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Lure of the Arena Social Psychology and the Crowd at the Roman Games

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ISBN-10: 0521196167

ISBN-13: 9780521196161

Edition: 2011

Authors: Garrett G. Fagan

List price: $87.00
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Why did the spectacles of violence and bloodshed in the amphitheatre prove so appealing to the Romans? To answer this, Professor Fagan examines the ancient evidence in detail and draws on insights from modern studies of social psychology, and especially the behaviour of crowds.
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Book details

List price: $87.00
Copyright year: 2011
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Publication date: 2/17/2011
Binding: Hardcover
Pages: 376
Size: 5.98" wide x 9.02" long x 0.98" tall
Weight: 1.584
Language: English

Garrett G. Fagan is Associate Professor of Classics and Ancient Mediterranean Studies and History at Pennsylvania State University, where he teaches courses in Roman and Greek history, Latin, and ancient warfare. He is the author, co-author or editor of four books including Bathing in Public in the Roman World (1999), Archaeological Fantasies (2006) and New Perspectives on Ancient Warfare (2010), as well as numerous scholarly articles.

List of figures
Preface
Introduction: Alypius in the stands
The strengths and limitations of social psychology
Seeking explanations
The story so far
Some contextual factors
The applicability of social psychology
A catalog of cruelty
Punishment
Medieval public executions and the �good death�
Combat sports and bloodsports
Groups, crowds, and seats
Group processes and the crowd
The Pompeii riot
Amphitheaters and spectator demographics
Crowd dynamics at arena spectacles
Spectator expectations, behaviors, and vocalizations
Social identity content
Theater and amphitheater
Arenas of prejudice
The phenomenon of prejudice
The Roman macrocontext
The arena and prejudice
Gladiators and sports spectatorship
Sports and spectators
Excitement: the emotional factor
Gladiatorial shows as sports spectaculars
Arena sport
The attractions of violent spectacle
The attraction(s) of violent spectacle
Affective dispositions
Affective dispositions at the arena
Conclusion: the lure of the arena
Appendix: select literary and epigraphic testimonia for arena crowd behavior and related issues
Bibliography
Index