Overview

This is the first collection to look at the most recent manifestations of the ancient hero on screen. It brings together a range of perspectives on twenty-first century cinematic representations of heroes from the ancient world. Since 2000, numerous heroes of the ancient world have appeared on film and TV, from the mythical Hercules to leaders of the Greek and Roman worlds. Films and shows discussed in this volume range from Hercules and The Legend of Hercules to TV shows, Atlantis and Supernatural, to other biopic works influenced by the ancient hero. This book brings together a range of perspectives on twenty-first century cinematic representations of heroes and antiheroes from the ancient world. Key features: Includes a range of TV shows and films, allowing for greater comparative analysis, examining the overlooked links between various productions Original, cutting edge research in the fields of history, politics, gender, film and fan culture. Covers topics including society, politics, generational issues, gender, fan reception and star texts Also considers the creation of antiheroes in the twenty-first century. Contributors include Alastair Blanshard, Angeline Chiu, Jon Solomon and Emma Stafford

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9781474454636

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Reviews

Damaged males and empowered females: the epic protagonists of this collection, including Dwayne Johnson and Vladimir Putin, show the increasing dark tones used to depict heroism in the new millennium. Constant references to the story of Hercules show the continuing, yet mutating influence of classical myth.--Arthur J. Pomeroy, Victoria University of Wellington

Author Information

Antony Augoustakis is Professor of Classics at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, USA. His research focuses on Imperial Latin literature of the first century CE, especially the role of gender and the representation of death and ritual in epic poetry. He has also published several book chapters on the representation of classical antiquity on film and television. He is the editor of Classical Journal. Stacie Raucci is Associate Professor of Classics at Union College in Schenectady, New York. Her academic research focuses on Roman elegy, Roman topography, and the reception of the ancient world in popular culture. She is the author of Elegiac Eyes: Vision in Roman Love Elegy (Peter Lang 2011) and co-author of Rome: A Sourcebook on the Ancient City (Bloomsbury 2018).

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