Greek Parties, Speech, and Identity

Catalog description

The ancient Greek symposium existed as a stylized elite drinking party from the Archaic period until the end of the Roman Empire a millennium later, inspiring many works of literature and philosophical debates. Conversation and correct behavior were key at these parties to form social bonds and indicate one’s belonging to Greek elite society while simultaneously excluding certain demographics from the group. In this course we will learn about the ancient Greek world through the institution of the symposium and will complicate our understanding of the ancient world by putting it in dialog with our modern cultural expectations. We will read from a selection of authors in translation including Plato, Plutarch, and Athenaeus, focusing on the conversational and presentational aspects of the texts. Students will also develop personalized techniques for public speaking and will practice several varieties of public speaking inspired by the symposium. This course is a CWiC Critical Speaking Seminar, in which most of the course grade will be based on oral assignments. No prior experience with the ancient world or with public speaking is required.