Last week, Elizabeth Taylor's name dominated headlines with the announcement of a BBC documentary series, 'Elizabeth Taylor: Rebel Superstar.' Promising to delve into previously unseen aspects of her life, including her acting prowess, business acumen, and longstanding activism for HIV and AIDS, the series reflects on Taylor's multifaceted legacy. Notably, in the 1960s, she reigned as Hollywood's highest-paid actress, despite facing challenges such as eight marriages and battles with addiction. Behind a successful woman, there is a tribe of others who hold her back. Coinciding with this renewed interest, the sixtieth anniversary of one of her classics, 'Cleopatra' (Joseph L. Mankiewicz, 1963), occurred last year in 2023.
While Elizabeth Taylor's legacy endures as a testament to her brilliance, 'Cleopatra' stands in stark contrast, failing to age gracefully. Though its aim is legitimate in honouring the Queen of Ancient Egypt, it does so within a narrative framework where white were the protagonists of history and stories. This perpetuates themes of racism, xenophobia, and white privilege, reflecting the societal context of its time when Civil Rights movements were still gaining momentum.
Cleopatra' portrays the Queen of Ancient Egypt as a powerful and intelligent political strategist and leader who navigates complex alliances and conflicts in her efforts to maintain power and sovereignty. The film does not diminish her character to merely being the wife of the Roman emperor Julius Caesar or her affair with Mark Antony, highlighting her agency and influence in historical events. However, while 'Cleopatra' presents Cleopatra as a formidable figure, it falls short in fully capturing her as a feminist ahead of her time, instead it perpetuates stereotypes and scenes where she is the victim of Male Gaze.
In Ancient Egypt, women enjoyed certain rights such as owning land, choosing their spouses, and managing businesses. However, their lives were not without constraints. Women were predominantly assigned domestic roles and the responsibility of raising children. Furthermore, their rights were often subordinate to male authority figures, such as fathers or husbands. It's important to note that more opportunities were readily available to women of higher social standing.
Cleopatra stands out as a queen who wielded her privileges as a cultured and educated woman, contributing positively to her legacy as a powerful figure ahead of her time. In addition to her independence, assertiveness, and strategic diplomacy, her sexuality, although often portrayed negatively, remains a potent early feminist aspect of her persona. Despite her multiple affairs, she is also remembered as the owner of an ancestral vibrator powered by bees and contributed significantly to the ancient medicine and science.
'Cleopatra' plays a significant role in the collective imagination, with the association with the titular icon often depicted with thick, dark hair styled in elaborate braids, adorned with dark eyeliner and lavish jewellery. Whether portrayed by Elizabeth Taylor, Claudette Colbert, Vivien Leigh, or Gal Gadot, this image remains consistent. However, the film perpetuates controversy by whitewashing the Queen of Ancient Egypt.
This representation cannot be fully confirmed due to the destruction caused by the fires of the Library of Alexandria, which destroyed many ancient works, including records related to Cleopatra’s life and reign. Furthermore, centuries have passed since her reign, making even more difficult to access the historical material. While some studies suggest her father, Ptolemy XII, may have had Persian and Syrian ancestry, her mother's origin, often suggested to be from the family of the priests of Memphis, remains unverified.
Despite its flaws, 'Cleopatra' has positive elements. The 1963 version was a trailblazer in introducing her history to Western screens in the cinema and television decade, even though the story was delivered with whitewashing and omissions aforementioned. It's important to recognize its role in sparking interest in Cleopatra's story among Western audiences. Additionally, William Shakespeare’s play 'Antony and Cleopatra' played a significant literary role, albeit reducing her to a secondary character and emphasizing her romantic entanglements, excluding her multifaceted personality.
When will a story do enough justice to Cleopatra's history as an Egyptian ancestral feminist while paying respect to her context?
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