Greco-Roman mythology is used widely and imaginatively in teaching and outreach activities, in both secondary and higher education. Nonetheless, there have been few opportunities to analyse the pedagogical benefits and pitfalls of teaching mythology, or to share and explore effective practices and innovation in the field. We propose to address this gap in pedagogy by holding a one-day workshop for academics, teachers, students, and other interested parties.
Programme
9.30-10am Registration
10-10.10am Welcome
10.10-11.40am Art and Visual Culture
Chair: Ingo Gildenhard, University of Cambridge.
Tony Keen, University of Roehampton: Teaching Ancient Myth through Cartoons.
Amanda Potter, The Open University: Bringing Classical Monsters to Life on UK Children’s Television: Gorgons, Minotaurs and Sirens in Doctor Who, The Sarah Jane Adventures, andAtlantis.
Sonya Nevin, University of Roehampton: Our Mythical Vase Animations: New Developments.
11.30-12 Break
12-12.30pm Curriculum
Lisa Maurice, Bar Ilan University: Our Mythical Education: an overview and some preliminary notes on Israel as a case study.
12.30-1pm Discussion Panel 1: Schools and Museums:
Chair: Frances Foster, University of Cambridge.
Maria Christidis, Karl-Franzens-Universität, Graz (short presentation): ‘Tell me, O Muse(um), of the man of many devices… of these things…’ (Homer, Odyssey, 1.1-11). The evidence of a cast collection in order to teach mythology.
Rhiannon Litterick, Schools & Families Officer, Soane Museum.
Jonny Barnes, Classics NQT Eltham College.
Jess Webb, English teacher, Impington Village College.
1-2pm Lunch
2-2.30pm Our Mythical Childhood, The Warsaw Team via Skype/Adobe Connect.
Katarzyna Marciniak, Hanna Paulouska and Elżbieta Olechowska, University of Warsaw.
2.30-3.30pm Children’s Literature:
Chair: Owen Hodkinson, University of Leeds.
Rachel Bryant Davies, University of Durham: ‘X is for Xerxes’: Classical Mythology, Literacy
Acquisition, and Cultural Competence in Eighteenth- and Nineteenth-Century Britain.
Maria Nikolajeva, University of Cambridge, Playing Games with the Reader: The Power of Intertexts
in Diana Wynne Jones’ The Game.
3.30-3.45pm Break
3.45-4.30pm Discussion Panel 2: Our Mythical Childhood: Survey Entries
Chair: Susan Deacy, University of Roehampton.
Kimberly MacNeill, University of Roehampton (short presentation): The Odyssey in Performance:
Engaging the ‘digital child’ in Mythology.
Robin Diver, Universities of Birmingham/Nottingham (short presentation): Educating Hades.
Katerina Volioti and Sonya Nevin, University of Roehampton.
Nanci Santos, OMC survey contributor.
Oliver Brookes, The Royal College of Nursing.
Naomi Rebis, University College London.
4.30pm Workshop closes. Conversation to continue at the pub.
All welcome!
There is no charge for attendance, but we ask that attendees register in advance for catering purposes.
Please contact Dr Sonya Nevin at [email protected] if you have any specific dietary requirements beyond vegetarianism.
Please contact Dr Frances Foster at [email protected] if you any access queries or if you would like to park on site.
We recommend using public transport where possible as parking on site is limited. The venue is c.15 minute walk from Cambridge railway station. Buses and taxis from the station to the Faculty are also available.
This event is being organised in association with the interdisciplinary and transcontinental project Our Mythical Childhood: http://cordis.europa.eu/project/rcn/205179_en.html. It has been generously supported by the award money from a National Teaching Fellow 2015: https://www.heacademy.ac.uk/person/dr-susan-deacy.