Originally known as the Flavian Amphitheater, the Roman Colosseum is oftentimes directly associated with the death of Christians; however, as Keith Hopkins and Mary Beard point to in The Colosseum, there is no authentic evidence from the first century to support the notion that Christians were ever martyred within it: The fact is that there are no... Continue Reading →
Fictive Heroism: Westworld, the Colosseum, and the History of Elite Amusement Parks
Over on the Forbes Blog this week, I explore how the HBO show Westworld sheds light on the history of elite amusement parks. Although we should probably also reflect on the colonial penchant for "fish in a barrel" elephant safaris or perhaps analyze Marie Antoinette's creation of a "peasant" village for her to visit at Versailles, I... Continue Reading →