Conversations with Tyler Shadi Bartsch on the Classics and China
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Apr 21, 2021 Shadi Bartsch, a prominent Professor of Classics at the University of Chicago and translator of Virgil’s Aeneid, shares her unique insights as a half-Persian classicist. She discusses the cultural nuances in reading classics and the differences between Homer and Virgil’s realms. The conversation dives into the implications of Seneca's Stoicism, the relevance of Virgil for modern women, and the connections between classical texts and contemporary Chinese political thought. Bartsch also reveals her hopes for uncovering lost manuscripts and the cultural lessons we can learn from ancient history.
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Visual History in the Aeneid
- Virgil's Aeneid uses visual representations of history, like the Temple of Juno and the Gates of the Underworld.
- These visuals often depict viewers misinterpreting the historical events, highlighting the constructed nature of history.
Aeneid's Historical Vision
- Virgil's Aeneid presents a forward-moving history, not a cyclical one.
- The poem undermines the pro-empire narrative by showcasing multiple historical interpretations and Aeneas's flawed character.
Cross-Cultural Perspectives on the Classics
- Shadi Bartsch's half-Iranian, half-Swedish background influenced her reading of the classics.
- She noticed similar rhetoric used by opposing sides (like Greeks and Persians) to portray themselves as civilized and their enemies as barbarians.
