Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with classics

De-rusting language: what should I use to brush up on classical Greek?

modernhypatia — Sun, 19 May 2013 17:45:18 -0800

Once upon a time, I was a moderately fluent student of classical (Attic) Greek. That was 15+ years ago, and I'd like to get back to that point again. (With some specific goals in mind.) What tools can help me do that? I have been a fan of the awesome Perseus Project almost since they launched, and I've still got my trusty print edition of Liddell and Scott (and two sets of grammar books) but I'm not sure which other books or geeky tools might help me do what I want. (Details within) My goal : to be able to translate text in a way that's reasonably enjoyable (i.e. doing more than a line every 20 minutes would be good), and with a particular attention to all the nuances of language - worldview, things that have particular social connotations, that kind of thing. I specifically plan to start working (once I've gotten some skill back) on Antigone, and after that, I suspect it will be some Euripides, some Homer, and some Plato.

What I'm looking for:

1) What are the really great textbooks for learning Greek these days? (I've browsed online, but it's hard to get a good sense of which ones would work best for me.) I used Athenaze, back when and I have a copy of the venerable if sometimes angry-making Chase and Phillips.

I really loved how Athenaze built from (very simple) created text into 'real' text remarkably quickly, and I liked how it integrated a variety of exercises and relevant background material. However, I'd like something that has a teacher edition as well (to check myself) and more workbook exercises, and it looks like laying hands on all three parts for Athenaze may be complicated. What's newer and does the same kind of thing?

2) What apps/websites/etc. should I be looking at? (I am Apple-ecosystem at home - phone, iPad, and computer - but could do Windows things from my work machine if they were awesome.) I probably do want something to help me quiz vocabulary, but I'm not sure which apps would do well with Greek.

3) Related to 2, best fonts for working in the Apple ecosystem for notes/etc?

4) I'm not sure I really want a full-blown formal course for credit anywhere, but this might be an area where there is some really useful MOOC or related project. (I do work at an academic library, but my campus doesn't teach classical languages at all.)

Suggestions for a graduate in Classics Civilizations?

ebesan — Sat, 11 May 2013 12:30:58 -0800

A relative is graduating from Trinity College, majoring in Classics. Getting her through school was long and difficult. I want to give her something. Her parents could afford any book she wanted, so rare editions are out. Any ideas on a nice gift?

MORE LIKE Lucille Lortel, please

nancoix — Wed, 02 Jan 2013 12:50:53 -0800

Dear NYC-Hive: Visiting in Feb and would like to find listings of theatres whose offerings are like Lucille Lortel Theater in the Village. Would prefer Manhattan locations (over other boroughs). They just did "Volpone" and are doing "She Stoops to Conquer" soon. But they also do new works as well. What are similar theaters? And bonus points if you can give me a link to calendar/listings.

Nothing on my bookshelf was written by a woman. Help!

Rustic Etruscan — Wed, 24 Oct 2012 20:08:57 -0800

I looked at my bookshelf recently. Nearly every writer on there is dead and male. I should rectify this. Which books by women, living or dead, might I like? Details inside. As I said, I looked at my bookshelf recently and found that most of the books on it are by dead white men. Those books by women which I could easily turn up were:

The complete poems of Emily Dickinson;
The complete poems, 1927-1979, of Elizabeth Bishop;
Seven Gothic Tales, by Isak Dinesen;
Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen;
Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen;
Ann Beattie's New Yorker stories;
and Song of Solomon, by Toni Morrison.

These are good books, but there are only seven of them to the dozens of books by men which surround them, and two of them are by the same writer.

Just so people can get an idea of the kind of thing I like, here's a sketch of my bookshelves.

Beside the Austens are a complete Milton, a complete Donne, a reprint of the first edition of Leaves of Grass, The Picture of Dorian Gray, and a César Vallejo anthology.

Near the Dickinson and the Bishop are a complete Shakespeare, Infinite Jest, a Spanish Don Quixote with English notes, the Fagles translations of the Aeneid and the Odyssey, and the Lattimore translation of the Iliad.

Near the Dinesen are the complete prehumous poetry of Wallace Stevens, The Sheltering Sky, Election, Stephen King's On Writing, Rabbit, Run, Byron's Don Juan, anthologies of Octavio Paz, Robert Lowell, and Pablo Neruda, and The Dream Songs by John Berryman.

