Why bother with antiquity?
More and more often nowadays, you hear about another Classics department closing its doors. Sure, all Humanities fields are struggling with closures and loss of funding - but with Classics being such a small field to begin with, every closed department is a major loss. Why is this happening, and how can we stop it? And should we stop it?
In Season 1 of the podcast, Matt offers some ideas about how to improve Classics’ chances of survival in an increasingly STEM-oriented educational world. He interviews guests about the practical applications of a Classics degree, the devastating effects of department closures on grad students, and why Classics is a worthwhile pursuit, even if it isn’t as “useful” as a biology or computer science degree.
Episodes
Introduction
Is it worth it to study the ancient world? In this introductory episode, host Matt tells the story of how he got into Classics and why we should all care about the ancient world.
Dentistry Sucks, Study Latin
Episode 1
Is Humanities really a “useless” pursuit, or are there skills that one learns in a Humanities degree that are vital to our society? And what is it about Classics in particular that makes it a critical field of study?
Your Degree Is Useless
How I Turned My Classics Degree Into A High-Paying Job
Episode 2
“What are you gonna do with that?” All Classicists have heard this at one point or another. In this episode, Matt speaks with Austin about the skills he developed while pursuing a master’s in ancient history and Greek language, and how he uses those skills now after leaving academia.
with Austin Wojkiewicz
Episode 3
Who owns the past? Who gets to decide where significant objects live, how they’re cared for, and who has access to them? In this episode, Matt digs into the controversial fate of the so-called Elgin marbles - the sculptures taken from the Parthenon in Athens that currently reside in the British Museum in London.
Sorry, No Returns
Episode 4
Keeping Greek Art Alive
Join Matt as he talks to Maria Marinou (@mariamarinouart), a working artist based in Sheffield, about her experiences growing up in Athens and her journey from art school to archaeology, and hear her thoughts about museum possession as a Greek person living in England.
with Maria Marinou
Episode 5
In this episode, Matt tackles the methodological and epistemological issues in academic departments. He considers why asking bad questions makes it harder to defend vulnerable fields of study against the onslaught of budget cuts and closures, and offers some possible solutions to keep these departments open.
You’re Doing It Wrong!
Episode 6
Antiquity Under Threat
Join us for a conversation with Matt Lester, an archaeologist at the University of Sheffield, about the struggles facing doctoral candidates trying to finish in this climate of closures and loss of funding. Hear Matt offer his thoughts about his own department shutting its doors and about methodological problems facing the field, and how he thinks we can save Classics for future generations.
with Matt Lester
Episode 7
How Classics reaches the wider world, how it draws in new students and enthusiasts, makes the difference between a dying or a thriving field.
In the penultimate episode to Season 1, Matt thinks about the ways in which Classics has historically been promulgated to broader audiences, and whether this model is sustainable today.
The Existential Problem
Episode 8
The Question of Outreach
Join Matt as he chats with Ledio Hysi, an archaeologist and kombucha aficionado who has spent years bringing Classics to a wider audience. Ledio talks about his work at Lithodomos, a VR company that’s bringing the ancient world into the future, and his opinions about Classics outreach in general. This one’s a must-listen!
with Ledio Hysi