The Epic in Film: From Myth to Blockbuster

The Epic in Film: From Myth to Blockbuster

by Constantine Santas
The Epic in Film: From Myth to Blockbuster

The Epic in Film: From Myth to Blockbuster

by Constantine Santas

eBook

$50.00 

Available on Compatible NOOK devices, the free NOOK App and in My Digital Library.
WANT A NOOK?  Explore Now

Related collections and offers

LEND ME® See Details

Overview

Constantine Santas encourages us to wonder why film critics have so routinely dismissed the epic film. In The Epic in Film, he argues that 'blockbuster' and 'artistic' are not mutually exclusive terms, and, perhaps more importantly, epic film is an inherently profound genre in its ability to tap into a nation's, and sometimes humanity's, dreams and fears. Why do we see dozens and dozens of films based on the King Arthur legend? Why would a presidential-hopeful borrow a phrase, 'Read my lips,' from Clint Eastwood's Dirty Harry? Why do war epics proliferate in times of war or national crisis? Why are epics as a whole the most popular movie genre? Start with an individual quest of some kind undertaken by an attractive hero or heroine, add the weight of a nation, and perhaps humanity, into that character's struggle, sprinkle some awe-inspiring special effects and a general sense of largesse, and don't forget the happy ending; and there you have a recipe for a film that can contain the deepest emotions_fear, hope, insecurity, pride_of a nation, and, sometimes, a world. Whether you love Gone with the Wind and hate Troy; find Akira Kurosawa's films brilliant; or marvel over the depth of the Matrix trilogy, film buffs will want to read this first book-length treatment of the epic, a wildly popular, infinitely fascinating, and critically underappreciated genre.

Product Details

ISBN-13: 9780742578562
Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.
Publication date: 11/28/2007
Sold by: Barnes & Noble
Format: eBook
Pages: 224
File size: 617 KB

About the Author

Constantine Santas is professor emeritus and former chair in the Department of English at Flagler College, Florida. He is the author of Responding to Film and has translated several works from Greek to English.

Table of Contents


Chapter 1 Preface
Chapter 2 Introduction
Chapter 3 1 The Classic Epic Form
Chapter 4 2 The Mythological Epic
Chapter 5 3 The Religious Epic
Chapter 6 4 The Historical Epic
Chapter 7 5 The Women-Centered Epic
Chapter 8 6 The Comic Epic
Chapter 9 7 The Anti-Epic
Chapter 10 8 The Information Age Epic
Chapter 11 9 The International and Art House Epics
Chapter 12 Appendix: Selected DVD Editions
Chapter 13 Selected Bibliography
From the B&N Reads Blog

Customer Reviews