BIRTH OF A NATION is a pretty obvious starting place (the very title, changed from THE CLANSMAN, announces that the film is about the end of an era dominated by individual states for a common culture--safeguarded, of course, by the Klan), but the "cultural turn" toward history far predates cinema. Historical novels are just one example. So are the various tableaux, dioramas, panoramas, dramas, and other "spectacular" stage productions that predated cinema as such. (John Fell's For example, Shakespeare's history plays (and at least some of the tragedies) use history as a kind of political science lesson about Shakespeare's present. John Fell's work might be a useful starting point. Don Larsson ----------------------------------------------- "Only connect!" --E.M. Forster Donald F. Larsson Department of English Minnesota State University Mankato, MN 56001 [log in to unmask] ________________________________ From: Film and TV Studies Discussion List on behalf of Deron Albright Sent: Thu 2/24/2005 12:26 PM To: [log in to unmask] Subject: [SCREEN-L] Resources for Historical Epics Hello everyone, I have a student who is looking for resources regarding the rise of HISTORICAL FILM (not necessarily, but including EPICS). The catch is, she's not so interested in how they relate to the rise of spectacle in film (which is how they are usually framed), but rather in a broader sense of a cultural (and, by proxy, film industry) turn toward history as a place to find meaning (and profit) in the present. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks so much, Deron -- Deron Albright Assistant Professor of Film and Video Department of Fine and Performing Arts Saint Joseph's University 5600 City Ave. Philadelphia, PA 19131-1395 610.660.1488 ---- To sign off Screen-L, e-mail [log in to unmask] and put SIGNOFF Screen-L in the message. Problems? Contact [log in to unmask] ---- Screen-L is sponsored by the Telecommunication & Film Dept., the University of Alabama: http://www.tcf.ua.edu