How do Hollywood ancient world epics use spectacle and for what purposes? What is the relationship between spectacle and narrative in such films?

The first 200 words of this essay...

How do Hollywood ancient world epics use spectacle and for what purposes? What is the relationship between spectacle and narrative in such films?

The portrayal of the ancient world through film has been dominant from film-making's earliest beginnings. From silent cinema's simple yet memorable interpretation of Ben Hur in the 1920's, to the modern-day epics of the millennium, antiquity provides film-makers with the perfect pedestal on which to portray the excitement and action the modern audience expects. The relevance of the ancient world in modern-day entertainment is summed up perfectly by Monica Cyrino, as she states, "Today more than ever, popular images and stories projected onto movie, television and computer screens invite us to experience, understand and connect with the ancient world. Films about antiquity bridge the gap between past and present by offering spectacular and compelling interpretations of history, literature, and mythology that are relevant and educational for contemporary viewers." (Oxford, 2005: 1)

To understand the significance of spectacle in such films, we must first understand how 'spectacle' might be defined in relation to the ancient world and its portrayal in Hollywood. The word itself comes from the Latin spectaculum, meaning 'a show'. For