Class and Classics. Historiography, Reception, Challenges: Towards a Democratisation of Classical Studies

The Gramsci Research Network is delighted to announce the programme of the international conference Class and Classics. Historiography, Reception, Challenges: Towards a Democratisation of Classical Studies, which will be held on Zoom on 31 May – 1 June 2021. Please find the schedule of the workshop below.

Note that there is still space to give a short talk (5-7 minutes) at the general meeting of Day 2: we aim to discuss the social limits posed to the fruition and production of Classics in the contemporary world, hoping to generate a debate on how to overcome these limitations. To make the discussion as inclusive as possible, we are gathering scholars, networks, and social associations active inside and outside academia and interested in the relationship between social inequality and classical studies. With this initiative, the GRN would like to promote a desired democratization of the studies on the ancient world, with a keen eye on the social and political challenges of our time. If you would like to take part in the discussion, don’t hesitate to email us at gramsciresearchnetwork@gmail.com. Possible topics are:

–       The relationship between class and access to classical studies
–       Classics as an assent of the elites
–       The uses of Classics as a “Western” identitarian tool
–       Inequality and Classical studies
–       Eurocentrism and the Classics
–       Obstacles to change within Classics and academia
–       Politically and socially involved perspectives and approaches to Classics
–       The future of Classics
–       “Burn the Classics down” debate
–       Global Classics
–       Democratization of classical studies: why? For whom?
–       Purposes and ideas for a democratization of Classics
–       Policies to foster inclusions and democratization

The event is organised by the Gramsci Research Network, with the support of the Newcastle University Humanities Research Institute.

Registration to attend the event is now open. We invite those who are interested in the workshop to register via Eventbrite.

Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us at gramsciresearchnetwork@gmail.com

Please note that all times are expressed in BST

31 May 2021

9.15 – 9.30 AM: Anna Maria Cimino (GRN), Introduction

9.30 – 10 AM: Edith Hall (King’s College, London), Reflections on Class as an Analytical Category in Discussing Classics and its Reception

10 – 10.30 AM: Henry Stead (University of St. Andrews), The Aberrant Antiquity of Jack Lindsay and Lewis Grassic Gibbon

10.30 – 11 AM: Discussion

11.30 – 12 noon: Mirko Canevaro (University of Edinburgh), Nativism vs. class denigration: Athenian autochthony between exclusion and inclusion

12.30 – 1 PM: Richard Alston (Royal Holloway, London), The Ancient Prince: Searching for the Subaltern History of Augustus

1 – 1:30 PM: Discussion

Lunch break

2.15 – 2.45 PM: Vittorio Saldutti (Università degli Studi di Napoli “Federico II”), Arthur Rosenberg: Ancient History and People’s Education in the German Revolution

2.45 – 3.15 PM: Luca Silvestri (Università degli Studi Roma Tre), Ancient Greece and Marxist Pedagogy in Mario Alighiero Manacorda’s Thought

3.15 – 3.45 PM: Federico Santangelo (Newcastle University), Resisting Romanisation in 1970s Paris

3.45 – 4.30 PM: Discussion

5 PM: Lorna Hardwick (The Open University), Cultural Hegemonies: Subaltern Agency through Greek and Roman Texts

1 June 2021

9.30 – 11 AM: Christopher Stray (Swansea University), The End of Eternity: a Short History of Long Classics

11.30 – 12 noon: Arlene Holmes-Henderson (University of Oxford/University of Sussex/King’s College, London), Classics Poverty: the Unequal Access to Classical Subjects in Schools in England

12 – 12.30 PM: Gramsci Research Network: The Public System Is Not (Necessarily) Enough: Material Obstacles to Classical Education in Italy

12.30 – 1 PM: Discussion

Lunch break

2.30 – 4 PM: General Meeting pt. 1: Accessibility, Inclusivity, and the Future of Classics and Ancient History

4.30 – 6.30 PM: General Meeting pt. 2: Discussion