Caneva, G., A. Pacini, L. Celesti Grapow, and S. Ceschin. 2003. “The Colosseum’s Use and State of Abandonment as Analysed through Its Flora.” International Biodeterioration & Biodegradation 51(3): 211–19.
The authors of this article analyze the different species that have emerged in the Colosseum and how the abandonment and the mistreatment of the monument may have contributed to the increase of certain types of species. The abandonment of the monument, and the different ways that people used it during this time, contributed to the different plant species that have emerged there today. The authors also show evidence that the changes in the surrounding urban parks also contributed to changes in the species seen at the Colosseum. In my final project I will use this to explain how Rome has been changing around this grand monument and talk about the urban developments that have occurred around it.
Elkins, Nathan T. 2014. “The Procession and Placement of Imperial Cult Images in the Colosseum.” Papers of the British School at Rome; London. http://search.proquest.com/docview/1566755205/abstract/ED82CBD0AAB0460EPQ/1 (December 21, 2019).
The author examines the importance of the worship of emperors and the Gods in Rome at the time that the Colosseum was built. First the author goes through ana analyzes the importance of emperor worship through coins and most theatres the Rome talking about hoe they would set up thrones for the Gods and the emperors. The importance of these in the Colosseum is how this worship was tied by the huge project that was building the Colosseum. The author claims that Roman politics has always been between god and worshipper. In my final film project I plan to try and find these thrones I they are still in the Colosseum and analyze the importance of emperors in Roman politics.
Feldman, Louis H. 2001. “Financing the Colosseum.” Biblical Archaeology Review; Washington 27(4): 20-31+.
This author tries to explain how the Colosseum was financed and if Titus and Vespasian financed it themselves. While there is no clear answer on who actually financed the building of the Colosseum, there is evidence in inscriptions on the structure that both Vespasian and Titus wanted their names to be commemorated on the monument. Not only did they want their names commemorated, but they also wanted their military achievements on there for everyone to remember. I learned about this inscription and how researchers have translated it. This is a political strategy by the two to give them credit for what they knew was going to be an important symbol for Italian culture. I plan to use this in my final project has background on how Titus and Vespasian wanted their political achievements commemorated.
Follain, John. 2013. “IT WON’T BE REBUILT IN A DAY: They’ve Got the Builders in at the Colosseum in Rome. Yet the Pounds 21m Project Is Being Controversially Financed by a Fashion Tycoon. Has Italy’s Glorious Heritage Been Hijacked for Profit?” Sunday Times; London (UK): 22.
The author of this article interviews Diego Della Valle about how he has donated to the project to reconstruct the Colosseum. The author is quite critical of Della Valle and the reasons why he has donated so much money claiming that it is all to advertise his own companies. Della Valle pushes back on these accusations and references his Italian culture as the reason to why he wants to donate to the Colosseum, because it is a symbol of Italy. I plan to use this in my final project to talk about how the Colosseum does represent Italian culture and talk about what kind of shady transactions might have happened to finance the restoration of the monument.
Gardner, James. 2010. “Leisure & Arts — Masterpiece: A Wonder From Any Angle — The Colosseum Is a Lasting Monument to Rome Itself.” Wall Street Journal, Eastern edition; New York, N.Y.: W.10.
The author talks about the beauty of the Colosseum and what it means to Rome. I learned from this very visual article that the Colosseum was built on top of a lake and statue that a previous emperor had built for himself. For my final project I plan to use this and talk about how the Colosseum was built for a very basic purpose and use but has now become a political symbol to the world.
Mueller, Tom. 2011. “Unearthing the Colosseum’s Secrets.” Smithsonian; Washington 41(9): 26–35.
This author talks about how he went to the Colosseum and got to analyze the undergrounds or the hypogeum of the structure. I learned they mainly used the hypogeum to transport the animals for the rituals and ceremonies that were performed in the Colosseum. Much of the hypogeum has been mapped out and they can tell what changes were caused because of natural causes. In my final project I plan to use this to talk about the extent of the building of the Colosseum.
“The Colosseum.” 1884. Scientific American 50(23): 361–361.
This author here highlights the importance of the Colosseum and the ceremonies that happened in the theatre. The author explains how slowly the gladiator fights were ceased and how then eventually the Colosseum had stopped being used and the materials were taken. The author also explains how certain doors were used for emperors. In conclusion the author briefly mentions how although thee structure is grand and the building has been admired as great, there is no architect who has been accredited for the structure. I plan to use this in my final project to highlight the importance of the emperors and the legacy that they would leave with this monument.
“The Destruction of the Colosseum.” 1896. Scientific American 75(19): 344–344.
The author here talks about how the Colosseum might collapse. The author alludes to how the structure was meant to last forever but the idea of the monument collapsing is not out of line. The author also talks about how easily plants took root to the building when it wasn’t being used. In my final project I plan to use this to allude to how the monument could collapse and what the ramifications for that might be.
Thorpe, Stephen. 2003. “The Colosseum and Trajan’s Market, Rome.” Access by Design (95): 14–17.
The author talks about how the Colosseum has changed since its building and how there have been efforts to modernize the monument. The author mainly focuses on the building of lifts so that more of the public can access the upper levels of the monument. The author also briefly alludes to the safety risks of allowing more people to access the monument in more ways. The author mainly focuses on how there were lifts originally in the Colosseum to lift animals and equipment. In my final project I plan to use this as evidence that they are trying to modernize the monument while still trying to keep some of its original elements that make it such an important attraction.
Wilkinson, Tracy. 2006. “COLUMN ONE; Rome’s Falling Arches; The Colosseum and Other Treasures of the Archeologically Rich City Need More Funding and Less Abuse, or They May Soon Be History.: [HOME EDITION].” Los Angeles Times; Los Angeles, Calif.: A.1.
The author talks about and explains the harms that tourism has on the Colosseum. The author explains how they should have more limitations on the building and the number of tourists that they let in on a daily basis. The article talks about projects that the government had to try and rebuild and protect the monument. I plan to use this article to talk about the importance of this monument to Italy and how it has changed.
In American Dionysia, Steven Johnston argues that democracy and violence can never be apart. He argues that violence lives within democracy, and democracy can only kill itself and violence goes hand in hand with that. Johnston also argues that we are living in democratic times, which means we must be living in violent time. I argue that we are not living in wholly democratic times, which in turn means that the violence being perpetrated at the moment is not violence in connection with democracy, but it is violence to control the lack of democracy. This creates a very clear distinction with violence that is in connection with our democracy and violence that is in control of our democracy.
I believe that Johnston does a great job unraveling the idea that violence is inherently in connection with the idea of democracy, this is the only way that he can see violence in our society. And he is also assuming a complete and trustworthy democracy in our institutions. Now the idea that there is also violence in our society to control democracy does not attack the idea of democracy itself, because this interpretation suggests that violence to control undemocratic aspects is pushing you toward more democracy.
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