Cleopatra
- Submitted by: modfather
- Views: 1200
- Category: Arts
- Date Submitted: 05/12/2011 05:15 AM
- Pages: 5
- Report this Essay
Richard Barrow PI no. B6096456.
Assignment 01.
Part 1 Cleopatra.
Compare the portrayal of Cleopatra in the 1963 film with representations of her
in the late twentieth and early twenty-first century as discussed on the DVD
Video ‘Cleopatra’. What aspects of her portryal have changed or stayed the
same, and why?
Cleopatra was most famously portrayed in the 1963 film starring Elizabeth
Taylor and Richard Burton. More recent works also featured on the DVD include
Carry on Cleo (1964), Xena Warrior Princess (2000), Rome (HBO 2005), and
Cleopatra (1999).
In the 1963 film Cleopatra’s wealth and opulence are there for all to see. Not only is
she shown as being beautiful, but we also see the wily politician who is able to exploit
the shortcomings of her opponents. The film also made some attempt to bring the past
back to life ( Commentary, 2008, DVD Video). The result of this would have been to
entertain, and, to some extent, inform.
The 1964 film Carry on Cleo was clearly designed to amuse. The opening credits of
the film acknowledge that the past has been manipulated. Famous scenes from the
story of Cleopatra are tweaked in order to make the audience laugh. Cleopatra is
shown to be wealthy and beautiful, but also quite empty headed. (Commentary, 2008,
DVD Video).
The beauty and wealth are present in the Cleopatra (1999) and Rome (2005)
productions. Cleopatra does, however, become more involved in the action. In
the former she fights in battle, and strikes a Roman soldier in the genitals. In the latter
she makes direct use of her sexuality. The same applies with Xena – Warrior
Princess (2000) (Commentary, 2008, DVD Video).
It is acknowledged that the cultural values of an audience affect how they
view a subject (Fear, 2008, p.24). Given that Cleopatra was a woman it would make
sense to consider how our cultural view of women has changed in the time span
covered by these...
Assignment 01.
Part 1 Cleopatra.
Compare the portrayal of Cleopatra in the 1963 film with representations of her
in the late twentieth and early twenty-first century as discussed on the DVD
Video ‘Cleopatra’. What aspects of her portryal have changed or stayed the
same, and why?
Cleopatra was most famously portrayed in the 1963 film starring Elizabeth
Taylor and Richard Burton. More recent works also featured on the DVD include
Carry on Cleo (1964), Xena Warrior Princess (2000), Rome (HBO 2005), and
Cleopatra (1999).
In the 1963 film Cleopatra’s wealth and opulence are there for all to see. Not only is
she shown as being beautiful, but we also see the wily politician who is able to exploit
the shortcomings of her opponents. The film also made some attempt to bring the past
back to life ( Commentary, 2008, DVD Video). The result of this would have been to
entertain, and, to some extent, inform.
The 1964 film Carry on Cleo was clearly designed to amuse. The opening credits of
the film acknowledge that the past has been manipulated. Famous scenes from the
story of Cleopatra are tweaked in order to make the audience laugh. Cleopatra is
shown to be wealthy and beautiful, but also quite empty headed. (Commentary, 2008,
DVD Video).
The beauty and wealth are present in the Cleopatra (1999) and Rome (2005)
productions. Cleopatra does, however, become more involved in the action. In
the former she fights in battle, and strikes a Roman soldier in the genitals. In the latter
she makes direct use of her sexuality. The same applies with Xena – Warrior
Princess (2000) (Commentary, 2008, DVD Video).
It is acknowledged that the cultural values of an audience affect how they
view a subject (Fear, 2008, p.24). Given that Cleopatra was a woman it would make
sense to consider how our cultural view of women has changed in the time span
covered by these...