{"product_id":"blockbusters-and-the-ancient-world-chris-davies-9781788313117","title":"Blockbusters and the Ancient World: Allegory and Warfare in Contemporary Hollywood","description":"Following the release of Ridley Scott's \u003ci\u003eGladiator\u003c\/i\u003e in 2000 the ancient world epic has experienced a revival in studio and audience interest. Building on existing scholarship on the Cold War epics of the 1950s-60s, including \u003ci\u003eBen-Hur\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eSpartacus\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eThe Robe\u003c\/i\u003e, this original study explores the current cycle of ancient world epics in cinema within the social and political climate created by September 11th 2001. Examining films produced against the backdrop of the War on Terror and subsequent invasions of Iraq and Afghanistan, this book assesses the relationship between mainstream cinema and American society through depictions of the ancient world, conflict and faith. Davies explores how these films evoke depictions of WWII, the Vietnam War and the Western in portraying warfare in the ancient world, as well discussing the influence of genre hybridisation, narration and reception theory. He questions the extent to which ancient world epics utilise allegory, analogy and allusion to parallel past and present in an industry often dictated by market forces. Featuring analysis of \u003ci\u003eAlexander\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eTroy\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003e300\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eCenturion\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eThe Eagle\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eThe Passion of the Christ\u003c\/i\u003e and more, this book offers new insight on the continued evolution of the ancient world epic in cinema.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e Chris Davies\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-10:\u003c\/b\u003e 1788313119\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-13:\u003c\/b\u003e 9781788313117\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e Bloomsbury Publishing PLC\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eLanguage:\u003c\/b\u003e English\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 03\/21\/2019\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 256\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eFormat:\u003c\/b\u003e Hardcover\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 1.18lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 9.21h x 6.14w x 0.63d\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eReview Citation(s): \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eChoice\u003c\/i\u003e 10\/01\/2019","brand":"Chris Davies","offers":[{"title":"Hardcover","offer_id":44072523563263,"sku":"9781788313117","price":150.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0662\/2982\/9887\/files\/img_34931800-f5fe-46af-b7f7-213a69c9dc7a.jpg?v=1685442482","url":"https:\/\/www.whiterainbookhouse.com\/products\/blockbusters-and-the-ancient-world-chris-davies-9781788313117","provider":"WR Book House","version":"1.0","type":"link"}