).
Quo Vadis? (1951 Color; 171 min.)
Star Trek
‘Bread and Circuses’ (1966/1967; TV series B&W 48 min.); also,
Leni Riefenstahl’s ‘Triumph of the Will,’ (1935; B&W;
German/Nazi propaganda film; 110 min.; selections only)
The Fall of the Roman
Empire
(1964; Color; 182 min).
Gladiator (2000; Color; 155 min.)
Also on reserve:
GLADIATORS:
BLOODSPORT OF THE COLOSSEUM 1999 DVD 90min.
FELLINI-SATYRICON
1969 VHS & DVD 129 min Italian subt. dir: Federico Fellini.
Petronius's tales of the seamy side of ancient Rome become Fellini's fantasy of
a world that is sexually, morally, and spiritually other.
MASADA VHS 131 1980 dir: Boris Sagal; cast:
Peter O'Toole, Peter Strauss. The long siege and terrible ending for the
fortress of Masada, where Hebrew zealots held out against the Roman Army from
70 to 73 A.D.
THE ROBE Laser 1953 134min dir: Henry Koster;
cast: Richard Burton; Jean Simmons; Victor Mature; Michael Rennie. A Roman
soldier who presides over the crucifixion of Christ, is converted to
Christianity.
STAGING
CLASSICAL COMEDY VHS
35min 1988] Shows the archaeological research involved, and the construction of
the stage area of a classical Roman play, with a performance of some of the
comedy Miles Gloriosus
by Plautus.
TITUS DVD 162min. 1999 dir: Julie Taymor; cast: Anthony Hopkins,
Jessica Lange, Alan Cumming. Shakespeare’s play TITUS ANDRONICUS offers a
Roman Empire where the best are cruelly vengeful, the worst fantastically
cruel. The film approaches the
horror using imagery of various periods (including Mussolini's Rome and
Fellini's).
12. Helpful Books: (see also the excellent bibliography in Romans pp. 230-232)
Smith’s Smaller
Classical Dictionary (Dutton paperback: cheap, very useful)
The Oxford Classical
Dictionary (in the Library reference area) basic, excellent, authoritative.
Contains
helpful bibliographic information in each article
A.E.R. Boak, A History of Rome to 565 A.D.
F.R. Cowell, Cicero
and the Roman Republic
Chester G. Starr, Civilization
and the Caesars
J. Carcopino, Daily Life
in Ancient Rome (Penguin)
H.H. Scullard, From
the Gracchi to Nero
T. Frank, Life and
Literature in the Roman Republic
Film
Jon Solomon, The
Ancient World in Cinema (New York 1978). Basic & comprehensive. A
revised edition is now available
in
paperback (Yale Univ. Press, 2001).
David Bordwell & K.
Thompson, Film Art: An Introduction (2nd Ed. New York 1986) The best single introduction to film,
according
to many film people. Very methodical and comprehensive, with extensive
bibliography at the end of
each
chapter.
James Monaco, How to
Read a Film: The Art, Technology, Language, History, and Theory of Film and
Media (rev., New
York
1981). Also good.
13. Some internet resources: The UF Classics department Web page has internet resources
links to a wide variety of sites dealing with the Roman world, its history,
civilization, and archaeology:
http://www.classics.ufl.edu
See also the classics research site:
http://www.uflib.ufl.edu/cm/classics/
A fuller list of internet sites will be provided
to you that deal with ancient Rome and film. To get started on your own, for
materials on Roman civilization you may try the Vroma site at: http://www.vroma.org and especially http://vroma.org/~bmcmanus/romanlinks.html
The discipline of classics is the most
highly computerized of all the humanities, as you will see when you surf the
linked sites.
In preparation for the units dealing with
the major films, you will be expected to provide a basic filmography (i.e.,
facts about the production & direction of the film, stars, etc.). This
information is available in the form of the more comprehensive movie reviews
and essays archived at these internet sites, but feel free to find and share
others:
http://www.imdb.com
(Especially useful are the reviews done
retrospectively, telling you how a movie is judged many years after its
release, in view of changes in the genre, technology, the careers of the
directors, actors, etc. Print reviews are also available in standard reference
works in the library.)
If you want to start your own video
library, or rent a movie that your local video outlet doesn’t stock,
try http://www.reel.com
14. ASSIGNMENTS: Please note that class
may not meet during scheduled panel discussion meetings. Announcements will be
made regarding this in class and on the web site.
Week 1 (January 8 [T], 9 [W], 11
[F]) PRELIMINARIES:
PLEASE NOTE THE INITIAL CLASS MEETING
WILL TAKE PLACE IN THE TUESDAY ‘LAB’ TIME.
