We are excited to announce a public lecture presented by Professor Stefan Pfeiffer (Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg)
TITLE:
Asterix and Cleopatra: Translating Antiquity into the Modern World from
Comic to Film.
What if a comic could rewrite history? Asterix and Cleopatra (1963) does
just that—blending myth, satire, and sharp political commentary in a
story set in Ptolemaic Egypt. Far from mere entertainment, this classic
parodies Hollywood spectacle while offering a biting reflection on
colonialism, power, and French identity.
The comic presents Egypt as a land of decadence, slavery, and
architectural incompetence and Cleopatra’s "genius" depends entirely on
the Gauls. Yet this caricature wasn’t invented by Goscinny and Uderzo;
it echoes Roman propaganda (Horace’s "whore of the Nile") and
19th-century Orientalism. Meanwhile, the indomitable Gauls stand in for
modern France: clever, egalitarian, and fiercely resistant to foreign
rule.
With humor and hidden depth, Asterix and Cleopatra reveals how history
is constructed—and deconstructed. The paper will try to uncover the
comic’s political subtexts, from colonial nostalgia to 20th cent.
misogyny, and why a story about ancient Egypt still shapes how we see
the past.
DATE & TIME
April 29th 5.30PM-7.30PM
VENUE
V. Gordon Childe Centre Boardroom, Level 4, Madsen Building
This link will take you to the map.
Reserve your spot here
For further details email: vgc.centre@sydney.edu.au or t.neal@sydney.edu.au