River E

- Research Program Mentor

Project ideas

The Captive Medea

This project would look at a number of modern representations of Medea in art and reflect on how the classical conception of this figure has changed to address modern issues of subjugation, power, femininity, and captivity. Material from anthropology and psychology would also be brought in to address the social realities of captivity in the classical period, and show how the cultural frameworks for understanding captive status and enslavement have shifted in the modern period, and what effect this has had on representations of Medea today.

Hercules: The Essence of a Hero

This project would look at film representations of the iconic Greco-Roman hero — including the Disney animated movie! — and compare these representations to the hero's origins in classical mythology and literature. The "essence" of the hero in myth would be framed against what is found in the cinematic Hercules, using both close reading of ancient texts and detailed film analysis. Differences might reflect the ways in which modern societies have redefined the concept of a hero, and show how classical literature can shape the modern world.