Monday, August 14, 2017
Ritchie's King Arthur Now on Video
Guy Ritchie's King Arthur: Legend of the Sword was released to home video this past week. Here are the images from the Blu-ray sleeve showing the cover and extras.
Monday, August 7, 2017
MAPACA Roundtable Update
I am pleased to announce the panelists for our roundtable on recent Arthuriana on screen. Registration information for the conference can be found at https://mapaca.net/conference. Hope to see you there.
New Visits to Camelot: Reflecting on the Contemporary Matter
of Britain on Screen (Roundtable)
Session sponsored by the Association for the Advancement of
Scholarship and Teaching of the Medieval in Popular Culture for the Medieval
& Renaissance Area of the Mid-Atlantic Popular/American Culture Association
Organizer/Presider: Michael A. Torregrossa (Independent
Scholar)
Guy Ritchie and Michael Bay (Oh My): The Challenges of
Contemporary Visions of Camelot on Screen
Michael A. Torregrossa (Independent Scholar)
Michael A. Torregrossa is a
medievalist whose research interests include adaptation, Arthuriana, comics and
comic art, medievalism, monsters, and wizards. His founder of both The Alliance
for the Promotion of Research on the Matter of Britain and The Association for
the Advancement of Scholarship and Teaching of the Medieval in Popular Culture
and serves as Fantastic Area Chair for the Northeast Popular Culture/American
Culture Association.
Othering Pagan Archetypes: Reimaginings of Merlin and Morgan
le Fay
Rachael Warmington (Indiana University of Pennsylvania)
Rachael Warmington is a doctoral
candidate at Indiana University of Pennsylvania. She earned her B.A. in English
from Montclair State University, M.A. in English from Seton Hall University,
and her MFA at City College of New York, City University of New York. Rachael
is also the editor-in-chief of the open source academic journal, Wachung Review. She is currently
focusing on the ways in which early regional and generational variations of
Arthurian legend influence contemporary literary, film and television
adaptations and appropriations of Arthurian works.
Round Table Revival: The
Order: 1886
Carl Sell (Indiana University of Pennsylvania)
Carl Sell is PhD student at Indiana
University of Pennsylvania. He is interested in all things medieval and Early
Modern, and his studies focus on the Arthurian Legend and modern adaptations of
the legend as well as adaptations of Robin Hood.
CFP ISSM Roundtable on Ritchie's King Arthur (9/1/2017; Kalamazoo 2018)
Wishing them luck:
The International Society for the Study of Medievalism (ISSM) is now seeking papers for three sessions at the International Congress on Medieval Studies, May 10-13, 2018. Please see our calls for papers below for details. For more information about the conference itself, please visit the Congress website.
http://medievalism.net/conference/issm-at-kalamazoo
King Arthur 2017: A Round Table
Reviews have poured in for Guy Ritchie’s 2017 King Arthur, and some of them are pretty scathing. Chief among audience complaints is the film’s lack of authenticity: the story deviates so radically from medieval literature that Arthurian legend is barely recognizable. However, authenticity has always been a problematic way to evaluate Arthurian retellings. Sometimes called the “original fan-fiction,” medieval Arthurian legend is always revised and recreated to fit the political or cultural needs of a given period. And in fact, Ritchie’s film has been much better received among scholars of the Middle Ages. Participants in this round table will discuss the 2017 cinematic King Arthur and might answer some of the following questions: How do Ritchie’s changes fit into the canon of Arthurian revisions? How does the 2017 film inform meta-theoretical questions of authenticity surrounding Arthur himself? What do Ritchie’s changes tell us about our own cultural moment? Please send abstracts for papers of no more than ten minutes to Amy S. Kaufman (skaufmana at gmail) by September 1, 2017.
