Gangs of Athens : an investigation into political representations of youth in Greek tragedy
Classical scholarship makes frequent reference to presentations of youth in ancient Greek literature, most often in relation to characterisations and themes in Greek tragedy. And yet no rigorous study has to date been undertaken solely on these presentations within the genre. This dissertation addresses the gap in the scholarship, offering a comprehensive assessment of tragic presentations of youth. Moreover, this original contribution demonstrates how tragic presentations are a cultural response to the political context in which tragedy was produced. Evidence is offered to support the argument that contemporary social constructions of youth appear clearly in tragedy and that, as the material base for these conceptualisations changes, in relation to a dynamic political climate, so too do the tragic presentations. Each chapter focuses on a specific play and a theme relating to youth within that play. The investigation will move chronologically, beginning with the (undated but, I believe, pre-mid-century) Aeschylean Prometheus and ending with Euripidesâ Bacchae, allowing comparison of different presentations over a well-defined historical period. Underpinning this methodology are a number of theoretical strands.
Shipton, Matthew Thomas
Gangs of Athens : an investigation into political representations of youth in Greek tragedy. Classical scholarship makes frequent reference to presentations of youth in ancient Greek literature, most often in relation to characterisations and themes in Greek tragedy. And yet no rigorous study has to date been undertaken solely on these presentations within the genre. This dissertation addresses the gap in the scholarship, offering a comprehensive assessment of tragic presentations of youth. Moreover, this original contribution demonstrates how tragic presentations are a cultural response to the political context in which tragedy was produced. Evidence is offered to support the argument that contemporary social constructions of youth appear clearly in tragedy and that, as the material base for these conceptualisations changes, in relation to a dynamic political climate, so too do the tragic presentations. Each chapter focuses on a specific play and a theme relating to youth within that play. The investigation will move chronologically, beginning with the (undated but, I believe, pre-mid-century) Aeschylean Prometheus and ending with Euripidesâ Bacchae, allowing comparison of different presentations over a well-defined historical period. Underpinning this methodology are a number of theoretical strands.
athens investigation political representation youth greek_tragedy classical_scholarship make frequent reference presentation youth ancient_greek literature often relation characterisation theme greek_tragedy yet rigorous study date undertaken solely presentation within genre address_gap scholarship offer_comprehensive assessment tragic presentation youth moreover original demonstrates tragic presentation cultural response political_context tragedy produce evidence offer_support argument contemporary_social construction youth appear clearly tragedy material base conceptualisation change relation dynamic political climate tragic presentation focus_specific play theme relate youth within play investigation move chronologically begin undated believe pre mid_century allow comparison_different presentation well_defined historical_period underpinning number_theoretical strand