Danny and Derek welcome Milo Edwards, Phoebe Roy, and Patrick Wyman, recovering classicists and hosts of Rome, the podcast about HBO’s series Rome. They talk about the development of the show in the early era of prestige TV, the portrayal of the city itself, Vorenus and Pullo, the imaginary of the average Roman, Atia and depictions of Roman femininity, and more.
Fun discussion. The original 1960 Spartacus is actually a pretty radical revolutionary film with an Imperial critique. It may not be your usual sword and sandal epic either.
Pollo and Varenus are the direct precursors to the cutthroat mid-level murderer characters of Game of Thrones. The audience loves and identifies with these mid-level characters, their immoral methods teach us that even mid level and lower class people need to be morally flexible to get ahead, have agency, chase their goals, etc. The show might as well be titled: 'how to be a venal operator in a grossly immoral system.' This is pretty standard HBO fair, and one of many ways our cultural products help 'institutionalize immorality' and limit the imagination of those who consume it.
Fun discussion. The original 1960 Spartacus is actually a pretty radical revolutionary film with an Imperial critique. It may not be your usual sword and sandal epic either.
Pollo and Varenus are the direct precursors to the cutthroat mid-level murderer characters of Game of Thrones. The audience loves and identifies with these mid-level characters, their immoral methods teach us that even mid level and lower class people need to be morally flexible to get ahead, have agency, chase their goals, etc. The show might as well be titled: 'how to be a venal operator in a grossly immoral system.' This is pretty standard HBO fair, and one of many ways our cultural products help 'institutionalize immorality' and limit the imagination of those who consume it.