Near the Beattie are Nine Stories and Franny and Zooey, John Updike's early stories, Sixty Stories by Donald Barthelme, Volpone and Other Plays by Ben Jonson, Dead Souls, Wordsworth's Prelude, Nabokov's short stories, Petersburg by Andrei Bely, and Tristram Shandy.

Song of Solomon is in a chaotic bucket in which I can see Lush Life and a pulp-fiction anthology.

Whew.

So what women should I be reading right now?

Are there any guitar pieces even remotely inspired by Ovid's Metamorphoses?

HowToBeAGentleman — Thu, 06 Sep 2012 20:08:27 -0800

Does anyone know if there are any Classical nylon-string Guitar pieces (preferably decently easy ones) that were inspired or even partly based on mythology included in Ovid's Metamorphoses? I'm looking for sheet music that is inspired by Ovid's Metamorphoses that can be played on the classical guitar. I can read sheet music, so that shouldn't be an issue. I know that there are plenty of other works that are reflected off of his own like art and poetry but what about music?

Even if the song has a LOOSE connection (and by loose, I mean a very vague, perhaps barely even related) to Ovid's Metamorphoses, then so be it. Say, a song about Apollo and Daphne, a song about the four ages, etc. The easier the piece, the better.

This may be far-fetched, but it would be quite epic. I'm reading it now, and I'd like to know how far of an effect the work has had on music, not just the visual arts. I'm looking for a classical guitar piece so I can play it, too!

Help me decide how to spend 15 to 30 minutes a day of reading time.

hought20 — Wed, 22 Aug 2012 06:47:34 -0800

Help me decide how to spend 15 to 30 minutes a day of reading time. I am spending far, far too much time thinking about this, so I turn to you, Ask MeFi, to help me make a decision.

I want to dedicate a(t least a) small amount of time each day to reading something educational. I have narrowed down my choices to these:

1. Read the Economist each week.

2. Read through a "classics" reading list. I am happy to pick my own (I love reading lists), but feel free to suggest something.

3. Read things that relate specifically to the field I am studying, which is economics. I have seen this and this, yes. I would very likely read recent books that relate to finance, politics, and economics if I went this route.

This could also end up as a combination of 1 and 2 or 3, as I can probably get through the Economist in less than 2.5 hours a week (though I may not have that much time--this is going to depend on how well I handle homework and work).

To help you advise me, I will mention that my goals in life revolve around writing more than anything else, but that I do also want to be a good economist. The former is why I consider 2 to be a good idea (I am not nearly as well read as I feel I need to be), but really, either way is going to be good for me. For me, reading The Economist is all about staying informed and thinking about current economic and political issues.

Note that I am also spending a small amount of time each day working on writing (a small amount is all I can afford right now, unfortunately), so do not need to be told to do that. Note, as well, that I read as much as I can, but I tend to read fun things when I have spare time rather than anything that requires a lot of thought (and there is a chance that my answer here is "only ever read edifying things," but oh, that makes me feel tired).

What would you do, if you were me?

Well I gave it five stars David

deadwax — Wed, 15 Aug 2012 04:21:50 -0800

I've seen very few movies. Educate me about the classics of world cinema. When I say I've seen few movies I mean it. I can go entire years without watching anything, on TV or in the cinema. I have a vague idea of what I'm missing, for example it would probably be good to watch a film directed by Stanley Kubrick and as an Australian I am apparently obligated to watch The Castle. I'm not certain I've seen all of the original Star Wars trilogy. After the obvious I'm a bit lost though.

I'm about to be moving to a much quieter town for a year and a half. Opportunities for movie viewing will increase. The internet and a video library will be to hand. Where should I start?

I like pretty well anything, although action films rarely do anything for me and I'd rather not watch horror. Non English is fine. Arthouse is fine. Romantic comedy is fine (if it's a bit above average). Dark depressing drama is fine. Dystopian SF is fine. Film from yesterday is fine. Silent film from 100 years ago is fine. You get the picture.

So give me the high points of the history of film.

Forgotten Greek philosopher

j.s.f. — Mon, 09 Jul 2012 10:05:52 -0800

ClassicsFilter: looking for a Greek politician (or philosopher?) who makes an analogy between politics and agriculture. I have a hazy memory of an Athenian political or intellectual figure who compares the practice of farming to the tradition of politics/citizenship. Part of me wants to say that he praises being a farmer in the morning and a politician in the afternoon... or perhaps it was just that politics can learn something from agriculture and vice versa. Can anyone help me place this?

