 The
Greco-Roman tradition is so integrated into Western culture that
we often take it for granted. The classical tradition's longevity
in the West is paralleled only by the biblical tradition. Indeed,
in Europe at least, the classical tradition is even older. That tradition
is a shared element in the West. Whereas the classical Greek tradition
tends to focus on the mythology, the reception of classical Rome
generally highlights Rome’s
historicity. As a result, the subject matter tends to be politicians,
soldiers, poets, and religious figures taken from the annals of history.
Although he Roman Empire existed as a political entity in some form
or fashion into the nineteenth century, it is particularly the fall
of “classical” Rome that occupies the modern imagination;
hence images of death, destruction, and decay through war, corruption,
and religious upheaval permeate the reception in literature and film.
Even when the focus turns to poetic works, the historical circumstances
and personage of the poet intrude explicitly on the modern readings
and rewritings of the literature. Rome is also often held up as “the” example
of how an empire can get it wrong (can an empire ever get it right?).
Pundits delight in drawing parallels between America and Rome. Hollywood,
too, seems intent on perpetually reconstructing Rome: awesome power,
opulence, spectacular wars, and sexual peccadilloes. Cinema plays
such a crucial role in popular perception that we shall look at several
representations of Rome in films. Is this use of the past legitimate?
Does it help us understand ancient Rome as well as the modern world?
Or is it rather a bundle of clichés
illustrating the self-absorption of contemporary Western culture?
We will consider these and other questions as we examine examples
of the appropriation of classical Rome in history texts, literature,
drama, and film.
Through reading, viewing, discussion, presentations, and papers,
the students in this course will increase their knowledge of the
classical Roman tradition in modern culture, particularly in literature
and film. This includes acquiring greater familiarity with the classical
narratives as well as the rewritings. Furthermore, the students will
better understand the process of cultural interaction by which that
tradition becomes not just a recuperation of the classical Roman
past but also a critical appropriation of it. Students discover how
the past is used to understand our present.
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