Author Description

"This is the first volume of essays published on the television series Troy: Fall of a City (BBC One and Netflix, 2018). Covering an engaging range of topics, such as gender, race and politics, international scholars in the fields of classics, history and film studies discuss how the story of Troy has been recreated on screen to suit the expectations of a modern audience. This series was praised for its thought-provoking way of handling important the issues which affected the mythical city of Troy and which continue to impact our present society. Divided into discussions on epic narrative, cast and character, as well as tragic resonances, the contributors tackle gender roles by exploring the new ways in which the mythic feminine figures such as Helen, Aphrodite and the Amazons were depicted in the series. An examination is also made into the concept of the hero and how the conventional representation of masculinity was challenged. We encounter a significant discussion on race which focuses on the controversial decision to cast Achilles, Patrocolus, Zeus and other characters with black actors. Several essays deal with the moral and ethical complexities surrounding warfare, power and politics. The often overlooked significance of costume and the influence of design is also discussed"