Classics in the 21st Century: A Guide

Catalog description

What is Classics? Why do we study the Greeks and Romans today? What relevance does classical antiquity have to a world beset by modern-day challenges, especially when veneration of the so-called Classical Tradition is associated with elitism, racism, and colonialism? This course is designed for Classics majors and minors to explore the history and contemporary politics of the discipline in a safe and mutually-respectful weekly discussion format. We will read recent discussions of these issues in both scholarly publications and the popular press, making connections with your other courses and seeking to understand them within their cultural and disciplinary context, whilst exploring the many ways in which contemporary classicists are questioning, expanding, and rethinking the scope of the field.