Share

cover art for Special Release - Johns Hopkins University Student Discussion on Race Before Race

Ancient Office Hours

Special Release - Johns Hopkins University Student Discussion on Race Before Race

•

This special release is a recording from December 2022 with Dr. Nandini Pandey's class at Johns Hopkins University (JHU).


In the episode, you'll hear Lexie and Dan discuss with the class their preconceived notions before the course, things they wish they could tell future students, (de)constructing classics, perspectives on how the ancient world intersects with their modern interests, and of course, a reading of the poem Ozymandias by the whole class.


If you are an educator, or even a student, interested in working with The Ozymandias Project in your classroom, please reach out to us via email at theozymandiasprojectnfp@gmail.com. Or if you want to support our work, please give the podcast a 5 star rating on Apple Podcasts, share an episode with a friend, follow our social media [ Instagram | FB | Twitter], or support us on Patreon!


Want a transcript of the episode? Email us at theozymandiasprojectpodcast@gmail.com and we can provide one.


About the class:

Race Before Race: Ethnic Difference in the Ancient Mediterranean is a First Year Seminar (FYS) at JHU which explores premodern constructions of race, ethnicity, and ethnic difference, focusing on Asian, European, and African civilizations around the Mediterranean basin between 1000 BCE – 500 CE. It will introduces students to the multiculturalism and polychromy of the ancient Mediterranean world, hones their ability to interpret and contextualize primary sources (both literary and visual), and survey ancient and modern ways of theorizing human difference. It also examines the role that classical Greece and Rome played in modern racecraft and Western imperialism, along with recent calls to ‘decolonize’ the curriculum. This course hopes to give students a wider historical frame in which to understand race and racism, as well as the cultural politics around "classics," revealing both as dynamic and historically situated discourses that have been used to exert power, to include or exclude, and to build communities. The course is taught out of the Classics department, but students of all disciplines are welcome to enroll as they do not declare majors until the end of their first year at JHU. Students were invited to join this recording as an alternative course assignment.

More episodes

View all episodes

  • Episode 122 - Dr. Damián Fernández

    58:26|
    Dr. Damián Fernández, a historian of Late Antiquity and Associate Professor at Northern Illinois University, joins Lexie to discuss the complexities of Visigoth identity and their kingdom in Spain, the importance of learning languages like Spanish and Portuguese for a deeper understanding of Visigothic sites, and his work on a monograph on rebellion in the Visigothic Kingdom which explores how rebellion was used to justify state power. So tuck in your togas and hop aboard Trireme Transit for this week’s exciting odyssey! Don't forget to follow us on Twitter, Facebook & Instagram or visit our website www.theozymandiasproject.com! Originally recorded January 27, 2025.Learn more about Dr. Fernández:  https://www.niu.edu/clas/history/about/faculty/fernandez.shtmlFollow him on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/historiantillo.bsky.social Check out his publications on Academia: https://niu.academia.edu/Dami%C3%A1nFern%C3%A1ndezSupport us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/TheOzymandiasProject Custom music by Brent Arehart of Arehart Sounds and edited by Dan Maday. Want a transcript of the episode? Email us at theozymandiasprojectpodcast@gmail.com and we can provide one. 

  • Episode 121 - Dr. Tom Morcom

    01:14:59|
    Dr. Tom Morcom, an associate lecturer in Old Norse Language and Literature at University College London, joins Lexie to discuss his journey into academia, emphasizing his fascination with the depth and richness of Old Norse saga literature and narrative theory, the uniqueness of medieval Icelandic society, how Old Norse literature compares to classical works, and modern reception of Norse culture in popular media. So tuck in your togas and hop aboard Trireme Transit for this week’s exciting odyssey! Don't forget to follow us on Twitter, Facebook & Instagram or visit our website www.theozymandiasproject.com! Originally recorded January 10, 2025. Learn more about Dr. Morcom: https://profiles.ucl.ac.uk/97142-tom-morcomFollow him on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/tommorcom.bsky.socialCheck out his publications on Academia: https://uio.academia.edu/TomMorcomSupport us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/TheOzymandiasProject Custom music by Brent Arehart of Arehart Sounds and edited by Dan Maday. Want a transcript of the episode? Email us at theozymandiasprojectpodcast@gmail.com and we can provide one.