The International Society for the Study of Medievalism (ISSM) is now seeking papers for three sessions at the International Congress on Medieval Studies, May 10-13, 2018. Please see our calls for papers below for details. For more information about the conference itself, please visit the Congress website.
http://medievalism.net/conference/issm-at-kalamazoo
King Arthur 2017: A Round Table
Reviews have poured in for Guy Ritchie’s 2017 King Arthur, and some of them are pretty scathing. Chief among audience complaints is the film’s lack of authenticity: the story deviates so radically from medieval literature that Arthurian legend is barely recognizable. However, authenticity has always been a problematic way to evaluate Arthurian retellings. Sometimes called the “original fan-fiction,” medieval Arthurian legend is always revised and recreated to fit the political or cultural needs of a given period. And in fact, Ritchie’s film has been much better received among scholars of the Middle Ages. Participants in this round table will discuss the 2017 cinematic King Arthur and might answer some of the following questions: How do Ritchie’s changes fit into the canon of Arthurian revisions? How does the 2017 film inform meta-theoretical questions of authenticity surrounding Arthur himself? What do Ritchie’s changes tell us about our own cultural moment? Please send abstracts for papers of no more than ten minutes to Amy S. Kaufman (skaufmana at gmail) by September 1, 2017.
Sunday, August 6, 2017
Hellboy Film Update 8/6/17
A recent report on IGN notes that the upcoming Hellboy film has dropped its subtitle "Rise of the Blood Queen" and will be titled just Hellboy. Details at http://www.ign.com/articles/2017/08/02/hellboy-reboot-casts-ian-mcshane-as-adoptive-father-professor-broom. No word on how this affects the plot.
In related news, creator Mike Mignola comments allusively on his role in transitioning the comic to film in an interview on The Verge. The full text can be accessed at https://www.theverge.com/2017/8/3/16089200/mike-mignola-hellboy-universe-film-reboot-you-know-comics-interview. He refers a few times to the story chosen by the filmmakers but offers no specific details.
In related news, creator Mike Mignola comments allusively on his role in transitioning the comic to film in an interview on The Verge. The full text can be accessed at https://www.theverge.com/2017/8/3/16089200/mike-mignola-hellboy-universe-film-reboot-you-know-comics-interview. He refers a few times to the story chosen by the filmmakers but offers no specific details.
Sunday, July 30, 2017
Ritchie's King Arthur Reviewed at Medievally Speaking
Two further reviews of King Arthur: Legend of the Sword have been posted to the Medievally Speaking site. One is by medieval film scholar Kevin J. Harty and the other is by graduate student (?) Usha Vishnuvajjala. Both can be accessed at http://medievallyspeaking.blogspot.com/.
More on Transformers: The Last Knight
An interesting recent piece on Transformers: The Last Knight:
Godfrey, Alex. “Primed for Success.” Empire Summer 2017: 88-93.
Much of it focuses on director Michael Bay, but there are also some useful details on the development of the Arthurian story for the film. The piece is reproduced online at http://santiagocabrera.net/2017/05/santiago-cabrera-merlin-in-transformers/.
Godfrey, Alex. “Primed for Success.” Empire Summer 2017: 88-93.
Much of it focuses on director Michael Bay, but there are also some useful details on the development of the Arthurian story for the film. The piece is reproduced online at http://santiagocabrera.net/2017/05/santiago-cabrera-merlin-in-transformers/.
A Second Review of Ritchie's King Arthur
Almost missed this. Here is yet another (negative) review of King Arthur: Legend of the Sword.
Famurewa, Jimi. Empire Summer 2017: 48-49.
Also available online at http://www.empireonline.com/movies/king-arthur-legend-sword/review/.
Famurewa, Jimi. Empire Summer 2017: 48-49.
Also available online at http://www.empireonline.com/movies/king-arthur-legend-sword/review/.
Another Review of Ritchie's King Arthur
Still collecting print reviews of King Arthur: Legend of the Sword. Here is one of the latest:
Graham, Jamie. Total Film Summer 2017: 48.
Graham, Jamie. Total Film Summer 2017: 48.
Tuesday, June 27, 2017
King Arthur: Legend of the Sword Review by Diak
A perceptive review of King Arthur: Legend of the Sword by academic film scholar Nicholas Diak at Fanbase Press. It can be accessed at http://www.fanbasepress.com/index.php/press/reviews/item/7738-king-arthur-legend-of-the-sword-film-review.
