Undergraduate
Questions?
Undergraduate Coordinator
Cindi Ryde
cryde@uwo.ca
Undergraduate Chair
Dr. Bernd Steinbock
bsteinbo@uwo.ca
Arts & Humanities
Academic Counselling
519-661-3043
arts@uwo.ca
3000-4000 Level Courses
HONOURS CLASSICAL STUDIES COURSES:
**Classical Studies program students are encouraged to take Classical Studies 3000 level courses already in their second year of university studies.
2023-2024
CS3130F 001: Athenian Drama
A close study of a selection of plays composed for the classical Athenian theatre, including discussions of their socio-historical context in democratic Athens, their place in the ancient Greek literary and philosophical traditions, questions of performance, and the continuing importance of these plays throughout history.
3 lecture hours; 0.5 course.
CS3300G 001: Ancient Greek and Roman Sexuality
This course is designed to give students insight into ancient Greek and Roman sexual categories and practices using primary sources. The wide body of artistic evidence available from the ancient world (vase-painting, sculpture, wall-painting, mosaic, and everyday objects) will be supplemented by a close reading of literary sources in translation (erotic and lyric poetry, satire, and epigram). Topics covered will include the history of the study of sexuality, ideal male and female bodies, phallicism, homosexuality, male-to-female lovemaking, prostitution, hermaphrodites, transvestism, masturbation, slavery and sexuality, and sex and the arena.
3 lecture hours; 0.5 course
CS3350F 001: Women in Ancient Rome
This course seeks to introduce students to the study of women and women’s lives in Roman antiquity starting from a body of literary and artistic evidence. Marriage and childbearing, women and the law, women’s occupations, and women in history and poetry will be explored from a variety of perspectives; as well, PowerPoint lectures will focus on such topics as women's artifacts, artistic portrayals of women, and female spaces in antiquity.
3 lecture hours; 0.5 course
CS3903F 001: Special Topic - Roman Art and Archaeology
In this course, we will explore the art and archaeology of the Roman world and trace the development of Roman material and visual culture through its history. The art and objects studied in this course will not only help ground you in the major trends in Roman history and culture, but they will also reflect the diversity of cultures and peoples inhabiting the Roman world. The close analysis of the visual and material culture of Rome, Italy, and the provinces, will allow you to engage critically with current scholarship on Roman art and archaeology while also improving your writing and critical thinking skills.
3 lecture hours; 0.5 course
CS3903G 001: Special Topic - Hellenistic Poetry
This course will examine the poetry of the Hellenistic period, and the historical and cultural contexts that produced that poetry. Our lectures will be divided between various context topics about the Hellenistic world (such as history, politics, religion, mythology, social status, sexuality, and identity), and corresponding close readings of poetic texts. We will read several Hellenistic poets in modern English translation, including famous names like Theocritus, Apollonius, and Callimachus, as well as other poets with whom students might be less familiar, like Anyte, Posidippus, and Herodas.
3 lecture hours; 0.5 course
CS3904F 001: Special Topic - Archaic and Classical Sparta
In this course we will explore the social, cultural, political, and economic development of archaic and classical Sparta through a thematic investigation of diverse topics such as Spartan art and architecture, song and dance, athletics and education, citizenship, and the Spartan economy. This course has two equally important goals. The first goal is to explore aspects of archaic and classical Sparta through a critical examination of both written sources and archaeological remains. The second goal is to foster your communication skills with a weekly writing practice in seminars that target specific elements of analytical writing.
3 lecture hours; 0.5 course
CS3904G 001: Special Topic - Performing Antigones
In this course we explore the story of Antigone from Sophocles’ production at the City Dionysia in fifth-century BCE Athens to re-performances on the contemporary world stage. This course has two equally important goals. The first goal is to explore Sophocles’ Antigone in the historical context of 5th century Athens. The second goal is to investigate why and how the story of Antigone has been re-told and performed and how we might envision it continuing to be re-told and performed in our contemporary world. We begin the course with an intensive study of the text of Sophocles’ Antigone. In the first eight weeks, we focus on critically reading and discussing the play, act by act considering topics including the historical context, the performance context, stagging, embodiment, and character development, as well as addressing the overarching themes of the play. In the final four weeks of the course, we explore the many Antigones that have been performed on the contemporary world stage including performances in Canada, Japan, Turkey, Taiwan, Ireland, and many more.