  • Episode 120 - Magnus Bruun

    49:21|
    Actor Magnus Bruun, (voice of male Eivor in Assassin’s Creed Valhalla!), joins Lexie to chat about his love for storytelling and the rich history and mythology of Scandinavia that shaped his artistic vision, playing Cnut in "The Last Kingdom”, the challenges of portraying characters in both television and video games, and share some behind-the-scenes stories from working on Assassin’s Creed Valhalla. So tuck in your togas and hop aboard Trireme Transit for this week’s exciting odyssey! Don't forget to follow us on Twitter, Facebook & Instagram or visit our website www.theozymandiasproject.com! Originally recorded January 5, 2025. Follow Magnus on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/magnusbruun/?hl=en Find all of his projects on his IMDb page: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2422401/Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/TheOzymandiasProject Custom music by Brent Arehart of Arehart Sounds and edited by Dan Maday. Want a transcript of the episode? Email us at theozymandiasprojectpodcast@gmail.com and we can provide one.

  • Episode 119 - Dr. Christian Rollinger

    01:14:41|
    Dr. Christian Rollinger, a Senior Lecturer in Ancient History at the University of Trier, joins Lexie to discuss his experience navigating the German academic system, evolution from focusing on modern history to becoming a scholar of ancient Rome, interest in the historical importance of monarchy, work on reception of classics in video games, and the growing acceptance of video game studies in academia. So tuck in your togas and hop aboard Trireme Transit for this week’s exciting odyssey! Don't forget to follow us on Twitter, Facebook & Instagram or visit our website www.theozymandiasproject.com! Originally recorded December 20, 2024.Learn more about Dr. Rollinger: https://www.uni-trier.de/en/universitaet/fachbereiche-faecher/fachbereich-iii/faecher/geschichte/profil/fachgebiete/alte-geschichte-1/team/dr-christian-rollingerFollow him on Bluesky: @drcrollinger.bsky.social Check out his publications on Academia: https://uni-trier.academia.edu/ChristianRollingerGrab a copy of his edited volume on Classics in video games: https://www.amazon.com/Classical-Antiquity-Video-Games-Receptions/dp/1350193860 Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/TheOzymandiasProject Custom music by Brent Arehart of Arehart Sounds and edited by Dan Maday. Want a transcript of the episode? Email us at theozymandiasprojectpodcast@gmail.com and we can provide one.

  • Episode 118 - Dr. Joel Christensen

    01:23:16|
    Dr. Joel Christensen, a professor of Classics at Brandeis University, joins Lexie to discuss how his childhood in rural Maine and frequent library visits led to a passion for classics, finding parallels between Homeric themes and modern narratives, and re-analyzed Joseph Campbell's 'Hero of a Thousand Faces,' critiquing its limitations while highlighting its impact on modern storytelling. So tuck in your togas and hop aboard Trireme Transit for this week’s exciting odyssey! Don't forget to follow us on Twitter, Facebook & Instagram or visit our website www.theozymandiasproject.com! Originally recorded December 2, 2024.Learn more about Dr. Christensen: https://scholarworks.brandeis.edu/esploro/profile/joel_christensen/overview Follow him on Bluesky (ft. Hermes): https://bsky.app/profile/sentantiq.bsky.socialFollow him on Twitter: https://x.com/sentantiq Sign up for his substack: https://joelchristensen.substack.com/ Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/TheOzymandiasProject Custom music by Brent Arehart of Arehart Sounds and edited by Dan Maday. Want a transcript of the episode? Email us at theozymandiasprojectpodcast@gmail.com and we can provide one.

