The ancient Athenians enacted mythological stories in the Theater of Dionysus as a way to address the pressing issues of their time. Can these myths do the same thing for us today? While narratives from Greek and Roman culture have sometimes been used to bolster negative ideologies, such as misogyny, racism, and cultural chauvinism, the vibrancy of these stories keeps them from being tied to any single meaning. Rereading and retelling Greek and Roman myths through a social justice lens can help us preserve important aspects of our cultural heritage, while also transforming our current culture for the better.
Seth Jeppesen is an associate professor of Classical Studies in the Department of Comparative Arts and Letters at BYU. His research focuses on the performance of Greek and Roman theater and its modern reception. His recently published book Plautus: Trinummus is part of the Bloomsbury Ancient Comedy Companions series. Seth frequently teaches Latin and Greek classes at all levels as well as GE classes on Greek and Roman literature, mythology, and history.
Part of our fall 2023 lecture series, "Preserving and Transforming Culture."