J.Hunter - Sources

Geer, Russel M. "Second Thoughts on the Imperial Succession from Nerva to Commodus ."
Published by: The Johns Hopkins University Press. JSTOR, Transactions and Proceedings of the American Philological Association, Vol. 67, (1936), pp. 47-54
Accssed Apr-13-10

In this secondary source by Russel M. Geer it is about a more in depth understanding of how successors to the throne of Rome were chosen, giving detailed information onn how Marcus Aurelius became emperor and how Commodus became to be his successor. The article also contains a bit of family historty as the information is being told ogf the two rulers. This is useful for my research because it gives me a better understanding of my finally decided topic of the overall image of Commodus that is presented. The article provides me with a litle knowledge of his background as well as a possible conformation of his persanality, with statements such as " It was unfortunate for Rome that Commodus did not die in childhood..."

Speidel, M.P. "Commodus the God-Emperor and the Army"
Published by: Society for the Promotion of Roman Studies. JSTOR, The Journal of Roman Studies, Vol. 83, (1993), pp. 109-114
accessed Apr-13-10

This source also considered as secondary is all about the emperor Commodus. Providing more biography type of information about the ruler it gives information on his last reign and shines a bit of light on the assumed madness of his personality with information about him yearning for divine help. This also provides me with lots of primary information form decisions Commodus made during his reign to his murder. This article is very useful for my research because it increasse my knowldge greatly of the emperor, while also providing me with topics to include in my paper.

Primary & Secondary Source- Deangelo Toles

I'm doing research on the Gladiator. I'm doing further research on how Rome is made up and the things that take places in Rome like events and the type of clothing they wore in the empire plus the cities that were subdivisions in Rome. The author is Thomas Ashby & the article name is Rome. I have found a couple of primary sources, but I'm still looking for some more secondary sources. I found an article about Rome and it basically talks about what's in Rome and what makes up Rome. I tells me how big the temples or whatever they slept in were & the first settlement. It explains how the emperors & gladiators came about & how they determined or chose the people to run the empire. For example, Julius Caesar was the most powerful person in Rome because he was the ruler and took on the importance role to make Rome the best it could be. The article also talks about about most of the cities that were in Rome and how they impacted the lives of the Roman empire.

PROMPT / Primary & Secondary Sources

Once you've found some (no necessarily all) good sources to use for your paper, you need to figure out how to cite them in MLA format. The MLA Handbook 2010 is best (it's in the library..just ask), but if you're in a pinch, there are some okay MLA guides online.
http://ocw.usu.edu/English/intermediate-writing/english-2010/-2010/mla-format

Remember that if you're getting your sources online, you need to cite them as an online source. There is a particular format for this.

**For next week, post the citations for 2 of your sources (preferably 1 primary and 1 secondary), and write a brief summary of each. Tell us what each book/article is about and a sentence or two about why it is useful for your research.

(This may seem like just an extra writing assignment, but you'll use your sources better and with greater ease once you've spent some time distilling them.)

FINDING SOURCES ONLINE

Use the TSU library's databases to search for good scholarly articles related to your topic. (They pay for the subscriptions to a bunch of different journals, etc. that you can't get by just going online.)

Here's how to do it:

1. Go to TSU homepage.
2. Click "Library/Media Centers" in the Quick Links box.
3. Click "Databases" in the Search box.
4. For the purposes of this class, I recommend searching by title (instead of by subject) and using JSTOR or EBSCOhost. Both of these should provide you with plenty of good sources. But, of course, feel free to do it another way.
5. You may have to sign in at his point using your name and TSU ID number.

Whatever database you decide to use, the "Advanced Search" (if that's an option) is always better for giving you more specific material. Obviously. So opt for this if you know what you want re: your topic.

If you have any trouble from here, you can get in touch with me via phone, email, or gchat. If I'm online, gchat is always best.

Have fun.

p.s. There are also some kickass resource people in the library who love helping students with this stuff. Don't hesitate to use them.

Karl Summary

The movie starts with Maximus being the general of the roman empire army. Maximus was and favored by many including Marcus Aurelius who is the emperor at that time. At one point of the movie Marcus tells Maximus that he wants be emperor of Rome. After Marcus tells his son Commodus that he wants Maximus to be Emperor when he dies, he is then murdered by his son Commodus. Maximus then takes a stand and he refuses to grasp the fact that Marcus wasn’t killed. Commodus ordered the execution of Maximus and his family. In the meantime Maximus had then escaped. Then when he tried to return home his family had already been executed. He then goes into Acoma and then he is sold into slavery. While he is in slavery he proves himself as a gladiator and gets recognized. On his way back to glory he engages in many battles through Africa back to Rome. This leads to the most climactic scene where he meets the emperor and explans what he has been through and how he is back. The Commodus the emperor then challenges Maximus to a fight to the death. Before the fight, Commodus stabs Maximus and tries to cover it up.
Maximus and Commodus engage in a fight to the death which is the most important battle of the movie. Maximus kills Commodus but he then dies. Then the Rome senate is restored.