  • Episode 117 - Dr. Clare Downham

    01:05:36|
    Dr. Clare Downham, a professor of Medieval History and Celtic Studies at the University of Liverpool, joins Lexie to discuss her personal journey into Medieval History and Celtic Studies, the distinct ways Viking activities influenced Ireland compared to the UK, being a historical consultant for Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, and debunking popular misconceptions about the Vikings and iconic figures like Ivar the Boneless. So tuck in your togas and hop aboard Trireme Transit for this week’s exciting odyssey! Don't forget to follow us on Twitter, Facebook & Instagram or visit our website www.theozymandiasproject.com! Originally recorded November 11, 2024.Learn more about Dr. Downham: https://www.liverpool.ac.uk/people/clare-downham Follow her on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/downham.bsky.socialCheck out her publications on Academia: https://liverpool.academia.edu/ClareDownham Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/TheOzymandiasProject Custom music by Brent Arehart of Arehart Sounds and edited by Dan Maday. Want a transcript of the episode? Email us at theozymandiasprojectpodcast@gmail.com and we can provide one.

  • Episode 116 - Dr. Hannah Čulík-Baird

    01:14:04|
    Dr. Hannah Čulík-Baird, a professor of Classics at UCLA, joins Lexie to discuss the intersections of her personal identity (growing up in Scotland) with her academic pursuits, the importance of addressing historical inequities within the field, the relevance of ancient texts like those of Cicero, and the modern challenges of teaching classics in a diverse and evolving academic landscape. So tuck in your togas and hop aboard Trireme Transit for this week’s exciting odyssey! Don't forget to follow us on Twitter, Facebook & Instagram or visit our website www.theozymandiasproject.com! Originally recorded October 25, 2024.Learn more about Dr. Čulík-Baird: https://classics.ucla.edu/person/hannah-culik-baird/Check out her blog O Pietas Animi: https://opietasanimi.com/author/opietasanimi/Follow her on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/opietasanimi.com Check out the Res Difficiles Journal: https://resdifficiles.com/ Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/TheOzymandiasProject Custom music by Brent Arehart of Arehart Sounds and edited by Dan Maday. Want a transcript of the episode? Email us at theozymandiasprojectpodcast@gmail.com and we can provide one.

  • Episode 115 - Dr. Hans Bork

    01:22:56|
    Dr. Hans Bork, a professor of Classics at Stanford, joins Lexie to discuss his formative experiences with Indo-European linguistics before Classics, the siloed nature of language study, which is typically categorized with literature rather than with its scientific and mathematical aspects, and humor in ancient Rome, particularly the works of Plautus and Cicero. So tuck in your togas and hop aboard Trireme Transit for this week’s exciting odyssey! Don't forget to follow us on Twitter, Facebook & Instagram or visit our website www.theozymandiasproject.com! Originally recorded October 10, 2024.Learn more about Dr. Bork: https://classics.stanford.edu/people/hans-bork Check out his publications on Academia: https://stanford.academia.edu/HansBork Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/TheOzymandiasProject Custom music by Brent Arehart of Arehart Sounds and edited by Dan Maday. Want a transcript of the episode? Email us at theozymandiasprojectpodcast@gmail.com and we can provide one.

  • Episode 114 - Classics Meet the Classics with Christopher Tin

    01:12:19|
    Two-time Grammy winning composer Christopher Tin joins Lexie to discuss the evolution of film music, particularly the transition from lush orchestral scores of the past to the more atmospheric and synth-driven scores of contemporary composers, his experiences scoring for the Civilization game series and Old World, and the intersection of music, history, & creativity. So tuck in your togas and hop aboard Trireme Transit for this week’s exciting odyssey! Don't forget to follow us on Twitter, Facebook & Instagram or visit our website www.theozymandiasproject.com! Originally recorded September 5, 2024.Learn more about Christopher: https://christophertin.com/Listen to “Baba Yetu” the main title to Civilization IV: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IJiHDmyhE1A Listen to “Live Gloriously” the main title to Civilization VII: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jOF9v-W6kdc Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/TheOzymandiasProject Custom music by Brent Arehart of Arehart Sounds and edited by Dan Maday. Want a transcript of the episode? Email us at theozymandiasprojectpodcast@gmail.com and we can provide one.