Looking for some heavy summer reading.

chrillsicka — Wed, 04 Jul 2012 07:28:08 -0800

I have a week at my parent's cottage coming up, and I'd like to get some recommendations on some comprehensive introductions to the classics, mythology, psychology and a few other subjects. With a week of nothing but reading and eating ahead of me, I want to delve into some subjects that have always interested me. I've realized my knowledge in these areas is a little anemic. I'd like to know if anyone can recommend some good overviews of the following rather eclectic subjects.

-classics (Classical Antiquity and the like)
-mythology (Greek, Roman). I'm also really interested in knowing more about Norse mythology, especially Yggdrasil.
-modern pyschology, especially the schism between Freud and Jung.
-a good book on pencil/charcoal drawing
-I have a trip to India planned; anything, fiction or non-fiction, that would bet me into the right head space?
-I was also considering a trip to Albania, and Bosnia and Herzegovina around the same time. Again, is there anything compelling I should be reading to know more?

I'm not a fast reader but I'm determined. Anything that can get my mind off on a new tangent would be appreciated. Thanks so much.

Track listing of 1987 McDonalds Cassette series Rockin' Gold

GraemeMcRae — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 18:35:57 -0800

Has anyone come across a 4-cassette series released by McDonalds in 1987? The series was called "Rockin' Gold". Two of the cassettes were called Lovin' Gold and Summer Classics. If you can help me locate a listing of the tracks (oldies like Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow) then I can reconstruct this great playlist. Thanks!

Fiction Novel with the most screen / theatre adaptations made from it?

Faintdreams — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 09:59:17 -0800

Excluding the Bible (which depending on your point of view is not a fictional tome) what book has (to date) had the most screen / theatre adaptations made from it? I think it's probably Mary Shelly's Frankenstein (aka The Modern Prometheus), or one of the Jane Austen stories, or perhaps Dracula, but I don't know where to confirm my suspicions.

So MeFites, what do you think is the most adapted for screen/ theatre fiction book?

Book ideas for my young nieces and nephews.

two lights above the sea — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 13:21:56 -0800

What are the best books for young kids? I have two nephews and a niece (two 1 year olds and a 5 1/2 year old), and I've resolved to get them books for their birthdays and other gifting holidays. I realize that makes me the lame aunt, but I think it's important to surround them with as many books as they can get their hands on! 1. Do you think this is a terrible idea? I honestly don't care if they hate me as 10 year olds for always giving them books, but I wonder if, as a parent, it would annoy you if someone just kept getting them books as gifts. There are plenty of other wonderful people in their lives to spoil them with other assorted gifts.

2. What are some of your favorite/classic books for young kids? Right now there are two 1 year olds and a (soon-to-be 6 year old). I'm specifically looking for nonreligious books. I'd be happy to get recommendations for books for ages 1 to 15+ years old, as I hope to be using this as a gift guide for years to come. Most recently purchased books: "I Love You Through and Though", "On the Night You Were Born", and "The Very Hungry Caterpillar" for the babies and "Where the Sidewalk Ends" for the 5 1/2 year old.

Thanks in advance!

Beautiful Afrikaans music albums

datarose — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 01:04:46 -0800

What are some beautiful Afrikaans-language music albums? I'm looking for modern popular music that is not too folksy or religious, in addition to more timeless songs. I have enjoyed certain songs from Laurika Rauch, Lianie May, Nianell, and Andriette, but I haven't yet found a whole album of Afrikaans music that I would enjoy listening to from start to finish. I love the style of Dutch singers Stef Bos and Pia Douwes. A Dutch or Afrikaans CD with classic songs and covers would be wonderful, but I'd also be pleased with a modern pop album, provided the lyrics are not too corny and it's not in the gospel vein. Do you have any suggestions?

It was the best of times, it was the blurst of times

showbiz_liz — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 07:37:35 -0800

I want to spend next year reading ~the classics~. So, um, what are they? Last December, I vowed to read 52 books in 2011, and it looks like I'm going to succeed. Now that I know I can do it, I want to challenge myself a little more in 2012 and acquaint myself with some of the books that a learned gentlewoman ought to have read. (I figure I'll do the same challenge as this year, but only require myself to read 26 'classics,' which will allow me to read trashy sci-fi as well and not get burned out. I could always do more than 26 if I really get into it, too!)

I'd like to get at least a little better acquainted with ancient and not-so-ancient fiction, important scientific books, and some philosophy. As well as anything else you guys can come up with. I'm easy.

