Nicholas Diak's Blog - Posts Tagged "neo-peplum"
Call for Essays: Neo-peplum Films and Television 1990 to Present
I have a call for abstracts for my new edited anthology - posting here on Goodreads incase some wayward scholar happens by and is intrigued enough to submit.
Introduction
After the success of Ridley Scott’s Gladiator in 2000, the sword-and-sandal genre of films was officially resurrected and has not seen such a prolific output since its heyday in Italy in the late 1950s and 1960s. This second wave of peplum films - or more specifically “neo-peplum” to reflect this distinctive contemporary cycle - has achieved unprecedented critical and commercial success, with big screen films such as 300 to ambitiously realized small screen fare such as Spartacus and Rome. Marginal, critically panned and box office bombs such as Gods of Egypt still make an impact, contributing to the canon of films. With an upcoming remake of Ben-Hur on the horizon, films set in ancient Greek and Roman times, based on their mythologies or featuring gladiatorial combat or large centurion armies, are certainly in demand to theater-goers and Netflix binge watchers.
With such sword-and-sandal films enjoying such popularity, it invites an academic gaze to unearth their cinematic importance beyond simple movie watching consumption. These films and television shows are definitely important: are they a reflection of our times? With our high tech lives, what is the fascination with depictions of the ancient world? With body and gender dialogue more open, what does this say about films that have a strong emphasis on the herculean male or Amazonian female?
This anthology is looking for essays that aim to explore this neo-peplum cycle of films that shares commonality to the original Italian films and Hollywood historic epics. The original peplum cycle of films began with Hercules in 1958, so it is appropriate to say the neo-peplum cycle begins anew with the Hercules character in Hercules: The Legendary Journeys of the 1990s. This anthology seeks to solidify the neo-peplum genre as a distinct term and re-appropriate it to specifically refer to sword-and-sandal films and television shows made after 1990 and evaluate these entries in a variety of interdisciplinary lenses and frameworks.
Potential Essay Topics
A list of possible (but not comprehensive) topics and themes that contributors could submit on:
Anti-Peplum – exploring change in tone from adventure and action to more dramatic and gritty stories
Auteur theory (Timur Bekmambetov and The Arena)
Portrayal of women from vamps and damsels in the original peplum cycle to Xena-inspired characters in the present cycle (Xena, The Arena)
General Masculinity/Femininity portrayal
Compare/contrast original Italian cycle with present cycle
Compare/contrast original stories/characters with remakes (Hercules remakes, Clash of Titans remake)
Close reading at source material and how neo-peplum films interpret them
Neo-peplums as allegory for present day politics
Peplums for young adults (Gods of Egypt)
Neo-peplums combining with other genres – such as sci-fi (John Carter) or disaster film (Pompeii)
Ancient worlds portrayed in “hyper-realistic” fashion
Mono-myth and neo-peplum characters
Pastiche, parody, subversion (Hail, Caesar!, Meet the Spartans)
Representations of race, white-washing
Shakespeare, tragedy (Titus)
Authors are encouraged to submit more than one abstract. If you have multiple great ideas for potential essay chapters, feel free to submit each one. I will assemble the most cohesive arrangement of essays that will provide the most well-rounded discussion of neo-peplum films.
Films and Television Series
Below is a list of potential films and television series post 1990 that could potentially fit into the neo-peplum formula. This list is by no means complete, but it is presented to give examples of the types of films/TV shows that fit within this genre and to inspire creative ideas for the films to write about. Not all neo-peplum films deal directly with ancient Greece or Rome, as some of the aesthetics and styles are being used for Egyptian, Viking and barbarian themed films as well. This list is only a guide; other films and TV shows that are neo-peplum-like will certainly be entertained for this book.
