Classical Masculinity and the Spectacular Body on Film : The Mighty Sons of Hercules

The muscle-bound male body is a perennial feature of classically-inflected action cinema. This book reassesses these films as a cinematic form, focusing on the depiction of heroic masculinity. In particular, Hercules in his many incarnations has greatly influenced popular cultural interpretations of manliness and the exaggerated male form. The cinema has often showcased the muscular male body, most notably in genres invoking classical Greco-Roman culture, whether peplum, epic or sword-and-sorcery. This book reassesses the classically-inflected action film as a significant cinematic form, often marginalized in media studies, that transcends such reductive labels as camp or kitsch. The focus is on the depiction of heroic masculinity, often characterized as reactionary or fascist, yet far more varied and contradictory, especially in relation to femininity and non-whiteness. These diverse representations of masculinity offer a major contribution to debates on maleness within and beyond academia that has been largely unexplored. In particular, Hercules in his many incarnations is one of the most important mythopoetic figures, on a par with King Arthur, Robin Hood, Tarzan and James Bond, informing popular cultural interpretations of manliness and the exaggerated male form "The cinema has often showcased the muscular male body, most notably in genres invoking classical Greco-Roman culture, whether peplum, epic or sword-and-sorcery. This book reassesses the classically-inflected action film as a significant cinematic form, often marginalized in media studies, that transcends such reductive labels as camp or kitsch. The focus is on the depiction of heroic masculinity, often characterized as reactionary or fascist, yet far more varied and contradictory, especially in relation to femininity and non-whiteness. These diverse representations of masculinity offer a major contribution to debates on maleness within and beyond academia that has been largely unexplored. In particular, Hercules in his many incarnations is one of the most important mythopoetic figures, on a par with King Arthur, Robin Hood, Tarzan and James Bond, informing popular cultural interpretations of manliness and the exaggerated male form"-- Provided by publisher In the coming-of-age story The Charterhouse of Parma , we follow a young Italian nobleman, Fabrizio Valserra, Marchesino del Dongo, on many adventures, including his experiences at the Battle of Waterloo, and romantic intrigues. Along the way we meet a number of fascinating characters, including Fabrizios devoted aunt, Gina; her lover, the Parmese statesman, Count Mosca; and Fabrizios true love, Clélia Conti. Set against the backdrop of post-Revolutionary Europe, the novel portrays a society that can barely keep up with its people, because the changes history and politics have wrought are so pervasive. Front Matter....Pages i-vii Introduction....Pages 1-20 Front Matter....Pages 21-21 Hercules Unchained....Pages 23-53 Hercules Reformed....Pages 54-71 Hercules Diminished....Pages 72-94 Hercules Rebooted....Pages 95-99 I’m Spartacus!....Pages 100-113 Front Matter....Pages 115-115 The Loves of Hercules....Pages 117-123 The Temptress from Beyond....Pages 124-130 Fight Like a Man....Pages 131-140 Front Matter....Pages 141-141 White Man’s Burden?....Pages 143-155 Doom’s Children....Pages 156-167 This Is Sparta!....Pages 168-172 Coda....Pages 173-176 Back Matter....Pages 177-191