TV antiquity: Swords, sandals, blood and sand (The Television Series)

__TV antiquity__ explores representations of ancient Greece and Rome throughout television history. It is the first comprehensive overview of the genre in television. More specifically, the author argues that serial television set in antiquity offers a perspective on the ancient world quite distinct from their cinematic counterparts. The book traces the historic development of fictional representations of antiquity from the staged black-and-white shows of the 1950s and 60s to the most recent digital spectacles. A key argument explored throughout the book is that the structure of serial television (with its focus on intimacy and narrative complexity) is at times better suited to explore the complex mythic and historic plots of antiquity. Therefore, the book consciously focusses on multipart television dramas rather than made-for-TV feature films. This enables the author to explore the specific narrative and aesthetic possibilities of this format. The book features a range of insightful case studies, from the high-profile serials __I, Claudius__ (1976) and __Rome__ (2005-8) to lesser known works like __The Caesars__ (1968) or __The Eagle of the Ninth__ (1976) and popular entertainment shows such as __Hercules: The Legendary Journeys__ (1995-9) and __STARZ Spartacus__ (2010-3). Each of the case studies also draws out broader issues in the specific decade under consideration. Consequently, the book highlights the creative interplay between television genres and production environments and illustrates how cultural and political events have influenced the representations of antiquity in television. TV antiquity explores representations of ancient Greece and Rome throughout television history. The first comprehensive overview of the ‘swords and sandals’ genre on the small screen, it argues that these shows offer a distinct perspective on the ancient world. The book traces the historic development of fictional representations of antiquity from the staged black-and-white shows of the 1950s and 1960s to the most recent digital spectacles. One of its key insights is that the structure of serial television is at times better suited to exploring the complex mythic and historic plots of antiquity. Featuring a range of case studies, from popular serials like I, Claudius (1976) and Rome (2005–8) to lesser known works like The Caesars (1968) and The Eagle of the Ninth (1976), the book illustrates how broader cultural, political and economic issues have over time influenced the representation of antiquity on television. Front matter 1 Dedication 7 Contents 9 Figures 11 General editors’ preface 12 Acknowledgements 14 Part I: The ancient world as serial television drama 15 Part II: Pepla and politics: the emergence of a television genre (1960s) 35 Case study 1: The Caesars (1968) 44 Case study 2: Odissea/The Odyssey (1968) 56 Part III: Costumes and censorship: the BBC’s Roman Empire (1970s) 71 Case study 3: I, Claudius (1976) 80 Case study 4: The Eagle of the Ninth (1977) 102 Part IV: Cult and kitsch: Graeco-Roman myths on US television (1980s–90s) 117 Case study 5: The Last Days of Pompeii (1984) 129 Case study 6: Hercules: The Legendary Journeys (1995–99) 141 Part V: Expanse and spectacle: the postmillennial revival of a genre 157 Case study 7: Rome (2005–8) 166 Case study 8: STARZ Spartacus (2010–13) 186 Conclusion: what is the future of TV antiquity? 208 Bibliography 219 Filmography 230 Index 234 This is the first comprehensive overview of Greek and Roman historical dramas on television. It traces the development of fictional representations of antiquity from the 1950s to the present, exploring how broader cultural, political and economic issues have influenced the representation of antiquity on television. -- .