CSP 54 Society of the Spectacle in Antiquity

The ancient Romans had a flair for the dramatic, creating spaces and staging performances which matched the grandness of their empire. Gladiatorial games, theatrical productions, chariot races, and other festivals played an integral role in the civic, religious, and cultural life of the ancient Romans. This course offers an introduction to the various forms of public entertainment offered during the Roman Republic and Empire while paying special attention to the broader function of spectacle as a political and imperial tool. Students will read selections from ancient authors and modern thinkers like Michel Foucault, consider theories about the gaze and spectatorship, and watch the films Ben-Hur and Gladiator.