My main reason for wanting to do this is to get a firmer understanding of the general cultural background of the world, so I'd like to focus on works that have had a broad impact on later works/culture, and a mix of Western and non-Western works.

I know this cannot realistically be done in a year, or a lifetime... but it's a start!

Good edition of The Ambassadors

feelinggood — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 12:26:55 -0800

Could someone suggest a nice reading edition of Henry James's The Ambassadors? It doesn’t have to be in print, but it should have good textual authority.
Also - doesn’t have to have been “edited” – notes, intro, etc. - but it could be. Also, could be paper or hardcover.

As a bonus -- is there an (online) source for respected opinions on recommended editions of the classics? I used to own a book (a sort of "guide to world literature") that recommended particular editions to read. It's probably long out of print.

When I was more current in academia, I knew that there were generally accepted opinions about such things -- or at least, the field was narrowed down to two or three editions.
Thanks.

Source this myth!

Bardolph — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 13:06:39 -0800

Classicists and folklore/mythology types: how can I go about finding the original source for this obscure Roman (or Greek?) myth? I'm trying to figure out what the classical source is for a story, referenced in a more modern work, of Minerva (/Athena?) being captured by Bacchus and Ceres and forced to submit herself to the God of Love. I've tried poking around in the online versions of Smith's Dictionary of Greek and Roman Mythology, but am being hamstrung by the very importance of the characters involved-- it seems as though at the level of major deities, such dictionaries tend to stick to general overviews, and obviously what I need is less a formal introduction to the concept of Minerva than an exhaustive item-by-item listing of every anecdote that's been told about her ever.

Googling and keyword searches in various scholarly databases have been similarly unproductive... so where else should I be looking? Is there such a thing as a comprehensive concordance to all of Greek and Roman mythology out there? Or perhaps some classics-oriented, trivia-friendly forum where I might be able to post this? I'm pretty much stumped, so I'd be grateful for even the slightest of leads here. Thanks!

Why is politics a noble profession ?

Carius — Fri, 05 Aug 2011 22:25:00 -0800

Why is politics a noble profession? Aristotle once said that the two noblest professions are teaching and politics. Now almost two thousand years later, I still agreed with his assessment of teaching. But politics? I'm not so sure.

Why did he think that politics was a noble profession?

Did politics had a different meaning in ancient time that's different from our modern understand of politics? Were ancient Greek politicians really more noble than their modern peers?

classic works, published in high quality

the mad poster! — Thu, 14 Apr 2011 07:22:29 -0800

Tell me about high quality publishing! What does it involve, where can I read more about it and who does it? I’m interested in buying old cornerstone types of works like The Federalist Papers, The Origin of the Species bound, made, etc. at the best possible quality. I remember reading about a company that does something like this, like a batch of particular books every few months, but can’t dig it up…

eBooks publishing model?

Tell Me No Lies — Fri, 07 Jan 2011 17:33:17 -0800

Publishing Industry aficionados: How does a copyrighted classic book become an eBook? I'm trying to understand the path that (for example) The Hobbit would take to becoming an eBook.

More precisely:

1) Who starts the process? Is it the copyright owner looking to make a few extra bucks? The publisher doing bulk deals? The eBook seller tracking down authors and making specific requests?

2) Who are the players? Obviously the author or their estate will be involved as will anyone who has purchased printing rights (but presumably not electronic publishing rights). Is there a clearinghouse in there somewhere -- a company that specializes in licensing and producing eBooks?

3) Is there any impetus to do something with old classics? After all it seems like another reprint might be a more profitable path...

I understand the whole process is currently hobbled by the usual DRM worries, but I would imagine that a basic business model has emerged. Can someone with a window into area this educate me?

Books with this theme--ideas?

whatgorilla — Mon, 01 Nov 2010 08:08:11 -0800

Need help thinking of children's books, especially classics, that are about kids who don't grow up or don't want to grow up, *besides* peter pan? Alternately, can you think of books published for adults that contain those themes (even if only slightly or vaguely)?

Annotated classics in ebook format?

zardoz — Thu, 28 Oct 2010 23:08:25 -0800

I really love the Power Moby Dick site, which gives very helpful annotations and puts obscure words and expressions into a modern context. Where can I find more of this for other classics? And most importantly, I want to find formats that can be downloaded and viewed on my Nook e-reader. The Moby Dick site has no e-book version I could use--I downloaded the first chapter but it looks pretty terrible on the Nook; the margins and tabbing seems to be a challenge for it.