Films
300 (2007), 300: Rise of an Empire (2014), Agora (2009), Alexander (2004), The Arena (2001), Centurion (2010), Clash of the Titans (2010), The Eagle (2011), Gladiator (2000), Gods of Egypt (2016), Hail, Caesar! (2016), Hercules (1997), Hercules (2014), Immortals (2011), John Carter (2012), The Last Legion (2007), Meet the Spartans (2008), Pompeii (2014), Prince of Persia: Sands of Time (2010), The Scorpion King (2002) and its sequels, Titus (1999), Troy (2004), Wrath of the Titans (2012)
Television Series
Hercules: The Legendary Journeys (1995-1999), Rome (2005-2007), Spartacus (2010–2013), Vikings (2013-present), Xena: Warrior Princess (1995-2001), Young Hercules (1998-1999)
Publication Timetable
Below follows a generous timetable at essay composition, editing and submitting:
June 30, 2016 – Deadline for abstract submissions
July 10, 2016 – Notification of acceptance, distribution of style guide
December 4, 2016 – Chapter drafts are due
April 29, 2017 – Chapter revisions due
May 31, 2017 – Submission of manuscript to the publisher
Drafts and revisions are strongly encouraged to be submitted before the deadlines. The essays will follow Chicago style citations. The style guide when disseminated will round out the essay specifications.
Abstract Submission Instructions
Please submit your abstract(s) of roughly 500 words along with your academic CV/resume and preliminary bibliography to the email address below before June 30th. Please use an appropriate subject line when submitting – have it contain the phrase “neo-peplum submission.” I will confirm each submission via email within 48 hours.
Essayists will receive a contributor’s copy of the book when it is published.
Nicholas Diak, editor
Email: vnvdiak@gmail.com
Website: http://www.neopeplumbook.com
Nicholas Diak is an independent pop culture scholar residing in southern California. He has a strong interest in neofolk and post-industrial music, exploitation cinema, Italian genre films and H.P. Lovecraft. He has contributed to the book James Bond and Popular Culture: Essays on the Influence of the Fictional Superspy (McFarland, 2014) and has an essay appearing in an upcoming anthology on space-horror films. He is a frequent presenter at the Southwest Popular/American Culture Conference, a contributor to the website Heathen Harvest and a member of the H.P. Lovecast Podcast. He is also an academic member of the Horror Writers Association and National Coalition of Independent Scholars.
Introduction
After the success of Ridley Scott’s Gladiator in 2000, the sword-and-sandal genre of films was officially resurrected and has not seen such a prolific output since its heyday in Italy in the late 1950s and 1960s. This second wave of peplum films - or more specifically “neo-peplum” to reflect this distinctive contemporary cycle - has achieved unprecedented critical and commercial success, with big screen films such as 300 to ambitiously realized small screen fare such as Spartacus and Rome. Marginal, critically panned and box office bombs such as Gods of Egypt still make an impact, contributing to the canon of films. With an upcoming remake of Ben-Hur on the horizon, films set in ancient Greek and Roman times, based on their mythologies or featuring gladiatorial combat or large centurion armies, are certainly in demand to theater-goers and Netflix binge watchers.
With such sword-and-sandal films enjoying such popularity, it invites an academic gaze to unearth their cinematic importance beyond simple movie watching consumption. These films and television shows are definitely important: are they a reflection of our times? With our high tech lives, what is the fascination with depictions of the ancient world? With body and gender dialogue more open, what does this say about films that have a strong emphasis on the herculean male or Amazonian female?
This anthology is looking for essays that aim to explore this neo-peplum cycle of films that shares commonality to the original Italian films and Hollywood historic epics. The original peplum cycle of films began with Hercules in 1958, so it is appropriate to say the neo-peplum cycle begins anew with the Hercules character in Hercules: The Legendary Journeys of the 1990s. This anthology seeks to solidify the neo-peplum genre as a distinct term and re-appropriate it to specifically refer to sword-and-sandal films and television shows made after 1990 and evaluate these entries in a variety of interdisciplinary lenses and frameworks.
Potential Essay Topics
A list of possible (but not comprehensive) topics and themes that contributors could submit on:
Anti-Peplum – exploring change in tone from adventure and action to more dramatic and gritty stories
Auteur theory (Timur Bekmambetov and The Arena)
Portrayal of women from vamps and damsels in the original peplum cycle to Xena-inspired characters in the present cycle (Xena, The Arena)
General Masculinity/Femininity portrayal
Compare/contrast original Italian cycle with present cycle
Compare/contrast original stories/characters with remakes (Hercules remakes, Clash of Titans remake)
Close reading at source material and how neo-peplum films interpret them
Neo-peplums as allegory for present day politics
Peplums for young adults (Gods of Egypt)
Neo-peplums combining with other genres – such as sci-fi (John Carter) or disaster film (Pompeii)
Ancient worlds portrayed in “hyper-realistic” fashion
Mono-myth and neo-peplum characters
Pastiche, parody, subversion (Hail, Caesar!, Meet the Spartans)
Representations of race, white-washing
Shakespeare, tragedy (Titus)
Authors are encouraged to submit more than one abstract. If you have multiple great ideas for potential essay chapters, feel free to submit each one. I will assemble the most cohesive arrangement of essays that will provide the most well-rounded discussion of neo-peplum films.
