The Epic in Film From Myth to Blockbuster

by Santas, Constantine

• ISBN13: 9780742555297
• ISBN10: 0742555291
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2007-11-26
• Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers

Summary

In The Epic in Film, Constantine Santas argues that "blockbuster" and "artistic" are not mutually exclusive terms and, perhaps more importantly, that epic film is an inherently profound genre in its ability to tap into the dreams and fears of a nation, and sometimes those of the human race. Why do we see dozens and dozens of films based on the King Arthur legend? Why would a presidential hopeful borrow the phrase "Read my lips" from Clint Eastwood's Dirty Harry? Why do war epics proliferate in times of war or national crisis? Why are epics as a whole the most popular movie genre? Whether you love Gone with the Wind and hate Troy, find Akira Kurosawa's films brilliant or marvel over the depth of the Matrix trilogy, if you're a film buff, you will want to read this first book-length treatment of the epic-a wildly popular, infinitely fascinating, and critically underappreciated genre.

Author Biography

Constantine Santas is professor emeritus and former chair in the Department of English at Flagler College in Florida

Table of Contents

Preface	p. vii
Introduction	p. 1
The Classic Epic Form	p. 23
The Mythological Epic	p. 53
The Religious Epic	p. 73
The Historical Epic	p. 87
The Women-Centered Epic	p. 111
The Comic Epic	p. 127
The Anti-Epic	p. 157
The Information Age Epic	p. 179
The International and Art House Epics	p. 205
Significant DVD Editions	p. 217
Selected Bibliography	p. 221
Index	p. 225
About the Author	p. 235
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