What Do the Representations of Cleopatra in Film and on Television (as Shown on the Dvd Video ‘Cleopatra’) Tell Us About How Her Reputation Changed over Time? Discuss with Reference to Two or Three Representations.
Part 1
What do the representations of Cleopatra in film and on television (as shown on the DVD video ‘Cleopatra’) tell us about how her reputation changed over time? Discuss with reference to two or three representations.
The name Cleopatra invokes a striking image in your mind. The Egyptian queen who took on the might of Rome. The way we see Cleopatra’s character changes in the way she has been depicted in movies and television across the years. With each different portrayal she reflects contemporary issues regarding society, the role of women and the historical knowledge available.
The three representations of Cleopatra I will be looking at are the films from 1917 staring Theda Bara and 1963 starring Elizabeth Taylor and the 1999 HBO TV series Rome. These three show Cleopatra from very different perspectives, from vamp queen to manipulative stateswoman. The depiction in the 1917 film by Theda Bara has Cleopatra as a powerful, ominous and threatening figure. A sexually alluring head of an exotic and alien culture. This was based on the image of what was known about ancient Egypt and Cleopatra at the time, a world of mysterious statues and strange hieroglyphs. The casting of Theda Bara in the lead role furthered the sexual and alluring image as she was well known for this type of role.
The image of luxury and wealth is continued in the 1963 film. Elizabeth Taylor portrays Cleopatra as flirtatious and playful, winking at Caesar after her entrance to Rome to a powerful stateswoman who demanded that Antony kneel in her presence. The character had again taken on contemporary values, speaking of one world order, showing the growing influence of the United Nations and the strong inspiring speeches of John F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King. The film was expensive and extravagant and the casting of Taylor and Burton in the lead roles led to intensify interest in the film and the larger audience for it leading to Taylor's portrayal as Cleopatra being the
What do the representations of Cleopatra in film and on television (as shown on the DVD video ‘Cleopatra’) tell us about how her reputation changed over time? Discuss with reference to two or three representations.
The name Cleopatra invokes a striking image in your mind. The Egyptian queen who took on the might of Rome. The way we see Cleopatra’s character changes in the way she has been depicted in movies and television across the years. With each different portrayal she reflects contemporary issues regarding society, the role of women and the historical knowledge available.
The three representations of Cleopatra I will be looking at are the films from 1917 staring Theda Bara and 1963 starring Elizabeth Taylor and the 1999 HBO TV series Rome. These three show Cleopatra from very different perspectives, from vamp queen to manipulative stateswoman. The depiction in the 1917 film by Theda Bara has Cleopatra as a powerful, ominous and threatening figure. A sexually alluring head of an exotic and alien culture. This was based on the image of what was known about ancient Egypt and Cleopatra at the time, a world of mysterious statues and strange hieroglyphs. The casting of Theda Bara in the lead role furthered the sexual and alluring image as she was well known for this type of role.
The image of luxury and wealth is continued in the 1963 film. Elizabeth Taylor portrays Cleopatra as flirtatious and playful, winking at Caesar after her entrance to Rome to a powerful stateswoman who demanded that Antony kneel in her presence. The character had again taken on contemporary values, speaking of one world order, showing the growing influence of the United Nations and the strong inspiring speeches of John F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King. The film was expensive and extravagant and the casting of Taylor and Burton in the lead roles led to intensify interest in the film and the larger audience for it leading to Taylor's portrayal as Cleopatra being the
Bibliography: Part 1 Fear, T. (2008) ‘Cleopatra’ in Moohan, E. (ed.) Reputations (AA100 Book 1), Milton Keynes, the Open University, pp. 1-28. ‘Cleopatra’ - ‘narrated by Trevor Fear‘ (2008) (AA100 DVD video), Milton Keynes, The Open University. Part 2 Pacheco, A. (2008) ‘Christopher Marlowe, Doctor Faustus’ in Moohan, E. (ed.) Reputations (AA100 Book 1), Milton Keynes, the Open University, pp. 29-54. ‘Faustus’ - ‘an audio performance of Faustus’(2008) (AA100 Audio CD discs 1 and 2), Milton Keynes, The Open University. Marlowe, C. (1588) ‘Doctor Faustus the a text (ed. O’Connor, J.(2003))’ Harlow, Pearson education Limited, Pearson Longman. Marlowe, C. (1588) Doctor Faustus, Act 5 Scene 1, lines 79 -110; reprinted in AA100 Assignment Booklet (2008), Milton Keynes, The Open University, P.19.