Films and Television Series
Below is a list of potential films and television series post 1990 that could potentially fit into the neo-peplum formula. This list is by no means complete, but it is presented to give examples of the types of films/TV shows that fit within this genre and to inspire creative ideas for the films to write about. Not all neo-peplum films deal directly with ancient Greece or Rome, as some of the aesthetics and styles are being used for Egyptian, Viking and barbarian themed films as well. This list is only a guide; other films and TV shows that are neo-peplum-like will certainly be entertained for this book.
Films
300 (2007), 300: Rise of an Empire (2014), Agora (2009), Alexander (2004), The Arena (2001), Centurion (2010), Clash of the Titans (2010), The Eagle (2011), Gladiator (2000), Gods of Egypt (2016), Hail, Caesar! (2016), Hercules (1997), Hercules (2014), Immortals (2011), John Carter (2012), The Last Legion (2007), Meet the Spartans (2008), Pompeii (2014), Prince of Persia: Sands of Time (2010), The Scorpion King (2002) and its sequels, Titus (1999), Troy (2004), Wrath of the Titans (2012)
Television Series
Hercules: The Legendary Journeys (1995-1999), Rome (2005-2007), Spartacus (2010–2013), Vikings (2013-present), Xena: Warrior Princess (1995-2001), Young Hercules (1998-1999)
Publication Timetable
Below follows a generous timetable at essay composition, editing and submitting:
June 30, 2016 – Deadline for abstract submissions
July 10, 2016 – Notification of acceptance, distribution of style guide
December 4, 2016 – Chapter drafts are due
April 29, 2017 – Chapter revisions due
May 31, 2017 – Submission of manuscript to the publisher
Drafts and revisions are strongly encouraged to be submitted before the deadlines. The essays will follow Chicago style citations. The style guide when disseminated will round out the essay specifications.
Abstract Submission Instructions
Please submit your abstract(s) of roughly 500 words along with your academic CV/resume and preliminary bibliography to the email address below before June 30th. Please use an appropriate subject line when submitting – have it contain the phrase “neo-peplum submission.” I will confirm each submission via email within 48 hours.
Essayists will receive a contributor’s copy of the book when it is published.
Nicholas Diak, editor
Email: vnvdiak@gmail.com
Website: http://www.neopeplumbook.com
Nicholas Diak is an independent pop culture scholar residing in southern California. He has a strong interest in neofolk and post-industrial music, exploitation cinema, Italian genre films and H.P. Lovecraft. He has contributed to the book James Bond and Popular Culture: Essays on the Influence of the Fictional Superspy (McFarland, 2014) and has an essay appearing in an upcoming anthology on space-horror films. He is a frequent presenter at the Southwest Popular/American Culture Conference, a contributor to the website Heathen Harvest and a member of the H.P. Lovecast Podcast. He is also an academic member of the Horror Writers Association and National Coalition of Independent Scholars.
March-April 2017 Recap
March and April 2017 Recaps
The last two months have been particurlly busy for me in writing/getting things accomplished.
The biggest accomplishment, of course, was executing and then presenting at the inaugural Ann Radcliffe Academic Conference that was part of StokerCon this year. We had 14 presenteners (including myself and co-chair/co-founder Michele) across 5 panels on Friday, April 28th on the Queen Mary in Long Beach. The feedback we received was that it was extremely successful. We had a wonderful crowd, juggling 19 – 25 folks per panel. I did a presentation on the Re-Animator comics, which I would love to dive even more into and perhaps submit as a paper somewhere. We now need to plan to do the conference again for StokerCon next year, which will be in March in Providence Rhode Island.
