Prominent Classicists Find Temporary Home at Gustavus Posted on March 3rd, 2009 by

We in Classics were fortunate to have not one, but two prominent visiting speakers, who delivered lectures on classical topics this week, both of whom discussed ways in which the study of Classics intersects with the modern world.

On Thursday Feb. 26, Professor Patrice Rankine from Purdue University delivered an exciting lecture entitled “Black Athena and Myths of African Diaspora Identity in Latin America and Brazil” on the controversial book Black Athena by Martin Bernal, the impact that it had on classics in America, and the formation of racial identities in Brazil.  Stalwart Gustavians braved the snowstorm to attend the talk, which was co-sponsored by a range of programs and departments across campus.   Watch for a recording of Professor Rankine’s lecture (coming soon!).

Then on March 1st, Professor Thomas Palaima from University of Texas delivered a fascinating lecture “Stories of War from Homer to Jesse Odom and Beyond” for the Phi Beta Kappa Visiting Lecture program.  In his talk he tried to get people to think about what soldiers,
writers, reporters and singers from Homer to the present have been trying to make us see: war as
it is and what war does to us.  He also visited the Roman Art and Archaeology class and the second semester Introductory Greek class.  You can read more about Professor Palaima and his work on war and violence here.

 

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