Class topics: (1) course organization and orientation
(2) How Rome Came to be Great
(3) The Roman World and its Portrayal in
Film
Assignments: These Were the Romans, Introduction; Chapter 1 (The Growth of Rome); 2 (The
Peoples of Italy); 13 (Work &
Slaves)
Video: Ancient Rome I (Tuesday afternoon) cancelled
Week 2 (January 14, 15, 16, 18): A
Funny Thing Happened On the Way to the Forum
(1966 Color; 99 min.) Shown in the Tuesday lab.
Class topics: Filmography discussion/introduction;
Roman names; everyday life in Rome; slaves, class discussion of film, reaction.
Lecture: Plautus and Roman comedy.
Assignment: Filmography for “A Funny Thing
Happened on the Way to the Forum” due 1/15 (see item 5 above); Romans Chaps. 3 (Houses), 4 (City), 8 (Growing
Up), 14 (Roman Dress); Plautus “The Haunted House” and Study Guide
for “A Funny Thing . . .
,” Packet pp.
1-19. Assignment of Spartacus panels for next week.
Weeks 3 & 4 (Jan. 21 [holiday],
22, 23, 25; 28, 29, 30, Feb. 1): Spartacus
(1964 Color; 184 min.). Parts I & II shown in the Tuesday
labs 1/23 & 1/29. Also one-hour video, “Gladiators.”
Class topics: Spartacus Filmography discussion; slavery &
gladiators; the communist scare of the 1950’s & Senator Joseph McCarthy;
class discussion of film; reaction; discussion panels. Video: Roman gladiators
and blood sports; brief discussion, Roman roads.
Panel assignments. Spartacus panels meet in class Friday, 1/25 and after
Spartacus II, Tuesday. Presentations begin Wednesday 1/30 and conclude Friday,
2/1. Use outline in packet.
Assignment: Filmography for “Spartacus”
due 1/22. Packet pp.
21-24; 115-118: Spartacus & Historical Background; Romans Chaps. 5 (History of the Success &
Failure of the Republic), 7 (Roads), 15 (Entertainment), 19 (Army).
Weeks 5 & 6 (Feb. 4, 5, 6, 8;
11. 12. 13, 15): Cleopatra
(1963 Color; 243 min.; avoid TV and other
cut versions. Parts I & II shown in the Tuesday labs 2/5 & 2/12.
Class topics:
Filmography lecture/introduction; the real vs. the cinematic Mark
Antony; the beginnings of absolutism; reaction & discussion of movie;
historical background to the end of the Republic and the rise of
Octavian/Augustus; Antony & Octavian. Lectures: women in the Roman world;
the Age of Augustus; Cleopatra’s Alexandria (slides).
Panel assignments:
Panels assigned in class Monday, 2/4. Panels organize & meet after
movie, Tuesday 2/5. Full meetings Wed.
during class time 2/13. Panels presented on Friday, 2/15.
Assignment: Filmography for Cleopatra due 2/5. Romans 9 (A Politician’s progress), 10
(Writing & Writers); Packet pp. 25-32 Historical Background on Caesar, Antony &
Cleopatra; also Packet
pp. 73-97 (Plutarch’s Life of Antony);
“Cleopatra: Topics . . . “ & “Cleopatra: What kind of
Woman . . . “ (Packet 123-131). Optional: Plutarch’s Life of Caesar in the packet (pp. 47-70), and the
biography of Caesar in Suetonius (pp. 9-49) are optional readings, for extra
credit on the midterm exam.
Week 7 (Feb. 18, 19, 20, 22): I,
Claudius & MID-TERM
I. Claudius (1978/9 Color; BBC TV series; episodes 1
& 2 shown in the Tuesday lab.
Class topics: Filmography discussion; Roman biography;
the Augustan Principate--benign autocracy; the problem of imperial succession;
reaction; television and the Roman world.
Assignment: Filmography due 2/19; Suetonius Life
of Augustus, Life of
Tiberius; Romans 11 (The First Emperors); Packet pp. 33-40 (historical background on
Augustus & Tiberius, Caligula, Claudius) & 133-135 (Study Guides for
episodes 1 & 2).
Friday, Feb. 22 MID TERM
EXAMINATION on all work through Feb. 20
Week 8 (Feb. 25, 26, 27, March 1):
The Life of Brian
(1979
color; 98 min.) shown in the Tuesday lab.
Class topics: Review Midterm Exam. The Roman provinces—how were they
administered? Roman religion,
Judaism & Christianity;
discussion/reaction.
Assignment: Filmography due 2/26;Romans 6 (Imperium: How Rome Acquired and
Governed the Empire), 17 (Gods and Men), 18 (Provinces). Special event of
Friday, March 1 (to be announced).
[Spring Break: No Classes on week of
March 4-8]
Weeks 9 & 10 (March 11, 12, 13,
15; 18, 19, 20, 22): Ben-Hur
(1959 Color; 212 min).
Class topics: the making of Ben Hur (1 hr.
documentary); filmography discussion/introduction; Fascism and Nazism; Jews
& Christians in the Empire; religious toleration (?); the provinces,
provincials, and their treatment in the Empire. Individual short reactions to
points on Ben-Hur topics sheet (Packet).