TONIGHT @ 7PM / FREE MOVIE FOR EXTRA CREDIT

Hey 1020. What are you guys up to tonight?

The FRIST (art museum on Broadway) is showing the movie, 300 *for free* in their auditorium. These film nights are actually really nice. There's brown-bagged popcorn you can pick up at the door (for free) and wine/beer/soda for sale in the museum cafe. You can take drinks into the auditorium with you. (I don't recommend kegs, however. Be respectful. :)

**Be there tonight at 7:00 pm, tell me about it on the blog, and get an [A] added to your blog grade.

My buddy Paul Young (director of film studies at Vanderbilt) will be introducing the film at 7:00pm sharp, so don't miss this.

This is a Zack Snyder movie based on the graphic novel by Frank Miller. More wild battles, more ancient Greeks, another wicked cool hero, and SICK cinematography... Some of you may like this more than Gladiator. I'm curious. See the link below for more information about tonight's event.

http://fristcenter.org/site/calendar/eventdetail.aspx?cid=833

***

If you don't get a chance to see the movie tonight, there's another chance to get some extra credit TOMORROW (Saturday). The FRIST currently has a hero-themed exhibition up called, "Mortals and Myths in Ancient Greece." In the spirit of our latest Gladiator assignment, check out this exhibit sometime this week(end) if you get a chance. Even if you just see one interesting thing, tell us about it, (or about your overall experience of the exhibit/Frist) on the blog. Below is a link to that exhibit.

http://fristcenter.org/site/calendar/eventdetail.aspx?cid=792


Below is just a quiz to see what Greek mythological character you are most like....
(C'mon. Everybody secretly loves these things. :)

http://thewalters.org/exhibitions/heroes/quiz/

Pamela Word-Gladiator Intro

In the movie Gladiator, the main point that the director is trying to come across us is that to become ruler of something, you have to go through obstacles and hardships. There was a lot of fighting and killing in the movie. At the beginning, a man had come back to the land with his head chopped off. This shows you how serious they were about the title of King. Russell Crowe, the main character, played Maximus. Maximus was a potential ruler of Rome. The action in the movie had a great amount of cimenatography. If it if from the costumes to the setting, this took place. The Romans are more civilzed than the barbarians. Their clothes makes them seem that way which leads to the cinematography in the movie.


This is only half of my intro. Any tips on how it could be better?

My introduction

In the film "Gladiator" director Ridley Scott is trying to persuade his audience that even if you are the best at something and is well respected by most, there is always someone who is trying to take your spot. This shown throughout the movie beginning when we see Maximus Decimus Meridus, a well respected and honored man, leading Rome in a glorious war. Amazed by his strength and leadership qualities, the dying emperor of Rome, Maxus Aurelius, announced to MAximus Decimus that he would love and greatly appreciate it if Maximus would become emperor after he dies. As Marcus Aurelius announces his decision to his son Commodus, Commodus is deeply hurt and decides to take any necessary steps towards his father and Maximus to become emperor of Rome. Throughout the movie, Ridley Scott shows how Commodus betrays his father by killing him and plotting Maximus death to become emperor.

That is my introduction. I know I still need a conclusion sentence I am still stuck on that because I know it has to leads to the next paragraph so I am trying to think of something that is a summary of what I said that can also give me an arguable topic sentence for the next paragraph. Was my summary too short? I tried to only include a short overall summary because I did not want it to be too long but still support my topic sentence. Also, after the summary is the commentary talking about the summary and how it relates, did I do that correct or should I change it? Do it sound too much like it is suppose to be part of the summary?

Intro to Gladiator: Deangelo Toles

In Ridley Scott's, 2000 masterpiece Gladiator, he reveals the significance of the Roman empire. He immortalized this film through exciting action scenes and very beautiful, unique imagery. The mise-en-scene was very extreme and intense. Every scene I watched had it's very own unique way of showing how things occured in the empire. All of the brawls were interesting, eye-catching, and bloody. However, Maximus portrayed his character by being a strong individual who takes on the role of leadership for Julius Caesar. During the film, Maximus loses sight of his responsibilities that led into his betrayal and him being faulted for the death of Julius Caesar. Later, it resulted in the death of his own family. On the other hand, Commodus was the one who murdered Julius Caesar, his father, and he was the main reason for the death of Maximus's family and his position for becoming a gladiator.

