Classical New York

Since its establishment as a British colony in the 17th century, New York has been infused with various “classical” elements deriving from ancient Greece and Rome across many of its core features and institutions, including architecture, politics, and theater. This course will use New York City as a laboratory for thinking about the imprint and cultural capital of Greco-Roman antiquity in the modern world. We will examine a range of historical “case studies” from the 18th century to the present day that will enable us to analyze how the art, literature, and ideas of ancient Greece and Rome have been transported, adapted, and re-imagined in New York City. The course will give equal emphasis to how classical literature has been appropriated by activist and marginalized communities across the city from the twentieth century to the present. By the end of this course the students will be able to describe and analyze the distinctive traces of Greco-Roman antiquity in NYC architecture, art, and literature across a range of periods, while also being able to situate and contextualize these primary sources in their immediate historical and political context. Students will also demonstrate critical understanding of the history and culture of New York and the lives of its inhabitants across these selected periods.