3 lecture hours; 0.5 course
CS3905F 001: Special Topic - Reacting to the Past: Athenian Democracy at a Crossroads
This course uses the student-centered, experiential Reacting to the Past pedagogy to place students amidst the Athenians’ fervent debates about the future of their democracy after the ousting of the Thirty Tyrants in 403 BC. After a brief introduction to the history and culture of 5th-century Athens, the Reacting to the Past principles, and the art of public speaking, students will be given role sheets of known historical figures, research the personal, political, and social background of their characters, and then bring those characters to life (usually as members of a political faction) in a series of public debates about the burning issues of the day, such as the potential amnesty for the tyrants’ supporters, Athens’ new constitution, the punishment of the public intellectual Socrates, and the possible reestablishment of Athens’ naval empire.
As part of this immersive role-playing game students will mine contemporaneous historical and philosophical texts for useful arguments, craft persuasive speeches (as part of their writing assignments) and try to sway indeterminate characters by delivering two speeches in the Athenian assembly or law courts. By creating a version of history that develops organically from the actions and reactions of the characters in the game, students will – to a certain extent – be able to (re-)experience history as an open-ended process and become sensitive for potential alternative outcomes. A reflective post mortem session will set the historical record straight and allow students to share their own opinions about some of these timeless questions.
Note: This game-based history learning technique requires the active participation of all students. To play their roles effectively, students must cooperate and strategize with other students both inside and outside the classroom, write their assigned speeches on time and deliver them with confidence at the respective game session. If you feel you cannot commit to consistently participating and working with your team, this may not be the right class for you.
Prerequisite(s): Any CS course on the 1000-3999 level or ArtHum 2220F/G or ArtHum 2240F/G
3 lecture hours; 0.5 course
CS3905G 001: Special Topic - The Crisis of the Roman Republic
As Rome came into conflict with Carthage in the mid-third century BCE, foreign relations took on a new meaning: for the first time, the city on the Tiber played a part on the world stage. Some two hundred years later, the face of the Roman republic was about to change forever. In surveying the history of Rome from the third to first centuries BCE, we will examine the particular problems and developments in the Roman constitution and administrative system; the organization of the military; the question of Rome's "empire"; personal politics and the relationship between culture, history and the literature of the period. Sample topics for research and discussion include: was the ‘fall’ of the Republic inevitable? Can we determine when the Republic ended? How much do our own modern ideas about politics and empire affect our answers to these questions?
3 lecture hours; 0.5 course
CS3906G 001: Special Topic - Introduction to Medieval Manuscripts
Using materials available in the Rare Books Room and various digital collections around the world, this course will familiarize students with the investigation of medieval manuscripts. It will introduce medieval scripts, the description of a medieval manuscript, issues of provenance and date, and the decoration used. Students will consider the preparation of ink and pigments, and the kinds of illumination and decoration available through the medieval period.
Prerequisites: for students enrolling in Medieval Studies 3022G: 70% or higher in 1.0, Medieval Studies 1022, or both Medieval Studies 1025A/B and Medieval Studies 1026A/B, or the former Medieval Studies 1020E.
For students enrolling in Classical Studies 3906G: there are no prerequisites, but you should expect to do some limited extra learning about medieval studies.
For all students: the ability to read Latin isn’t strictly required, but we will be spending most of our time studying manuscripts written in Latin, and some experience with the language will certainly be helpful. Those of you who have taken at least Latin 1000 should have the tools you need; those of you without any experience in Latin should expect to do some limited extra learning about the language.
3 lecture hours; 0.5 course
CS4585F 001: Vindolanda Research Project
The course comprises the research component of the Vindolanda Field School. Students will write a research paper focused on some aspect of Roman history or archaeology. These papers should be related to or inspired by the student’s experiences at Vindolanda but need not be about the site itself.
Prerequisite(s): CS4580F/G and permission of the instructor
1 tutorial hour, 0.5 course.
CS4999E: Honours Thesis
Instruction in selection of topic, directed readings, research and writing of thesis. Restricted to fourth year students registered in the Honours Specialization in Classical Studies with a modular average of at least 80%. Application to the Undergraduate Chair of Classical Studies will be required by the April preceding the student’s final year.
Prerequisite(s): At least 1.0 course at the 3000-level in the discipline area of the thesis topic and permission of Department.
1.0 course