Any really good annotated classics out there? Downloadable epubs and the like most especially welcome.

The Suda called him "posessed of an evil spirit"

msalt — Tue, 26 Oct 2010 14:36:45 -0800

Please suggest classics publications that might accept an article by a non-scholar. I am finishing an article on a notorious figure of the ancient world, Sotades of Maroneia. Much has been written about him, and a good bit recently, but I don't see any extensive survey of his life. So over many years, I've pulled one together, heavily researched and rather comprehensive, carefully footnoted, etc. with the help of several academics who provided translations, perspective, etc. I would like to get this published but obviously, my lack of any formal training in philology or classics will be a major issue for most scholarly journals. Any and all advice appreciated. Thanks!

The Harvard Classics

jara1953 — Thu, 23 Sep 2010 08:05:31 -0800

Dad has a bookcase of Harvard Classics (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harvard_Classics) his dad bought in 1910. Would like to give them to someone or an organization. They're not too rare; plenty on ebay. I'm googled out. Don't want to throw them away. Thanks.

The Chinese Herodotus?

SpringAquifer — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 19:25:29 -0800

Herodotus, Thucydides, Plutarch, Tacitus, and the rest of those familiar names are inextricably tied with the historical canon of classical "western" civilization. But who are the "eastern" equivalents? My familiarity with the canon of classical eastern history is almost none. While I know the names of the ancient historians in the west, I wouldn't even recognize a single name from the east. Some Googling has brought up a few names, such as the classical Chinese historian Sima Qian, who wrote the Records of the Grand Historian between 109 BC and 91 BC. However, I'm sure that such an unfocused search will have left a lot of things out.

Who else is out there? Do we have much of their surviving works? Are those works as readily accessible in English as the western canon?

(Secondary question: Is there an eastern equivalent of someone like, say, Gibbon, who came much later to write a seminal work that's affected all later scholarship, but isn't exactly modern in the 20th-century sense?)

Career options for a Classics major?

Anonymous — Sun, 06 Jun 2010 17:46:06 -0800

Close to finishing a BA in Classics, utterly clueless (and feeling hopeless) about career options, and looking for guidance. I'm a Canadian one year short of getting my BA in Classics. I've really enjoyed my program and university in general; however, I went in without much of a life plan, and I have no idea what I want to do after I graduate. In light of the miserable economy and my less-than-super-useful degree, I'm starting to feel a bit gloomy as well, so I'm looking for guidance. Here's the outline:

1. I love Latin and history. I work hard, I've gotten quite high marks and my professors like me. Some have suggested I go into academia, and while I love the subject I don't know if I'm really prof material, and I'm scared of the huge debt involved for a relatively risky career path.

2. I've considered getting my Master's in library or archival studies. I'm hard-working, organized, and I also have some fairly decent computer skills, so I think it would be a career that I would be good at. However, everything I read about librarians and archivists suggests that it's a flooded field that is nigh-impossible to break into, so I am also scared about this.

3. I went to my school's career counselor, who pretty much just gave me a half-hour speech and why I should go to law school because I have high enough marks. I know I have no interest in being a lawyer.

4. Some people have also mentioned teaching. I deal terribly with teenagers, but I could see myself doing something at a community college level. I have no idea if I would be good at this or how I would find out since I have no teaching experience.

5. Some people have also suggested the Canadian public service since I do speak French, but I don't know if they'd hire someone with a Classics degree or how I would even start to look for a job like that.

6. I'm an INTP. I'm better at working alone then in groups. I work hard, I have a much longer attention span than most of my peers, I'm organized and I have a good attention to detail. While I'm a bit shy/introverted, in general I think I'm pretty employable and adaptable.

7. I think I have fairly realistic career expectations. I don't demand anything fun or "intellectually stimulating" since a job is a job, and I can stimulate my intellect on my own time. To be honest, I was perfectly happy with my past "crappy" jobs washing dishes, alphabetizing in a bookstore, and doing data entry. I'm not aiming for a career with a huge salary, either - all I need is to support myself, and I'm not a big spender.

8. I am going to graduate debt-free, but not with a massive amount of savings. I will have to take a student loan for any more schooling, so I want to make sure I'm making a reasonable decision before I jump into this.

I'm started to feel progressively more and more desperate and wondering why I majored in something I loved instead of something useful. The economy and my utterly useless career counselor didn't help. Can anyone offer guidance, advice, or similar experiences? Thanks.