J.Hunter- Introduction

In the film "Gladiator", by Ridley Scotthe is presenting to his viewers a story of themes that include jealousy, revenge, power, and hatred as well as many others through Roman history and culture. The film is the story of Maximus Decimus Meridius a powerful Roman general, who is loved by all and is the choice of the dying Emperor Marcus Aurelius to be next in charge instead of his corrupt son Commodus. The film is following Maximus a determined general, and how he strives to take out his vengence on Commodus for the murder of his family out of jealousy and his hunger for power and glory. The film dramatically depicts both the passion of vengence and the anticipated faliure of individuality caused by jealousy very closely. Scott brings to life his themes on film with his personal elaborate visual style as a director, which he has most likely developed over time. With his detailed aproach in design in the editing process, the many elements of mise-en-scene are portrayed very nicely intensifying every moment of the film, from the beginning onto the credits roll.

Gladiator Introduction::Jazmyn Lamar-Bruce

The film "Gladiator" directed by Ridley Scott is a very cut throat film showing how power and violence could corrupt a person. The main Gladiator, as known as Maximus, goes through the people closest to him being killed. These events seem to alter his character because he feels he has nobody else to live for since the ones he loves have been taken away from him. In this film, power also has a way of making people think differently. The character Commodus, after learning he won't be emperor, takes matters into his own hands to gain that power. Ridley Scott uses various creative ways to develop this story.

Gladiator Introduction Paragraph - Morgan Stevenson

In “Gladiator”, Ridley Scott is trying to show us that the Roman Empire was designed to “kill, steal, and destroy” and by doing so, it gave them power and control over a population of many but destroy them in the end, like karma.  Maximus, a solider that became the best Gladiator ever due to enslavement and a will to survive, led the Romans in a victory in a battle against their enemy.  His heroic acts and devotion to the Roman Empire led Marcus Aurelius, the dying emperor of the Roman Empire, to appointing him to the position of Emperor of Rome but Marcus’ son wanted to be emperor so he killed his father before anyone found out that Marcus wanted Maximus to be emperor.  Soon there after, Maximus was forced into slavery and became a Gladiator, a man trained to fight with weapons against other men or wild animals in an arena for the entertainment of the ruler and citizens.  Throughout this movie, the Roman Empire is portrayed as a government of manipulation that controls its citizens by putting the fear in them through death, barbaric acts or other forms of torture, which is shown primarily through the cinematography.  According to this film, the Roman Empire was strong in a sense but yet weak because of the inhuman ways it operated and even though it was seemingly structured, it had no foundation and that’s the reason why it collapsed and only the Roman Catholic Church survived the fall of the empire.

Gladiator Intro paragraph- Tevin Lanier

In Ancient Rome, Ridley Scott takes us through the mind of Maximus better known as "The Gladiator". "The Gladiator" played by Russell Crowe is an example of how losing your family to senseless acts of violence can turn a man into a crazed killer. During Maximus being in Rome, he has winessed some very gruesome events due to his participation in the military. Maximus saw many violent acts as the leader of the army,but experiencing his family being murdered took a serious toll on him. Maximus is now turned into a killing machine with no regard for human life, all to get revenge for his murdered family. Since Rome's government played a major part in their deaths, they now shall reap the effects of Maximus' wrath.

Introduction-Gladiator Quorneshia Milner

In the movie Gladiator Scott Ridley, the director, shows us his version of how rough and rigid the Romans could be and how interesting they could be to watch at the same time. There are a couple of movies that come to mind when watching this movie- - 300, Alexander, Troy,and last but not least Rome (the series) all of thes movies have lots of battles and strong men young and old fighting for what they believe is right and/or wrong. Movies like Gladiator and the others make you wonder could wars really be this glorious and could they really be that gory. Gladiator is bassically like all the other war movies in the fact that at the end Maximus prevails and comes out on top, but it is different because of the struggles thatg Maximus had to go through in order to overcome- - becoming a slave and being forced to fight. Scott Ridley's point seems to be that no matter how much someone trys to hold you down you can come out on top if you just keep pushing on until the end.

"Gladiator" Introduction Paragraph- Jowin Okere

Ancient Rome is known as one of the most revolutionary civilizations in history. It has been depicted in several different aspects from the artistic shifts to their powerful government. In "The Gladiator", Ridley Scott depicts the violent and barbaric nature of ancient Rome through the eyes of Maximus, a man who has been sold as a Gladiator after encountering a series of unfortunate events. His transition from an organized militant leader to a war hungry fighter is a human manifestation of the blurred spectrum that is Rome. Ridley Scott uses Maximus as an avatar of this depiction, to make a statement about the true nature of Rome and its culture through his trials and encounters throughout the movie.

