Classics and Catharsis: Receptions of Ancient Violence in Incarcerated Populations

Drawing on my experiences teaching with my institution’s prison education
program in the past few years, this paper explores how incarcerated populations utilize violence in ancient epic and tragedy, and its manifestation in film, as a means of both grappling with their own violent actions in the past and with the trauma of incarceration.

In my first prison course, we used Jonathan Shay’s 1995 Achilles in Vietnam and Bryan Doerries’ 2016 Theater of War as starting points to discuss how ancient literature can be useful to and when working with veteran communities today; but the men in that class soon were making vigorous connections with their own situations as well, not only directly through the course material, but also through pop culture that which they saw as thematically related. Inspired by the input of these students both in class discussions and in their written work, and supplemented by written contributions they generously provided outside of their coursework, this paper looks at how incarcerated students use Homer’s Iliad, Sophocles’ Ajax, and other ancient works, along with seemingly unrelated popular films, such as John Woo’s 1997 Face/Off and John Singleton’s 2001 Baby Boy, as a means of grappling with the violence in their past and reckoning with the difficulties of incarceration.

Advance booking is required for this online seminar.

Ancient Violence and Contemporary Receptions: Challenges and Perspectives

The forms and perceptions of violence in the ancient world remain a widely debated issue in contemporary scholarship. This speaker series aims to explore the various ways in which violence was conceptualized, represented, and interpreted in antiquity, as well as its reception and reinterpretation in modern contexts. By bringing together scholars from different disciplines, including history, philosophy, material culture, and literature, the series seeks to offer a comprehensive perspective on the role of violence in shaping ancient societies and its lasting impact on contemporary thought.

Through this interdisciplinary approach, the series aims to provide new insights into the multifaceted nature of violence in antiquity and its enduring influence on modern societies. By critically engaging with both ancient sources and their receptions, the discussions will contribute to a deeper understanding of how violence has been, and continues to be, a crucial element in shaping cultural and intellectual traditions.

The series will open with a reflection on the historiographical and ideological dimensions of violence, considering how modern interpretations have shaped and, at times, distorted our understanding of its role in antiquity. This methodological approach will serve as a foundation for further discussions on the philosophical, theological, and political implications of violence in the ancient world, including its intersections with slavery, power structures, and social hierarchies. Further sessions will examine the ways in which violent acts and representations of violence have been mediated through various forms of cultural production. This includes an exploration of textual and visual narratives, considering how translation, adaptation, and artistic representations have framed and reshaped perceptions of violence across time. Special attention will be given to the ethical and ideological implications of these reinterpretations, as well as their resonance in contemporary discourse.

The series will also engage with the reception of violence in modern media, from literature to film, and its role in educational and rehabilitative contexts. By analyzing how ancient violence is reimagined in contemporary storytelling, the discussions will highlight the pedagogical and social functions of these narratives, particularly in addressing issues of justice, identity, and historical memory.

Image of Sculpture: Why Born Enslaved! – a sculpture by Jean-Baptiste Carpeaux