CFP Arthurian Session at NeMLA 2018
Arthurian Legend in the 20th & 21st Centuries
https://call-for-papers.sas.upenn.edu/cfp/2017/05/27/arthurian-legend-in-the-20th-21st-centuries
deadline for submissions: September 29, 2017
full name / name of organization: Northeast Modern Language Association
contact email: saustin@landmark.edu
Imagining Arthurian Legend in the 20th and 21st Centuries
Nostalgia for an imagined and glorious past has influenced the evolution of stories about King Arthur and his court for centuries. According to the moods and needs of the period, new characters were added to demonstrate or question the excellence of these paragons, or to replace those who had perhaps become too human or simply gone out of style. New plot motifs, such as the search for the grail and Lancelot’s love for Guinevere became part of the legend.
The past hundred years has brought the legend of King Arthur to Broadway, television, comedy, and Disney; countless authors have appropriated or reimagined the legend and elements from it. How have films, television shows, games, comics, and books for all audiences and ages employed Arthurian characters, themes, motifs, and plots? How have these changes reflected shifting cultural attitudes and values? What do recent retellings and appropriations of Arthurian legend tell us about ourselves and the generations immediately preceding us? What do we want and need from King Arthur and his court?
Please submit abstracts via the NeMLA website http://www.buffalo.edu/nemla/convention.html
Last updated May 30, 2017
Arthurian Legend in the 20th & 21st Centuries
deadline for submissions:
September 29, 2017
full name / name of organization:
Northeast Modern Language Association
contact email:
Imagining Arthurian Legend in the 20th and 21st Centuries
Nostalgia for an imagined and glorious past has influenced the evolution of stories about King Arthur and his court for centuries. According to the moods and needs of the period, new characters were added to demonstrate or question the excellence of these paragons, or to replace those who had perhaps become too human or simply gone out of style. New plot motifs, such as the search for the grail and Lancelot’s love for Guinevere became part of the legend.
The past hundred years has brought the legend of King Arthur to Broadway, television, comedy, and Disney; countless authors have appropriated or reimagined the legend and elements from it. How have films, television shows, games, comics, and books for all audiences and ages employed Arthurian characters, themes, motifs, and plots? How have these changes reflected shifting cultural attitudes and values? What do recent retellings and appropriations of Arthurian legend tell us about ourselves and the generations immediately preceding us? What do we want and need from King Arthur and his court?
Please submit abstracts via the NeMLA website http://www.buffalo.edu/nemla/convention.html
Nostalgia for an imagined and glorious past has influenced the evolution of stories about King Arthur and his court for centuries. According to the moods and needs of the period, new characters were added to demonstrate or question the excellence of these paragons, or to replace those who had perhaps become too human or simply gone out of style. New plot motifs, such as the search for the grail and Lancelot’s love for Guinevere became part of the legend.
The past hundred years has brought the legend of King Arthur to Broadway, television, comedy, and Disney; countless authors have appropriated or reimagined the legend and elements from it. How have films, television shows, games, comics, and books for all audiences and ages employed Arthurian characters, themes, motifs, and plots? How have these changes reflected shifting cultural attitudes and values? What do recent retellings and appropriations of Arthurian legend tell us about ourselves and the generations immediately preceding us? What do we want and need from King Arthur and his court?
Please submit abstracts via the NeMLA website http://www.buffalo.edu/nemla/convention.html
Arthurian Legend in the 20th & 21st Centuries
deadline for submissions:
September 29, 2017
full name / name of organization:
Northeast Modern Language Association
contact email:
Imagining Arthurian Legend in the 20th and 21st Centuries
Nostalgia for an imagined and glorious past has influenced the evolution of stories about King Arthur and his court for centuries. According to the moods and needs of the period, new characters were added to demonstrate or question the excellence of these paragons, or to replace those who had perhaps become too human or simply gone out of style. New plot motifs, such as the search for the grail and Lancelot’s love for Guinevere became part of the legend.
