Individual Blog # 1
As we begin our first week of our final project our group has narrowed down to specific areas with Ancient Roman spectacle Once narrowed our topic we were able to find connecting idea to support a core argument. . Exploring the topics of the mechanics of spectacle and political connection with them sparked an interest in all of us. We broke down our subjects in to several smaller one to support our argument. An interesting topic that I have interest in learning in is the idea of bread and circus and how it was a distraction tactic towards the the lower class. Ancient Rome having a large time period we focused on the years of 27 AD to the fall of the Roman Empire which is dated about 476 BC. With our topics we will connect them with the fall of the empire and determine how great of an influence spectacle had on the demise of Rome.
Slitting up the topics I have begun my research. Starting at Milner Library I have found a book titled Life Death and Entertainment in the Roman Empire by D.S Potter and D.J Mattingly and As the Romans did by Jo-Ann Shelton. With these two book I hope to find detailed information of the political background of roman spectacle. Once I meet with my group again we will come together and begin to connect our pieces of research to one another.
With our group our major issue like most students is time availability. Not letting this stop us our objective has been to achieve our separate topics on our own time and during class group work we bring it all back to make our presentation. Our learned methods of research from previous has become an advantage to us since we lack availability, we will be able to narrow down on our topics while still connecting them to the main argument.
-Kirsten R. Turner
It really sounds like you've found a lot of stuff to research and look at. Just make sure you don't try to do too much! I know Roman Spectacle has many aspects. I've never even heard of the bread and circus so I would not have minded a summary of what that was.
ReplyDeleteI like the idea of focusing on the politics because I know that was a huge part of Roman culture. Everyone was political. You mentioned something about distracting the lower class, why would they need to do that? What was going on with them?
I'm interested to hear what you find in your two books. It's always good when Milner can be the first resource instead of having to go online. Books are definitely helping me more than other sources I've found.
Hopefully you and your group can find the time to work together!