Introduction...

Gladiator, directed by Ridley Scott is a movie that empowers his audience to see how one individual being can concord a whole society of Rome by being humble but yet assertive Scott accomplishes this must dramatically with mis-en-scene. The sets and props was typically in Maxium favor. The costuming that was wear by Maxius was very bold symbolizing youth and strength. Scott tells a very heart lifting story with many details. This is very significant in understanding Scott venison of Rome. the cinematography, mise-en-scene, and actors all play a very important roles in showing how Scott wanted to depict Rome and the battled that was finally won.

NOTE RE: PAPERS (from Dr. Mazzone)

See the following note from Dr. Mazzone regarding your papers due this Thursday. We'll discuss more tomorrow. (And don't forget about the blog for tonight. See the PROMPT.)

---

What you want to talk about is up to you--there's a lot to notice in the film. Whatever you notice, however, should be in the service of an argument you're making about Scott's purpose as a director. So what is he trying to show us? Something about individuality in the context of a social system that demands submission? Something about leadership and the voice of the "people"? Or maybe you can say something about the significance of the film to contemporary audiences--what does Rome mean to people seeing this film? What is the function of the action sequences in the film? What does the film say about violence, and how does it manipulate the audience into its vision about violence?

*[THESE ARE JUST SOME EXAMPLES. You need to pick a manageable and specific topic that YOU can write well about.]

The critical thing is to have a thesis--something to argue. Once you have that, everything you observe, whether technical or design-oriented, should be in service of that argument. You're not writing a review--so not a lot of superlatives about the production values, the battle scenes, or the wonderful acting. Rather, you want to explain how all those elements contribute to make the movie mean what you say it means.

PROMPT / INTRO TO FILM PAPER

Hey 1020. Don't forget to post the INTRO PARAGRAPH of your Gladiator paper by midnight, Monday before class.

Of course, these intros may change as you continue working on your paper through Thursday, but at least this will get you started. AND I am happy to give feedback on these.

**It's important to have a strong first paragraph! It gives the first impression of your paper, (which needs to be good), and writing it will help you focus/shape/guide the rest of your paper. You know this. Take full advantage of this assignment as an opportunity to get feedback AND deter those nasty procrastination habits.

Fright Night Scene Analysis -Tevin Lanier

As I was watching the beginning of Fright Night, I was instantly drawn into the fact that Charley is in the midst of making love but is curious about whats goin on outside. Charley must be a fan of horror movies for him to automatically get suspicious about people outside carrying things. Charley is so bothered about the people that he has completely neglected his girlfriend to explore the people's whereabouts. His lack of attention towards his mate even bothers his mother who is puzzled by Charley's actions. The next day Charley meets a new neighbor who is a well-known prostitute. Charley eventually makes up with his girlfriend and they go out to eat, then he notices that the new neighbor he has just met has been murdered.Charley is shocked by the news and his assumptions of foul play grows stronger.

Scene Analysis- Jowin Okere

The scene I chose to analyze was the scene when he finally saw what happened to his home. There were several things to notice in this scene. Basically after Maximus has avoided his death he travels all the way back to see what has happened to his home. As he travels he reminisces on quick glimpses of his childhood combined with other elements of what has happened to him. When he finally gets back home he sees what has happened and breaks down and cries.

During this scene there is alot going on as far as colors, camera angle, and sound goes. There are varying terrains that he goes through as he rides his horse back to his home. He went through snow, brown desert and into the barren wasteland. Not only does the terrain change but what we see changes. As he rides, there are transitions from us seeing him race to his home and his memories of him as a child in a garden. The memory shots were very colorful and vivacious. The green forage that surrounded him during these scenes represented life. During one of the memory shots, however, an army of horsemen came trampling him in the middle of his recess. It is unclear whether or not this is something that has actually happened or whether it was strictly symbolic. There were also alot of close-ups on the horses feet and on Maximus' face.

Ridley Scott's varying shots basically were to provide contrast to what has just happened while at the same time giving a glimpse in to the pure yet hardened heart of Maximus. Gladiator started off with Maximus being loved and revered and enjoying his duty as a soldier. However, in an instant things change for the worst and he is now in a negative position. His memories of his pleasant past combined with the soldiers trampling him in the same instant can be seen as a parellel to his current situation. All of these varying terrains show what he is going through internally.