Ancient drama in modern world 2500-OG-EN-ADMW

Theatre was one of the most important means of democracy and social communication in ancient Athens in 5th century BC. Plays performed on the stage shaped the ideas and the way of thinking of the Athenians. The extant ancient tragedies are very fruitful heritage of European, certainly, but also worldwide literature and culture. The reception (translations included) of ancient myths and dramas in modern literature, performances and movies proves that these stories still raise questions worth raising, and thus are found important and relevant to carry them to the public.
The main objective of the course is to make students acquainted with issues raised by the selected ancient Greek tragedies (featuring some of the best known heroines and heroes of the Antiquity, like Medea, Phaedra, Antigone, Iphigenia, Hecabe, Clytemnestra, Agamemnon, and Pentheus) via analysis, interpretation and discussion over both ancient (often in modern intriguing translations), and worldwide literature (also performances and movies) that revoke and/or reinterpret ancient myths and stories. Discussion about the relations between myth, history, culture, literature, art and theatre, both ancient and modern, is assumed to lead the students towards better understanding of the representation (and significance) of ancient myths in the worldwide literature and culture.
During the course the active presence of the students is obligatory.