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Ancient World and Modern Societies: How Classics help reshape our world
October 6, 2018
Beset by terrorism, environmental degradation, as well as by alienation and social inequalities often fanned by war, the modern world suffers from depression. Modern means of relief, such as the newest technological advancements, impose mass behaviour and threaten all facets of freedom. On the other hand, it is intriguing how easily the modern reader relates to a frustrated poet of the 1st c. AD. The opposition to moral decay and artistic decadence has indeed motivated authors of all times, from antiquity until the present day. Apart from their significance for literary studies and the subsequent development of respective theories, the thoughts of these authors can tell us much more about diachronic problems and the troubles of humanity.
At the same time, the ancient world reinvigorates almost every area of study and academic discipline. The aim of this workshop is to bring together those interested in applying the lessons from antiquity in the modern world or inspired by how the ancient world has shaped modernity and has the potential to improve aspects of everyday life. Academics and practitioners of every discipline are invited to share their experiences and suggest new ways the classical world can benefit our society. Themes could be (but are not limited to):
- How ancient medicine can open new roads and inform new methods.
- How educators across the globe make use of classical themes and texts for their pedagogical merits and how this can be expanded.
- How psychologists engage with ancient drama in the practice of dramatherapy.
- Approaches to how we can bridge the distance between reading a text and applying its content, or
- how one can embed a wider reception of Classics beyond the discipline.