CFP: Antiquity in Media Studies (AIMS): 2022 International Online Conference – submission deadline 9/15

Antiquity in Media Studies (AIMS)  2022 International Online Conference

The Kaleidoscope of Antiquity: Shifting Perspectives on the Ancient Mediterranean World and Its Modern Receptions 

Regular conference days: December 1-2 & 9-10 (Americas, UK, EU) / December 2-3 & 10-11 (Australasia) with special events: December 3-8 (Americas, UK, EU) / December 4-9 (Australasia)

Each year’s new wave of receptions of Mediterranean antiquity in global media reinforces how influential this deep past remains in popular imaginations around the world. Despite the many “other worlds” in which narratives may be set, and the shrinking footprint of ancient Mediterranean studies in most educational institutions, this past continues to fire the imagination of creators, comfort the balance sheets of companies, and draw audiences in droves. 

And yet, these receptions of Mediterranean antiquity may not carry the same meanings or associations for all participants, including where individuals’ responses may be informed by various aspects of identity. Like an image in a kaleidoscope, both the antiquity that one sees, and the agency of the viewer in creating that image, change depending on how one twists the scope. There is value in multi-faceted antiquities, as well as in the multifaceted perspectives for viewing them. And yet, if perspectives on antiquity as a historical entity, and the meanings of antiquity in modernity, are kaleidoscopic, inquiries into the meanings of these perspectives are complicated by varying degrees of interest in factuality, complicating how scholars might conceive of the future of informed knowledge about antiquity and its reception as a cultural force in contemporary societies around the world. 

For this year’s annual meeting, AIMS welcomes submissions that explore the kaleidoscopic nature of antiquity and its receptions in a wide variety of media and various proposed formats that can fit within a 60-90 minute time slot and be delivered remotely at this online conference. For further details on media and presentation formats, links to guiding questions for formulating proposals, instructions on how to submit proposals, and information on the structure of this year’s conference, please visit https://antiquityinmediastudies.wordpress.com/call-for-papers/ . AIMS is committed to creating an environment that supports participants of diverse backgrounds and perspectives, and we encourage submissions from scholars from underrepresented backgrounds. Submissions are due by Thursday, September 15

Questions? Please contact AIMS President Meredith Safran at <presidentaims@antiquityinmediastudies.org>. 

CAAS 2012 Clack Lecture

CAAS is pleased to announce the speaker for the 2012 Clack Lecture: James Tatum from Dartmouth College, presenting his talk, “Plautus and the Making of Shakespeare’s Othello.”

Announcing the first recipient of the Barbara F. McManus Leadership Award

At its meeting on 9 April 2011 the Board of Directors of the Classical Association of the Atlantic States voted to honor Barbara F. McManus for her consistent and distinguished service to the organization and to establish an award in her name in recognition of her long-standing leadership in CAAS and the discipline of classics at large.
Today the organization proudly commends Barbara for her many contributions to its mission and function as visionary officer, indefatigable committee chair, reliable consultant, and proactive member. As president in 2005, she reorganized the leadership of the organization for improved efficiency and accountability. She created the CAAS website in 2005, developing and managing it since with an eye toward accuracy of information and member needs. Board Parliamentarian since 2008, she was a driving force on the By-Laws and Regulations Committee, ensuring that our practices met the rules of New York State incorporation. In 2008 she received a Presidential Initiative Grant to direct a Latin translation workshop that translated into classical Latin the system messages for the Encore Learning Environment in which VRoma resides.
Barbara’s wisdom and labor, generously offered, have enriched our discipline beyond our organization; often without a title, she has supported many enterprises in multiple venues that advanced the cause of classics. In 2008 she received the Distinguished Service Award from the American Philological Association for her rich and varied contributions to the national assocation, for her advocacy of underrepresented members of the classics community, and for her interdisciplinary research that embraced women, reception, teaching, and technology.
Inspiring teacher, skilled administrator, generous colleague, patient mentor, tireless collaborator, talented scholar.
Let’s celebrate Barbara, truly dux femina facti!

Announcing the Barbara F. McManus Leadership Award

The Directors of the Classical Association of the Atlantic States voted on April 9, 2011 to honor Barbara F. McManus for her long and distinguished service to the mission and function of the Association and for her leadership and contributions to teaching, mentoring and scholarship in the discipline. The Directors voted to honor her with this award at the 2011 CAAS Business Meeting and to establish it in her name: The Barbara F. McManus Leadership Award
The award carries an honorarium of $1000. It will be offered on an occasional basis whenever a qualified candidate is nominated to the Awards Committee and confirmed by the Board of Directors.
Criteria:

  • Nomination is open to all long-standing members of CAAS, including primary and secondary school teachers, who have given significant and sustained service to the organization.

Nominees will demonstrate engaged commitment to core activities of Barbara McManus’s career as teacher and scholar, in particular her:

  • Advocacy for the equity of women, people of color, people of different classes, abilities and sexual orientations in the field of Classics
  • Employment of gender and other aspects of social difference as primary and necessary axes of analysis of the ancient world and the American Classical Tradition
  • Incorporation of emerging technologies in the teaching and study of the ancient world