For my Neo-Peplum book, I am in the final stretches. I am almost done editing/formatting the essays in the book, so the last two hurdles is to finish writing the introduction and the aknowledgements. I am hoping to have the book done early! There’s lots more essays on the horizon, plus my publisher already wants to work with me on another book. I’m feel optimistic about my writing.
Over the past two month, I had lots of articles published across both Heathen Harvest and Fanbase Press.
Heathen Harvest
I did a review of This Means War by the synthwave project Volkor X: https://heathenharvest.org/2017/03/30...
I also attended the Vogel/Dance with the Dead/Carpenter Brut concert in March and submitted a concert review. It should be published shortly.
Fanbase Press
Since Wondercon happened in early April, I had TONS of content published since I was there reporting.
The panel I was most happy to attend and report on was the history of Q*Bert by the co-creator and original developer of the game, Warren Stevens. It was a fantastic history. He autographed my videogame!
http://www.fanbasepress.com/index.php...
I also did a write up on the panel on how to make a nerdy living:
http://www.fanbasepress.com/index.php...
And on a panel with pinup artist Olivia!
http://www.fanbasepress.com/index.php...
At the end of April, on the 26th, folks celebrate LV-426 or Aliens day. I did my contribution to celebrate the series by doing a retrospective on the video game Aliens: Thanatos Encounter:
http://www.fanbasepress.com/index.php...
The to do list now, is to finish the neo-peplum book, which is due at the end of May. After that, I have a synthwave-Stranger Things essay to start on, as well as some book proposals and other essays in the brainstorming session.
It’s getting busy for me!
The last two months have been particurlly busy for me in writing/getting things accomplished.
The biggest accomplishment, of course, was executing and then presenting at the inaugural Ann Radcliffe Academic Conference that was part of StokerCon this year. We had 14 presenteners (including myself and co-chair/co-founder Michele) across 5 panels on Friday, April 28th on the Queen Mary in Long Beach. The feedback we received was that it was extremely successful. We had a wonderful crowd, juggling 19 – 25 folks per panel. I did a presentation on the Re-Animator comics, which I would love to dive even more into and perhaps submit as a paper somewhere. We now need to plan to do the conference again for StokerCon next year, which will be in March in Providence Rhode Island.
For my Neo-Peplum book, I am in the final stretches. I am almost done editing/formatting the essays in the book, so the last two hurdles is to finish writing the introduction and the aknowledgements. I am hoping to have the book done early! There’s lots more essays on the horizon, plus my publisher already wants to work with me on another book. I’m feel optimistic about my writing.
Over the past two month, I had lots of articles published across both Heathen Harvest and Fanbase Press.
Heathen Harvest
I did a review of This Means War by the synthwave project Volkor X: https://heathenharvest.org/2017/03/30...
I also attended the Vogel/Dance with the Dead/Carpenter Brut concert in March and submitted a concert review. It should be published shortly.
Fanbase Press
Since Wondercon happened in early April, I had TONS of content published since I was there reporting.
The panel I was most happy to attend and report on was the history of Q*Bert by the co-creator and original developer of the game, Warren Stevens. It was a fantastic history. He autographed my videogame!
http://www.fanbasepress.com/index.php...
I also did a write up on the panel on how to make a nerdy living:
http://www.fanbasepress.com/index.php...
And on a panel with pinup artist Olivia!
http://www.fanbasepress.com/index.php...
At the end of April, on the 26th, folks celebrate LV-426 or Aliens day. I did my contribution to celebrate the series by doing a retrospective on the video game Aliens: Thanatos Encounter:
http://www.fanbasepress.com/index.php...
The to do list now, is to finish the neo-peplum book, which is due at the end of May. After that, I have a synthwave-Stranger Things essay to start on, as well as some book proposals and other essays in the brainstorming session.
It’s getting busy for me!
July – August 2017 Writing/Projects Recap
Happy Friday evening everyone! The autumn season is upon us, the summer has ended. I hope everyone had a great one?
July was spent recovering from my surgery, but also working behind the scenes on quite a few writing projects.
Writing News
Since turning in my manuscript for the Neo-Peplum book, that is more-or-less out of my hands now. However, the publisher did release the covert art, and I do think it is awesome: it has The Rock from Hercules right on the cover! So, check out the Goodreads page for it here:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3...
