Reception, disciplinarity and academic careers
Classical Reception Studies Network workshop for research students
10am -5pm, 7th November 2007
Birkbeck, University of London (Room 152, Malet Street)
The study of classical receptions has come to occupy an assured place within many undergraduate
programmes in Classics and Classical Studies, while some institutions offer MAs in the reception
of antiquity and an increasing number of research students are working on projects in this area.
This workshop will offer a forum to explore the relationship of reception to Classics, but also to
other disciplines such as History, English Literature and Art History. Reception projects are by
their very nature inter-disciplinary but how does this affect the disciplinary identity of research
students in particular? The theoretical issues at stake here are important in themselves but they
also have a bearing on the more practical questions faced by research students in the reception of
antiquity who would like to pursue an academic career. How can I convince prospective colleagues
that what I do is a fundamental part of Classics? If Classics doesn’t seem the obvious home for
my long-term future, how should I best approach departments of e.g.English or History or Art
History? This workshop will offer the opportunity to share concerns and to learn from the
experiences of distinguished academics with an interest in reception working in a variety of
different institutional contexts.
No fee will be charged but space is limited. Those interested in attending should contact
Catharine Edwards to book a place (C.Edwards AT bbk.ac.uk).
Reception, disciplinarity and academic careers
programme
10.15am coffee and registration
10.45 Prof.Catharine Edwards (School of History, Classics & Archaeology, Birkbeck): welcome and
introduction
11.15 am Prof.Edith Hall (Departments of Classics and Drama, Royal Holloway) ‘Never apologise,
always explain: what to say to traditional classicists'
12.05 Prof.Maria Wyke (Department of Greek and Latin, UCL)
‘From Roman love poetry to computer games - researching classical reception in popular culture’
12.55pm lunch
2pm Dr. Joanna Paul (Department of Archaeology, Classics & Egyptology, Liverpool)
‘When I grow up, I want to be a receptionist’: Graduate research, early career planning, and
identity crisis
2.50 tea
3.10 pm Dr. Isobel Hurst (Dept of English and Comparative Literature, Goldsmiths)
‘Thoughts on creating a career in reception studies’
4pm Round table discussion
Classical Reception Studies Network workshop for research students
10am -5pm, 7th November 2007
Birkbeck, University of London (Room 152, Malet Street)
The study of classical receptions has come to occupy an assured place within many undergraduate
programmes in Classics and Classical Studies, while some institutions offer MAs in the reception
of antiquity and an increasing number of research students are working on projects in this area.
This workshop will offer a forum to explore the relationship of reception to Classics, but also to
other disciplines such as History, English Literature and Art History. Reception projects are by
their very nature inter-disciplinary but how does this affect the disciplinary identity of research
students in particular? The theoretical issues at stake here are important in themselves but they
also have a bearing on the more practical questions faced by research students in the reception of
antiquity who would like to pursue an academic career. How can I convince prospective colleagues
that what I do is a fundamental part of Classics? If Classics doesn’t seem the obvious home for
my long-term future, how should I best approach departments of e.g.English or History or Art
History? This workshop will offer the opportunity to share concerns and to learn from the
experiences of distinguished academics with an interest in reception working in a variety of
different institutional contexts.
No fee will be charged but space is limited. Those interested in attending should contact
Catharine Edwards to book a place (C.Edwards AT bbk.ac.uk).
Reception, disciplinarity and academic careers
programme
10.15am coffee and registration
10.45 Prof.Catharine Edwards (School of History, Classics & Archaeology, Birkbeck): welcome and
introduction
11.15 am Prof.Edith Hall (Departments of Classics and Drama, Royal Holloway) ‘Never apologise,
always explain: what to say to traditional classicists'
12.05 Prof.Maria Wyke (Department of Greek and Latin, UCL)
‘From Roman love poetry to computer games - researching classical reception in popular culture’
12.55pm lunch
2pm Dr. Joanna Paul (Department of Archaeology, Classics & Egyptology, Liverpool)
‘When I grow up, I want to be a receptionist’: Graduate research, early career planning, and
identity crisis
2.50 tea
3.10 pm Dr. Isobel Hurst (Dept of English and Comparative Literature, Goldsmiths)
‘Thoughts on creating a career in reception studies’
4pm Round table discussion