As the July 17 release of Christopher Nolan’s take on The Odyssey approaches, scholars and enthusiasts of the ancient world are preparing for a potential surge in student interest in classics studies. At universities and high schools across the globe, classics teachers have been preparing for what they hope will be a boom in student interest in their field.
Local Impact
In Texas, Jennie Luongo, a Latin teacher at St. Andrew’s Episcopal School in Austin, who also serves as president of the American Classical League, is excited about the potential impact of the film on her students. “I knew it was going to be big if Christopher Nolan was directing it, and anytime we can get people talking about the things that we’re studying in class, it’s exciting for me as an educator,” Luongo said.
The film, based on the ancient epic poem by Homer, stars Matt Damon as Odysseus, the king of Ithaca whose 10-year-long journey home after fighting in the Trojan War is marked by numerous encounters with mythical beings. Given Nolan’s record of creating blockbuster films that dominate the culture, Hollywood analysts have been forecasting massive box office returns for The Odyssey, with some speculating it is likely to surpass more than $1 billion in sales worldwide.
Global Interest
Classics Studies teachers, whose work typically focuses on the history and culture of the ancient Mediterranean basin, are hoping that many moviegoers who see the film will then be inspired to pick up a copy of the original poem or perhaps even sign up for a class. “Clearly, it’s going to have a huge impact and a huge audience,” said Nina Papathanasopoulou, a classics professor at College Year in Athens and the public engagement coordinator for the Society for Classical Studies. “It seems like it could be a really good way to rekindle interest in the ancient world.”
In addition to online debates over the casting, costuming, and accents teased in the film’s trailers, Emily Wilson, the classicist whose 2017 translation of The Odyssey Nolan has said he read, is experiencing a huge burst of attention. Museums have been hosting Odyssey-themed events, while academic-led book clubs focusing on the classic Greek tale have reached capacity.
Original reporting: KRDO (Colorado Springs metro) — read the source article.