The past hundred years has brought the legend of King Arthur to Broadway, television, comedy, and Disney; countless authors have appropriated or reimagined the legend and elements from it. How have films, television shows, games, comics, and books for all audiences and ages employed Arthurian characters, themes, motifs, and plots? How have these changes reflected shifting cultural attitudes and values? What do recent retellings and appropriations of Arthurian legend tell us about ourselves and the generations immediately preceding us? What do we want and need from King Arthur and his court?
Please submit abstracts via the NeMLA website http://www.buffalo.edu/nemla/convention.html
Nostalgia for an imagined and glorious past has influenced the evolution of stories about King Arthur and his court for centuries. According to the moods and needs of the period, new characters were added to demonstrate or question the excellence of these paragons, or to replace those who had perhaps become too human or simply gone out of style. New plot motifs, such as the search for the grail and Lancelot’s love for Guinevere became part of the legend.
The past hundred years has brought the legend of King Arthur to Broadway, television, comedy, and Disney; countless authors have appropriated or reimagined the legend and elements from it. How have films, television shows, games, comics, and books for all audiences and ages employed Arthurian characters, themes, motifs, and plots? How have these changes reflected shifting cultural attitudes and values? What do recent retellings and appropriations of Arthurian legend tell us about ourselves and the generations immediately preceding us? What do we want and need from King Arthur and his court?
Please submit abstracts via the NeMLA website http://www.buffalo.edu/nemla/convention.html
full name / name of organization: Northeast Modern Language Association
contact email: saustin@landmark.edu
Imagining Arthurian Legend in the 20th and 21st Centuries
Nostalgia for an imagined and glorious past has influenced the evolution of stories about King Arthur and his court for centuries. According to the moods and needs of the period, new characters were added to demonstrate or question the excellence of these paragons, or to replace those who had perhaps become too human or simply gone out of style. New plot motifs, such as the search for the grail and Lancelot’s love for Guinevere became part of the legend.
The past hundred years has brought the legend of King Arthur to Broadway, television, comedy, and Disney; countless authors have appropriated or reimagined the legend and elements from it. How have films, television shows, games, comics, and books for all audiences and ages employed Arthurian characters, themes, motifs, and plots? How have these changes reflected shifting cultural attitudes and values? What do recent retellings and appropriations of Arthurian legend tell us about ourselves and the generations immediately preceding us? What do we want and need from King Arthur and his court?
Please submit abstracts via the NeMLA website http://www.buffalo.edu/nemla/convention.html
Last updated May 30, 2017
Sunday, June 25, 2017
On the Watch: Hellboy vs the Blood Queen
Mike Mignola, creator of the Hellboy series, has recently announced the reboot of the Hellboy film franchise with the upcoming film Hellboy: Rise of the Blood Queen due out in 2018.
There has not been any information released with regards to the plot, but one character in the Hellboy comic referred to as the "Queen of Blood" was a version of Nimue from the Arthurian legends (details at http://hellboy.wikia.com/wiki/Queen_of_Blood). She was featured in a three-series arc that linked Hellboy intimately to the Matter of Britain (see Nathan Harmon's overview at http://sequart.org/magazine/18659/the-sword-in-the-stone-hand-the-arthurian-trends-in-hellboy/). Perhaps this is the story that will unfold in the film.
There has not been any information released with regards to the plot, but one character in the Hellboy comic referred to as the "Queen of Blood" was a version of Nimue from the Arthurian legends (details at http://hellboy.wikia.com/wiki/Queen_of_Blood). She was featured in a three-series arc that linked Hellboy intimately to the Matter of Britain (see Nathan Harmon's overview at http://sequart.org/magazine/18659/the-sword-in-the-stone-hand-the-arthurian-trends-in-hellboy/). Perhaps this is the story that will unfold in the film.
Bibliography Building: Transformers: The Last Knight
Again, here are the discussions I've come across so far related to Transformers: The Last Knight:
DISCUSSIONS:
Breznican, Anthony. “Transformers:
The Last Knight.” Entertainment
Weekly 28 April/5 May 2017: 52-53.
