CFP: Cinema and Antiquity (J.P. Postgate Colloquium)

Seen on Classicists (please send any responses to the people/institution mentioned in the post, not to rogueclassicism!)

CINEMA AND ANTIQUITY: 2000-2011

The First J.P. Postgate Colloquium, University of Liverpool

12-14 July 2011

Keynote speakers:
Monica Cyrino, Pantelis Michelakis, Jon Solomon, Martin Winkler (tbc), Maria Wyke

The resurgence of cinema’s interest in antiquity that was triggered by the release of Gladiator in 2000 shows no signs of abating. In 2010 alone, five ancient world films are appearing on our screens (Percy Jackson & The Olympians: The Lightning Thief; Clash of the Titans; Agora; Centurion; Eagle of the Ninth; not to mention the TV series Spartacus: Blood and Sand). The public appetite for films that deal with ancient history and mythology apparently remains strong, and ‘classics and film’ courses have established themselves in universities worldwide, leading the way in the increasing prominence of reception studies within classics and ancient history. The time is ripe for reflection on these developments. This major international conference seeks to explore the directions that have been taken in a decade of moviemaking and scholarship, and to advance the field by concentrating on issues too often overlooked. We invite papers on all aspects of ancient world films released between 2000 and the present, but would particularly encourage engagement with any of the following areas:

Ø The filmmaking process, including film design, editing, cinematography, music.

Ø Marketing and publicity.

Ø Assessing audience receptions.

Ø Actors and stars.

Ø Television and the ancient world, including documentaries.

Ø Animation in film and television.

Ø Future directions in ‘classics and film’ scholarship.

We now invite proposals for 20 minute papers. Please send a 300 word abstract to the conference organisers, Joanna Paul (Joanna.Paul AT liv.ac.uk) and Lloyd Llewellyn-Jones (L.Llewellyn-Jones AT ed.ac.uk). Abstracts must be received no later than 31 December 2010.

More details will appear on the conference website, http://sace.liv.ac.uk/cinemaantiquity, in due course.