From bread and circuses to movies and popcorn : filmic representations of Ancient Rome and the legacy of its violent entertainment

Abstract

The thesis examines the nature of violence in entertainment in the socio-historical context of the ancient Roman world, from the 1st century BCE to the late 3rd century CE and interrogates the presentation of such entertainment in a representative selection of modern receptions, namely the films Spartacus (1960) and Gladiator (2000) as well as the televised HBO series Rome (2005) which all relate back to this historical period. The study aims to demonstrate in what ways we, as inheritors of a Western tradition, idealise Rome and the Roman conquests as a way of legitimising our own heritage, and how the gladiatorial tradition – in many ways undermining the idea of civilisation – fits into this in the films under discussion. What is also demonstrated here is how, in many ways, the creative licence of the ancient historians and biographers is not so dissimilar from the motives and techniques of the film industry in modern times – in the word of Jane Austen’s character, Ms Morland, a great deal of history is invention. The techniques of violent entertainment in ancient times (which were sometimes surprisingly sophisticated) are explored here, and what techniques are used in the entertainment industry today to the best effect. The study also aims to show how we, as modern viewers of these filmic representations today, are as much inclined to be spectators of violent spectacle as were the ancient Romans 2000 years ago.

Lo mqondo uhlola uhlobo lodlame kwezokungcebeleka ezimweni zomphakathi nezomlando wezwe lasendulo laseRoma, kusukela ngekhulu lokuqala BCE kuya ekhulwini lesibili CE, bese uphenya ngemibuzo ukumelwa kwalokhu kuzijabulisa ekukhetheni okumelwe ukwamukela kwanamuhla, okungamafilimu USpartacus (1960) noGladiator (2000) kanye nochungechunge lwe-HBO lwethelevishini, iRoma (2005). Lolu cwaningo luhlola izindlela zokuzijabulisa ezikhathini zasendulo, okwakuthi kwesinye isikhathi zibe yinkimbinkimbi ngokumangazayo, nokuthi yimaphi amasu asetshenziswa embonini yezokuzijabulisa namuhla. Ihlose ukukhombisa ukuthi thina, njengababukeli banamuhla balezi zithombe zamafilimu namuhla, singababukeli bombukwane onodlame njengabaseRoma lasendulo eminyakeni engu-2000 eyedlule.

Hierdie verhandeling ondersoek die aard van geweld in die vermaakindustrie binne die sosio-historiese konteks van die antieke Romeinse wêreld, vanaf die eerste eeu v.C. tot en met die 2e eeu n.C. Hierdie ondersoek hanteer vervolgens die uitbeelding van hierdie vermaak in ‘n sortering van moderne interpretasies daarvan, namelik die flieks Spartacus (1960) en Gladiator (2000) asook die HBO televisiereeks, Rome (2005). Die studie kyk ook krities na die tegnieke wat in die vermaakindustrie gebruik is in antieke tye, wat soms verbasend gesofistikeerd was, en watter tegnieke vandag in die vermaaklikheid gebruik word tot die beste effek. Dit poog ook om aan te dui hoe ons, as moderne toeskouers van hierdie film weergawes net so geneig is om na geweldagige spektakel te kyk as die mense van 2000 jaar gelede.