Classical Reception Studies (380-0-1)

Instructors

Germán Campos-Muñoz

Meeting Info

Kresge 4364 Classics Sem Rm: Mon, Wed 2:00PM - 3:20PM

Overview of class

The complex cultural and literary corpus of the so-called "Greco-Roman classics," or simply "the classics," has for centuries constituted a major instance of world literature. Classical narratives and motifs largely transcended their local audiences to become the subject of intense forms of appropriation and adaptation—processes which, far from merely seeking to reproduce "original" texts, redefined their content in accordance with various ideological premises and interests. By this account, the notion of "the classics" turns out to be somehow paradoxical: while the classics have been imagined as canonical rulers of artistic style and propriety, they have simultaneously been subordinated to the varied interests of those who defended their canonical stature.

In this polymorphic and often contradictory deployment, the history of classical reception permits us to trace a fascinating network of texts and periods that seem difficult to associate otherwise. Consider, for example, the following questions: How did Christian writers justify their fascination with ancient authors whom they also dismissed as pagan? How was the "discovery of America" connected to ancient writers who knew nothing about the so-called "New World"? Why did the classics become instrumental in the French and American revolutions and classical iconography become representative of new republics? Why would mythological characters such as Oedipus and Narcissus become the expressions of unconscious predicaments in modern psycho-therapeutic models? Why are the classics still fundamental modes of reference and expression in contemporary art?

We will approach these questions through case studies of major motifs from the Greek and Roman classics and their reception in later periods. We will read and discuss traditional literary pieces (narrative and poetic) but also examine non-fictional texts (e.g., philosophical and political writing) and other forms of expression (comic books, architecture, films, video games, etc.). Assignments will include exams, quizzes, class presentations, essays, and a group project.

Class Attributes

Advanced Expression
Historical Studies Foundational Discipline
Literature and Arts Foundational Discipline
Historical Studies Distro Area
Interdisciplinary Distro-rules apply
Literature & Fine Arts Distro Area

Enrollment Requirements

Enrollment Requirements: Pre-Registration -- Reserved for Classics majors or minors.