“Coming Soon.” Total
Film July 2017: 49.
Farley, Jordan. “Top of the Bots.” Total Film July 2017: 11-13.
Grove, David. “Hidden History.” SCI FI Magazine August 2017: 56-59.
Bibliography Building: King Arthur: Legend of the Sword
Here are some articles I've come across about King Arthur: Legend of the Sword:
DISCUSSIONS:
Caranicas, Peter. “From Westeros to Realm of King
Arthur's Britain.” Variety 19 Aug.
2014: 123. [Int. with Gemma Jackson, production designer]
Chandler, Abigail. “Warrior King.” SciFiNow No. 132 (2017): 56-59.
Crowther, Jane. “Rookie to King.” Total Film June 2017: 70-75.
McNary, Dave. “Arthur on WB Table.” Variety 10 Mar. 2010: 10.
Sullivan, Kevin P. “The Good Knight.” Entertainment Weekly 19 May 2017: 22.
[Profile of actor Djimon Hounsou]
- - -. “King Arthur: Legend of the Sword.” Entertainment Weekly 22 July 2016:
50-51.
- - -. “King Arthur: Legend of the Sword.” Entertainment Weekly 28 Apr / 5 May
2017: 40.
- - -. “A New King Will Rise.” Entertainment Weekly 27 Jan. 2017: 34-37.
- - -. “The Sword and the Stone-Cold Fox.” Entertainment Weekly 31 July 2015:
20-27.
Tuesday, June 20, 2017
Can Michael Bay Save Camelot?
Even on the eve of its release, there are still very few details on the plot of Transformers: The Last Knight (perhaps a good thing in light of the reception of Guy Ritchie's King Arthur: Legend of the Sword that bowed last month), and there seem to be no paratextual apparatus besides the toys.
More details to follow as/if they become available.
More details to follow as/if they become available.
Sunday, June 18, 2017
Kalamazoo 2018 Update
The Alliance proposed the following roundtable for the 2018 International Congress on Medieval Studies. I have just learned today that our proposal was rejected.
Michael A.Torregrossa
Founder
Michael A.Torregrossa
Founder
Does the Matter of Britain (Still) Matter?:
Reflections on the State of Arthurian Studies Today
(A Roundtable)
The Arthurian legend is now over a
millennium and a half old and continues to inspire new creative works each
year. However, texts with widespread distribution and/or lasting impact are
rare. Consequently, the Matter of Britain now seems very distant from our daily
lives.
The purpose of this session is to
explore the reasons for this separation of the stories of Arthur from the
popular consciousness. In conceiving this session, we are interested in
exploring the answers to several questions. First, why has the Matter of
Britain—once an important part of what J. R. R. Tolkien has termed “the
cauldron of story”—now become something that is sampled by few artists with the
means to promote their work to the larger segment of the global population that
once devoured such stories with enthusiasm? Continuing with this idea, do these
works, when noticed, not receive acclaim simply because of their creators’
failure to overcome what Norris J. Lacy has termed the “tyranny of tradition” and
produce something that is both recognizable and innovative, or has the legend truly
become a niche brand, a fascination to a few cognoscenti but something totally
off the radar of most individuals? Similarly, when versions of the legend are
produced by individuals with the means to create something that transcends the financial
and distributive restrictions that hold back other works (and that might thus have
the potential to shape how the current generation perceives the Arthurian
story), why do they so often not succeed? Have these creators also simply failed
to negotiate the tyranny of tradition, or are audiences at large just not
interested in Arthur and all that he represents anymore? Lastly, if the legend
no longer appeals, what is the future of Arthurian Studies (and Arthurian
scholars) in the remainder of the twenty-first century? Should we entrench
ourselves and hope for the best, or can we fight for our field and the glory
that was Camelot?
The
Alliance for the Promotion of Research on the Matter of Britain is dedicated to
study and debate of the representations of the Arthurian legends in all their
forms as produced from the Middle Ages through tomorrow. In various
incarnations, our organization has been in existence since 2000.
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