Brynn Grossman
1. "Gods, Monsters, and Martyrs"
Michel Foucault analyzed the elements and mechanisms of power and control. By focussing on the discourses that are produced by players in society, Foucault concludes that reality is subjective. The history of humanity had been shaped by the powerful through propaganda and subjective interpretation of the world around them. Knowledge is therefore not discovered, but produced.
Foucault ideas influenced Edward Said's postcolonial study, Orientalism, where he agues that the identity of the colonized is shaped and distorted by the colonizer. Said focuses on the production of knowledge by the politically powerful, the internalization of the imposed identity on the poor, and the impression it leaves on history.
Homi K. Bhabha takes it a step further be acknowledging the complexity of the relationship between the ruler and subjects. Frilingos argues, for instance, that the authority of the Roman rulers had to be reinforced by the sincere acceptance of its citizens, that the rulers' behavior was actually limited by gaze of the audience. Bhabha coined the term "mimicry" to explain the way that the powerless would subvert the authority of the powerful by using their own social assets against them. Power is more of a two-way relationship.
2. "Merely Players"
The visual culture of Rome reflects a system of dominance based on public opinion and the way that ancient Roman identity depended on performance. The Ara Pacis depicts the identity of Rome that Augustus wanted people to believe, ignoring many negative realities while mythologizing its alleged successes.
The emperors maintained a pious public identity in order to hold power not only by force, but also through indoctrination. The divine status of the emperor not only helped to curb rebellion within Rome, but also elevated local officials in the provinces, who had a direct link to the rulers in Rome, who then had a direct link to the gods. Interestingly, while perhaps not taken very seriously in the heart of the city, the emperor cult was surprisingly well accepted by it's provinces (like Asian Minor).
The spectacles, like the gladiatorial fights in the Colosseum and the exotic animal hunts put Roman dominance on display. Criminals and political enemies were humiliated in front of enormous crowds. Animals from far away lands demonstrated Rome's relentless conquering of all foes.
The spectator's role in defining the identity of Roman civilization also determines his or her own social identity, as a citizen of the empire. Both spectacle and spectator are on display.
1. "Gods, Monsters, and Martyrs"
Michel Foucault analyzed the elements and mechanisms of power and control. By focussing on the discourses that are produced by players in society, Foucault concludes that reality is subjective. The history of humanity had been shaped by the powerful through propaganda and subjective interpretation of the world around them. Knowledge is therefore not discovered, but produced.
Foucault ideas influenced Edward Said's postcolonial study, Orientalism, where he agues that the identity of the colonized is shaped and distorted by the colonizer. Said focuses on the production of knowledge by the politically powerful, the internalization of the imposed identity on the poor, and the impression it leaves on history.
Homi K. Bhabha takes it a step further be acknowledging the complexity of the relationship between the ruler and subjects. Frilingos argues, for instance, that the authority of the Roman rulers had to be reinforced by the sincere acceptance of its citizens, that the rulers' behavior was actually limited by gaze of the audience. Bhabha coined the term "mimicry" to explain the way that the powerless would subvert the authority of the powerful by using their own social assets against them. Power is more of a two-way relationship.
2. "Merely Players"
The visual culture of Rome reflects a system of dominance based on public opinion and the way that ancient Roman identity depended on performance. The Ara Pacis depicts the identity of Rome that Augustus wanted people to believe, ignoring many negative realities while mythologizing its alleged successes.
The emperors maintained a pious public identity in order to hold power not only by force, but also through indoctrination. The divine status of the emperor not only helped to curb rebellion within Rome, but also elevated local officials in the provinces, who had a direct link to the rulers in Rome, who then had a direct link to the gods. Interestingly, while perhaps not taken very seriously in the heart of the city, the emperor cult was surprisingly well accepted by it's provinces (like Asian Minor).
The spectacles, like the gladiatorial fights in the Colosseum and the exotic animal hunts put Roman dominance on display. Criminals and political enemies were humiliated in front of enormous crowds. Animals from far away lands demonstrated Rome's relentless conquering of all foes.
The spectator's role in defining the identity of Roman civilization also determines his or her own social identity, as a citizen of the empire. Both spectacle and spectator are on display.