3rd Paper & Links to your Webpage Links

3rd Paper Topic

1. Write an original research paper in the form of an illustrated, hyperlinked webpage on one of our toga movies that you have not yet discussed.

Like your earlier papers, this final paper should analyze the film of your choice in the context of its genre, the toga film, focusing in particular on features that make the movie of your choice stand out, either positively or negatively, from the rest of the genre (e.g., plot, acting, cinematography, editing, music, sound, costumes, scenery, use of toga film conventions, etc., etc.).

2. Use illustrations to support points your paper makes. Use hyperlinks to refer to additional information on external webpages (e.g., maps of Spartacus' campaigns, info on gladiatorial equipment).

3. In addition to your own observations, make sure to consult and use a number of scholarly sources (at least three) that are relevant for your movie, and list the sources you use on a separate bibliography page!

Please post a link to your webpage below.

By Thursday, Nov. 15, midnight, respond briefly to two of your classmates' draft webpages.  

Suggest additional evidence from our movies that would support their argument but has not yet been mentioned, alert them to potential counterarguments, or make other suggestions that will help them improve the readability of their webpage and the plausibility of their arguments.

Final Webpage Version: due Monday, Nov. 19, 2012, 10 A.M.

Email a pdf-copy to me by 10 A.M. and bring a hardcopy to class on Tues., Oct. 23.

Disney's Hercules (1999)

Disney's Hercules (1999) leaves out many of the traditional stories about Hercules and adds or rewrites others. Which changes or omissions do you wish the scriptwriters had resisted? Which changes do you welcome? Give reasons for your choices.
Posts and one comment on a classmate's post both due Thursday, Nov. 8, before class [disregard what the syllabus says].

"Gladiator" (2000)

The movie "Gladiator" was particularly praised for its authentic recreation of the Roman amphitheater. Please name ONE aspect that is actually less than authentic, and elaborate on it a little by giving two or three examples. Make sure not to just repeat what earlier posts say.

Paper topic 2

1. Write a detailed review of one of the films we have watched so far. The review should discuss the film in the context of its genre, the toga film, focusing in particular on features (e.g., plot, acting, cinematography, editing, music, sound, scenery) that make the movie of your choice stand out, either positively or negatively, compared to some or all of the other examples of the genre that we have watched.

2. In addition to your own observations, make sure to consult and use at least two scholarly sources that talk about your movie!

Please post a copy of your abstract below and comment on the abstracts of two different classmates, suggesting either evidence from the movies that would support their argument or alerting them to evidence that would seem to run counter to their argument so that they will have to respond to it in their papers.

Reviews of "Sign of the Cross" (1932)

Fredric March (Marcus Superbus), Claudette Colbert (Poppaea), and director Cecil B. DeMille
enjoying a Coca Cola during a break while filming Sign of the Cross.

1. Write a 200-word review of Sign of the Cross and post it to our blog.
2. Comment on at least one review:
a) What do you like about the review?
b) What would you encourage the reviewer to add or change?

Evil Nero

What made Nero turn evil? How could it have been avoided, if at all?

A Funny Thing - A Sexist Thing?

Is A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum a sexist movie or not? Explain your reasons!

Please respond to two of your classmates' posts as well!

"Casina" and "The Braggart Soldier"

A comic slave, imparting some frightening news to a prostitute and her young lover.
Roman wall painting from the Casa dei Quadretti Teatrali, ca. 50-75 CE.

Which one of the two plays do you prefer, and why? Discuss both what you like in the one and what you like less in the other play!

Paper Topic 1

Select one feature of the four films we have watched so far (Marcantonio e Cleopatra, 1913; Cabiria, 1914; Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ, 1925; Cleopatra, 1963) and dicuss how it developed in the fifty years from 1913 to 1963, based on the evidence from these films.

Potential topics: acting style; portrayal of the Romans; portrayal of "the Other" (Carthaginians, Egyptians, Jews, Arab, black Africans); women's roles; use of the camera and editing technique; sets and props; costumes; stunts; action scenes; portrayal of sex and graphic violence; anything else that you can think of and that makes sense.

Please post a copy of your abstract below and comment on the abstracts of two different classmates, suggesting either evidence from the movies that would support their argument or alerting them to evidence that would seem to run counter to their argument so that they will have to respond to it in their papers.

Gospel Assignment

1. All the Gospels tell the story of Jesus' death and crucifixion (cf. Matthew 27, Mark 15, Luke 23, and John 18-19, available in various translations online at http://www.biblegateway.com).

Even though they basically tell the same story, however, they do so in slightly different ways. Are there any variants that seem particularly significant to you, and how do they change the way this particular Gospel author wants his readers to understand and interpret the story of Jesus' death?

2. Respond to two of your classmates' posts.

Cabiria Assignment

1. Select a scene that impressed you in Cabiria and another one that you did not like, and explain why you feel that way.
2. Respond to two of your classmates' posts.

Welcome to IDS 101-17: Greece and Rome in the Movies

Hi everyone,

This blog is meant to facilitate our classroom discussion. Here you can, for example, post your impressions of the movies we watched, and your classmates will be able to comment on your contributions.

I am looking forward to meeting you all tomorrow,

Prof. Knorr

Just to whet your appetite, here are posters of all the great movies we'll watch and analyze.