Write now I am drafting a proposal for a joint book with Michele, and gathering prelim info for a few other book proposals. However, I still have plenty of other projects on my plate now that I need to finish up before moving onto my next big project I spearhead.
Academic News
Michele and I are still accepting proposals for the Ann Radcliffe Academic Conference for StokerCon 2018. Information on that can be found here:
http://stokercon2018.org/the-conventi...
Fanbase Press News
I had quite a bit of activity with Fanbase Press these past two monsths.
First, I did a review of the Lovecraftian anthology, The Children of Gla’aki, which can be found here:
http://www.fanbasepress.com/index.php...
Next, after the passing of George Romero, I did an In Memoriam for him here:
http://www.fanbasepress.com/index.php...
And finally, I did an interview with steampunk author Beth Cato, which can be read here:
http://www.fanbasepress.com/index.php...
HP Lovecast
In July we recorded an episode of the HP Lovecast podcast on the first three stories in the Heroes of Red Hook anthology. That can be listened to here:
https://archive.org/details/Episode22...
Heilige Tod News
I did a minor essay for my neofolk blog. The day after Tobe Hooper passed away, I did up a nice article about him and his contribution to martial-industrial music by way of Laibach sampling his film, Lifeforce. That can be read here:
http://heiligetod.blogspot.com/2017/0...
Current Projects
I just attended Long Beach Comic Con and my panel coverage has already been published at Fanbase Press. But since that was in September, I’ll have that up on that blog.
A review of an Allerseelen single was submitted to Heathen Harvest back in early August, waiting for it to publish.
Working on my essay for synthwave/Stranger things.
Working on redoing my Re-Animator presentation into book form.
Working on a book review for the Journal of Graphic Novels and Comics.
Working on an article for my neofolk blog on martial-industrial, cinema, and alternate soundtracks.
Plus, other things as they pop up.
Thanks for stopping by!
July was spent recovering from my surgery, but also working behind the scenes on quite a few writing projects.
Writing News
Since turning in my manuscript for the Neo-Peplum book, that is more-or-less out of my hands now. However, the publisher did release the covert art, and I do think it is awesome: it has The Rock from Hercules right on the cover! So, check out the Goodreads page for it here:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3...
Write now I am drafting a proposal for a joint book with Michele, and gathering prelim info for a few other book proposals. However, I still have plenty of other projects on my plate now that I need to finish up before moving onto my next big project I spearhead.
Academic News
Michele and I are still accepting proposals for the Ann Radcliffe Academic Conference for StokerCon 2018. Information on that can be found here:
http://stokercon2018.org/the-conventi...
Fanbase Press News
I had quite a bit of activity with Fanbase Press these past two monsths.
First, I did a review of the Lovecraftian anthology, The Children of Gla’aki, which can be found here:
http://www.fanbasepress.com/index.php...
Next, after the passing of George Romero, I did an In Memoriam for him here:
http://www.fanbasepress.com/index.php...
And finally, I did an interview with steampunk author Beth Cato, which can be read here:
http://www.fanbasepress.com/index.php...
HP Lovecast
In July we recorded an episode of the HP Lovecast podcast on the first three stories in the Heroes of Red Hook anthology. That can be listened to here:
https://archive.org/details/Episode22...
Heilige Tod News
I did a minor essay for my neofolk blog. The day after Tobe Hooper passed away, I did up a nice article about him and his contribution to martial-industrial music by way of Laibach sampling his film, Lifeforce. That can be read here:
http://heiligetod.blogspot.com/2017/0...
Current Projects
I just attended Long Beach Comic Con and my panel coverage has already been published at Fanbase Press. But since that was in September, I’ll have that up on that blog.
A review of an Allerseelen single was submitted to Heathen Harvest back in early August, waiting for it to publish.
Working on my essay for synthwave/Stranger things.
Working on redoing my Re-Animator presentation into book form.
Working on a book review for the Journal of Graphic Novels and Comics.
Working on an article for my neofolk blog on martial-industrial, cinema, and alternate soundtracks.
Plus, other things as they pop up.
Thanks for stopping by!