Assignment: Filmography due 3/12. Ben-Hir:
“Points to Consider” & “Fascism” (Packet p. 121
& 137) Review: Romans 15 (Entertainment); 17 (Gods & Men), 18 (Provinces).
Assignment of Final Film Panels:
Roman
Film Panel Reports for April 22, 23, 24 & 24. Important: see packet
145-146. Panel film
selections must be conveyed to the instructor by March 22 to avoid duplication.
The final panel projects will be reports by assigned panels of students
on movies depicting Rome, employing the information and critical outlook gained
in this course to comment upon various aspects of the film’s ideology,
historicity, portrayal of Roman society, distortions, biases, place within the
genre, and other appropriate topics. See checklist in Packet. Some films/tapes
are available in the OIR library; e.g., Masada [TV 1981], Cleopatra [1934],
Julius Caesar [1953 & 1970); check their catalog: http://www.oir.ufl.edu/media/ . Other
films are available in local video stores; e.g., Barabbas, the Robe, Demetrius
and the Gladiators, Caligula, the King of Kings, the Last Days of Pompeii.
There will be discussion in class of exact procedures and how to go about this.
Week 11 (March 25, 26, 27, 29): Quo
Vadis?
(1951 Color; 171 min.) Shown in Tuesday
lab.
Class topics: Filmography discussion; Quo Vadis &
fascism; Christians in the Empire and religious toleration revisited; Nero the
artist and the technophile: does Nero get a bum rap? The imperial city of Rome
(slide lecture or video: “Rome and the Alban Hills); discussion/ reaction
using as basis the panel discussion questions on Quo Vadis in the packet.
Assignment: Filmography due 3/26; Romans 12 (Imperial City); Packet pp 37-46 (Historical Background on
Caligula, Claudius, Nero; Tacitus’s account of the Fire and the
persecution of Christians); the Suetonius Life of Nero (the lives of Caligula and Claudius are
optional).
Week 12 (April 1, 2, 3, 5): Star Trek
‘Bread and Circuses’
(1966/1967; TV series B&W 48 min.);
also, Leni Riefenstahl’s ‘Triumph of the Will,’ (1935; B&W; Nazi propaganda film; 110
min.—selections only). Both shown in Tuesday lab.
Assignment: Filmography due 4/2. Study guide
(Packet p. 139). Work on final film panels.
Class topics: Filmography introduction; Rome and
fascism. Reaction questions. What are the parallels and differences between
ancient Rome and 20th century fascism? Mussolini, Hitler and Rome. Modern topics to consider in the light
of this and previous films:
Zionism, the Holocaust, and the moviemakers of Hollywood. April 5: Film panels meet during class
time.
Week 13 (April 8, 9, 10, 12): The
Fall of the Roman Empire (1964; Color; 182
min). Shown in Tuesday lab. Arrive
promptly—this will take the full time of the period.
Class topics:
Filmography discussion; the repertory company of ‘Roman’
actors and actresses; Brits. vs. Americans; discussion: the decline and fall of
the Roman Empire--popular notions, the reality, modern parallels; reaction.
Assignment: Filmography due 4/9; Romans 16 (Literary Legacy), 20 (From Order to
Chaos), 21 (Rome’s Legacy); Packet pp. 101-111
(Galinsky, “The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire: Are There
Modern Parallels?”) & 141 (Study Guide); Winkler, “Cinema and
the Fall of Rome” (on course web site). April 12: Film panels meet during
class time.
Week 14 (April 15, 16, 17, 20):
Gladiator
(2000; Color; 155 min.)
Class topics:
Introduction; points to compare between ‘Fall of the Roman
Empire’ and ‘Gladiator’; is Gladiator a rip off? Filmography; revival of the sword and
sandal epic? Historical accuracy?
April 20: Film panels meet during class time.
Assignment: Filkmography due 4/16.
Week 15 (April 22, 23, 24; [no
class 26= reading day]): Film
Panel Reports
FINAL EXAMINATION: Tuesday, April 30,
5:30 - 7:30 PM.
Student Information:
Ancient Rome in Film & Fact
CLT 3510 Spring 2002
Name________________________________ Student number, last 4 digits
________________
Year (Fr, So, Jr, Sr) _______
e-mail
address_________________________________________
Local
address__________________________________________
Local
telephone________________________________________
Do you have access to
(1) a television/VCR____ (2) DVD player _____ ?
(3) computer_____ (4)
internet _______
• Major
and/or career goals:
• Have
you taken any other college level courses in the Classics Department or dealing with the
ancient world? If so, please name:
• Have
you studied Latin in high school or in college? How much?
• Do
you remember seeing any of the major films on this syllabus, and if so, which
ones?
On the other side of
this sheet please write a paragraph describing what kinds of impressions or
thoughts come into your mind when you hear the phrase, “The Roman
Empire.”