30 January 2012 at 7:30 pm
Helen: from Homer to HollywoodFlorence Yoon, UBC Department of Classical, Near East & Religious Studies
Helen is one of the most compelling figures of classical mythology, inspiring storytellers from Homer and Euripides to Hollywood and Margaret Atwood. As the "face that launched a thousand ships," she reflects changing views of causality and blame, gender and power, beauty and divinity. This talk will consider her transformation through almost 3000 years of representation, demonstrating how traditional mythological material can be adapted into a unique interpretation according to the artistic aims and the specific context of each portrayal.
Tuesday 28 February 2012 at 7:30pm
Michael Griffin, UBC Department of Classical, Near East & Religious Studies
Last November was the 2,437th birthday of Aristocles, the dashing, barrel-chested young Athenian aristocrat (and champion wrestler) who sailed the far reaches of the Mediterranean world in search of knowledge, justice, and love. Along the way, he ruled with kings, narrowly escaped slavery (twice), and happened to invent Western philosophy and science. We know him best by his wrestling nickname: ho Platon, “the Broadman”; but Plato wouldn’t mind if we knew nothing about him, so long as we learned to know ourselves. Come along for a high-level tour through Plato’s life and the big Platonic ideas that touch our lives today
