Does ancient history matter?
More and more, this question is being asked not just on Twitter, but in university administration buildings. How can an institution justify funding a field that is seemingly irrelevant? Departments are closing - most recently, Howard University shut the doors on the only Classical Studies department at any HBCU. The problem is multi-faceted, and there's no simple solution.
But I think Classics is worth saving. That's why I started working on outreach projects like the Matt Lupu Podcast - to bring Classics to the wider world and to show how the ancient world affects us today. I believe that engaging with new audiences and getting people involved is a good way to ensure that Classical Studies will be around for generations to come.
Welcome to the Podcast
I’ve been interested in Classics outreach for a long time. After getting a chance to try out podcasting with a friend a few years ago, I decided that this was the best way for me to bring Classics to the wider world. Thus the Matt Lupu Podcast was born: an experiment in making Classics cool.
In Season 1, I get to talk to my friends and colleagues about the joy and frustration of working in the field, and in Season 2 I’m branching out into new territories. I wonder where this experiment will go next.
I hope you come along.
