GRS204 - Exam Essay Questions

Possible final exam essay questions based on overarching themes throughout the course

How do movies depict women in ancient Greece and Rome? / Why?

Some depictions are historical, or at least mirror literature from the time, but also most depictions reflect the societal expectations of the time period in which the movies were made.

A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum:

• the depiction of women reflects literature by [insert his name]

  • character archetypes like a prostitute (who is somehow also a virgin)

Jason and the Argonauts:

• Medea’s character has significantly less agency. this may reflect how the time period viewed women as damsels. Think Jason saving her from the shipwreck. And in the traditional story she is a powerful sorceress

Quo Vadis:

• this movie gives us both an example of a “good Christian girl” that would’ve been “ideal” at the time it was made in the mid 20th century, as well as an evil queen type character

• Proppea is evil because she schemes and she has lustful desires.

Cleopatra:

• Clever, beautiful, sneaky.

Chi-raq:

• set in modern times, and uses modern character archtypes

• sacrificial virgin in [that one lady’s daughter]

• sexualizes the Black women characters (but in a way that empowers them?)

How do movies reflect the political climate they are produced in

Quo Vadis:

• post ww2 fears. fire = blitz ; figurehead, corruptible leaders = red scare ; religious persecution = holocaust.

Troy:

• The dangers of authority meddling in affairs for alternative motivations. Agamemnon doesn’t actually care about his brother Menelaus getting Helen back, but wants something else [what did he want?] = America’s involvement in the [iraq war?]

Chi-Raq:

• takes the story of Lysistrata, which takes place during the Peloponnesian war, and applies it to gun violence among Black youth in Chicago

Use of religion / mysticism

Jason and the Argonauts:

• Medea’s witchy powers downgraded a lot

Troy:

• Cuts out all the religious aspects to appeal to a modern audience

Gladiator:

• he is pagan, has the little wooden prayer thing

Something about the technical production of movies?

Jason and the Argonauts:

• ray harryhausen and his stop motion

Troy:

• lots of CGI for complicated battle scenes

Cleopatra:

• spectacle, fancy dresses and such