Apr 22

Phi Beta Kappa Lecture

Thu, April 22, 2021 • 5:00pm - 6:00pm (1h) • Register for Zoom link

The study of the human mind as advanced by the inter-related fields of neuroscience, cognitive theory, psychology, biology and philosophy has made great advances in recent decades and is now starting to be applied to how people thought in the ancient world. Now instead of perceiving ancient artifacts as distant objects to observe in a glass case at a museum we can engage with them as the living remnants of an ancient thought process. In this talk with practical demonstrations, Professor Meineck will show how modern studies and theories of cognition have been applied to antiquity and the experience of the ancient theatre in particular and how we can better understand the function of the ancient sanctuary, the tragic mask, movement and music and why Plato, Aristotle and Isocrates all wrote that the theatre has the power “to move the soul”.

Peter Meineck holds the endowed chair of Professor of Classics in the Modern World at New York University and is Honorary Professor of Humanities at the University of Nottingham in the UK. He specializes in ancient performance, cognitive theory, Greek literature and culture and humanities public programming. In addition to his academic career, he has worked extensively in the professional theatre in New York and London, founding Aquila Theatre in 1991. His national public programs include Ancient Greeks/Modern Lives, The Warrior Chorus and Shakespeare Leaders in Harlem. Recently he developed a new program for teens from refugee families, based around Greek drama and held at NYU. He also serves as a fire chief at the Bedford Fire Department in New York.

 Register for this event to receive the Zoom link

Event Contact: Mary Drew

Event Summary

Phi Beta Kappa Lecture
  • When
    • Thursday, April 22, 2021
    • 5:00pm - 6:00pm (1h)
  • Where
    • Register for Zoom link
  • Event Contact
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  • Intended For: Students, Faculty, Staff

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