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postgraduate conference

The 8^th BIRTHA Postgraduate Conference

What we do, and why: interpretation and methodology in Classics

A one-day postgraduate conference in Classics at the University of Bristol

Wednesday, 9^th September, 2009

 Lecture Room 1 & Link Room 1, 3-5 Woodland Road

The adoption of critical theory by classicists has been one of the most significant developments in Classics and Ancient History of the past few decades.  This engagement has seen classicists and ancient historians adopt ever more sophisticated methods for studying classical culture, history, texts and art.  As well as creating innovative interpretations, it has led to a new awareness of the importance of methodology in approaching the past.  We can no longer claim to be accessing the past in a ‘neutral’ manner but instead must reflect on the way in which our approach impacts the conclusions that we reach.  This conference reflects on the role of methodology.  Conceived broadly, this theme extends to encompass the impact of our own research methodologies as well as those popular in past scholarship and those adopted by ancient writers, artists and thinkers.  This conference will allow postgraduates in Classics and Ancient History to meet, collaborate and present their ideas in a supportive environment. 

Programme:

10.00 am - 10.25 am: Coffee & Registration

10.25 am – 10.30 am: Welcome

10.30 am - 12.30 pm:  Panels 1 & 2:

‘Modern Concepts, Ancient Contexts’

• Shushma Malik (Bristol) – ‘The Conceptualisation of Luxury and Decadence: Ancient and Modern.’
• Jeroen Lauwers (K. U. Leuven) – ‘Beyond the truth: ancient philosophers and sophists through a modern gaze.’
• Ellen Van Keer (V. U. Brussel) – ‘Introducing the ‘archaeology of knowledge’ about ancient Greek music.’ 
• Greta Hawes (Bristol) – ‘True myths and other lies.’

‘Old Sources, New Approaches’

• Victoria Gyori (King’s) – ‘From Republic to Principate: The Problems of the Classification of Roman Coinage.’
• Loriel Anderson (Bristol) – ‘From Homer to Herodotus: The Reception of Foreign Polities in Archaic Greece.’
• Colin Runeckles (Open) – ‘What shall we call this building? Ancient and modern approaches to labeling of domestic housing.’
• Colin Elliott (Bristol) – ‘Axioms in the Ancient Economy: Gresham's Law and Money as Marketing.’

12.30 pm – 1.30 pm: Keynote Address – Prof. Simon Goldhill

1.30 pm - 2.30 pm:  Lunch

2.30 pm - 4.00 pm:  Panels 3 & 4:

‘Exploring the Discipline’

• Anna Uhlig(Princeton) – ‘After the Party: Post-Reception Classics.’
• Katie Billotte (Royal Holloway) – ‘Beyond the West: The Study of the Classics in Non-Western Societies.’
• Heather Crawley (Bristol) – ‘Inter-disciplining ourselves.’

‘Gender & Identity’

• Sebastian Matzner (King’s) – ‘Gender Trouble on the Ancient Stage: Judith Butler and the Women at the Thesmophoria Festival.’
• Joanna Brown (Reading) – ‘Where to put the women: ancient women and modern bodies of knowledge.’
• Katie Thostenson (Bristol) – ‘Christian Theologian and Social Commentator: Acknowledging the Dual Nature of Tertullian’s Views on Women and Gender.’

4.00 pm - 4.20 pm:  Coffee

 4.20 pm - 5.50 pm:  Panels 5 & 6 

‘Approaching Latin Literature’

• Alex Wardrop (Bristol) – ‘Beating Up Classics: Lucretius and This Poetic Subject.’
• Francesca Sapsford (Birmingham) – ‘Gaps, Blanks and Martial: Reading through the Themes of the Epigrams with Reader Response.’
• Ian Fielding (Warwick) – ‘Approaching Latin Texts after Post-Modernism.’

‘Sense and Experience in Art and Text’

• Annalisa Fagan (Merton) – ‘Senses and Synesthesia in Sophocles’ Oedipus Tyrannus.’
• Sara Chiarini (U. C. Milan) – ‘Reading Ekphrasis through Platonic Lenses.’
• Kate Beats(Warwick) – ‘Witness to Violence: Spectatorship & Erotic Pursuit in Athenian Red-figure Vases.’

5.50 pm – 6.00 pm: Closing Remarks

6.00 pm – 7.00 pm: Wine Reception

7.00 pm: Conference Dinner 

Registration:

To RSVP, or for any other enquiries, contact bristolclassicspg@gmail.com

Deadline for registration Friday 31 July 2009

There is no delegate fee to attend the conference, and lunch and refreshments will be provided.