THE ADAM BUXTON PODCAST EP.237 - DAME MARY BEARD
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Dec 22, 2024 Dame Mary Beard, a renowned classicist and professor at Cambridge, delves into the intricate relationship between power and history. She discusses how emperors, like Julius Caesar, used social media-like strategies to maintain authority in ancient Rome. The importance of shoes as symbols of power and the bizarre notion of drowning in rose petals pique curiosity. Moreover, Beard reflects on her controversial responses to 9/11 comments and examines the evolution of public discourse, emphasizing the role of myths in shaping historical narratives.
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Email Responses
- After her 9/11 comments controversy, Mary Beard replied to almost every email she received.
- She believes that if you upset people unintentionally, you're obligated to engage with their responses.
Initial 9/11 Reactions
- The initial reactions to 9/11 were diverse and unformed, as people struggled to process the tragedy.
- Mary Beard believes that her response stood out because it took time for a shared narrative to emerge.
Romans and Twitter
- Romans would have thrived on Twitter, as seen in their graffiti and public pronouncements.
- Julius Caesar, like Trump, communicated directly with the public, bypassing traditional media.
