Studying Gladiator: Instructor's Edition

By Sandy Irvine

Gladiator was one of the great commercial successes of the early twenty-first century, a fascinating example of how an old genre can be resuscitated for a new generation. The film's story is not complex yet the ways in which it is told says much about mainstream narrative techniques. And beneath its action-packed scenes and richly detailed sets, Gladiator carries specific values and messages which deserve close scrutiny. In Studying Gladiator, Sandy Irvine considers:

Film language - how Gladiator overcomes incredulity with compelling use of sound, costume and mise-en-sc ne; The industrial context - Gladiator as a product of a partnership between an infant studio (DreamWorks) and a transnational corporation (Universal); Genre and Narrative - what do we mean by an 'epic', and can we describe Gladiator as such? Audience - how did the makers of Gladiator 'win the crowd' and appeal to today's block-buster audience? Film-makers - what did Ridley Scott personally bring to Gladiator, and can he be considered an auteur? Representation and Ideology - can we relate historical representations to contemporary society?

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1903663571
• ISBN13: 9781903663578
• Release Date: March 2008
• Publisher: Liverpool University Press
• Length: 62 Pages
• Weight: 0.38 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.1" x 8.3" x 11.0"
• Age Range: 22 years and up
• Grade Range: Postsecondary and higher