Last updated: January 25, 2020

Classics Program at BGSU Studies in Latin at BGSU Department of Romance and Classical Studies Bowling Green State University

Due Date: Friday, March 13. (Anything turned in after 11:59 PM will start accumulating late points.)

Description: A review (1500 word minimum) of a movie, TV show, play or performance with Roman historical content. (Double-spaced, 1 inch margins, 10-12 pt. font. Remember: when double-spacing, do not put extra space after a paragraph break. Yes, I take points off for this.)

Technical Details: Submit it to me via Canvas. Sometime after classes start, you should see the paper assignment links on Canvas. For various reasons, I will no longer accept hard copies or papers emailed directly to me. Submit papers to me only through Canvas.

Necessary Elements: You should evaluate whatever you review on two grounds:

1.) On its accuracy in reporting Roman social life and history. (The required texts are your basis for making this judgement; I don't expect you guys to do research for the review. In fact: if you think of research as "googling stuff", then don't do research.)

2.) On its entertainment or artistic value (i.e. whether it sucks or not, and why).

You should also give me some specific idea of what you reviewed-- the title, date produced, performers etc.

Don't be hesitant in expressing an opinion, but remember to support your opinion with evidence.

ex.

The acting is superb. When the actors surround Pfundsteinus to smite him with their pointed sticks, it looks like they really hate him.

Be specific about the accuracies or inaccuracies you see in the movie. General statements like "The clothing was all accurate" or "The buildings were all accurate" don't show me that you know what you're talking about.

I assume you guys know how to run a spellcheck, but don't forget to actually proofread your review. It's up to you to spell Roman names and Latin words correctly-- the computer won't know how.

Unnecessary Element: A plot summary. You don't have to take 3 pages to explain to me the plot of Gladiator. For one thing, I've seen it (back when it was called Fall of the Roman Empire, and later in the Russell Crowed version). But, more importantly, it doesn't advance either of the primary goals of the review

Topics: Any type of performance, movie or TV show with Roman historical content.

If you want to know whether the work you want to review is eligible for this assignment, feel free to ask (in person or via e-mail). Off-topic reviews will (reluctantly, but invariably) receive a zero. In general, follow these guidelines:
 

It has to have historical content. Reviews of Hercules vs. the Terror of Rome or Troy are off-topic (although they would work in CLCV 3800: Classical Myth).

The history has to be Roman. Reviews of Braveheart or The Three Musketeers would have historical content, but they don't have anything to do with ancient Rome.

Gladiator is an obvious choice, but there are other options. There were a couple of movies about the so-called Lost Legion (The Eagle and Centurion). You won't find a Roman section on Netflix (I don't think...), but these movies are all over the place: filmed versions of Shakespeare's Roman plays (Coriolanus, Titus,  Antony and Cleopatra, Julius Caesar), various screen versions of the life of Cleopatra, Spartacus, Ben Hur, Fall of the Roman Empire, The Last Days of Pompeii, etc. Any story that involves the origin or early history of Christianity is Roman by definition (and, yes, this includes Life of Brian). There was a British TV series, I, Claudius, which had its moments, and can still be found on video. There was a mid-60s British comedy entitled Carry On, Cleo, which has been acclaimed as "perhaps the best of the 'Carry On' series", whatever that might indicate. There's a more recent Britcom called Plebs about commoners in the Roman world. The Tenth Doctor (if you know who that is) visited Pompeii. A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum is widely available on DVD, and well worth seeing.

A Final Warning: Don't plagiarize.

I don't mean to sound paranoid, but the issue does come up from time to time. This is an informal writing assignment, but standards of academic honesty still apply. (See a brief description of plagiarism and its penalties in a PDF file downloadable from the BGSU Provost at this link.) If you're unsure whether something you're doing constitutes plagiarism ask someone (me, for instance, or someone at the writing center--a great resource whenever you're having trouble with a paper). There's no penalty for asking, whereas the penalties for being caught are fairly severe--ranging from a zero on the assignment to (in extreme cases) suspension or expulsion from the university.  

Also: beware sinister buttocks. Your own words will be the best words, even if it doesn't seem like it at the time.