Fall 2003 William Thalmann, Amy Richlin and Thomas Habinek department is often very contempo- rary. Last spring, William Thalmann’s course on Homer’s “The Iliad” coin- cided with the onset of the U.S. war in Iraq. “As a result,” Thalmann says, “students ‘got’ this text like I’ve never seen before. On many levels, the poem is about how individuals come to terms with controlling and eradicating violence.” In the Classroom The comprehensive study of Latin and Greek is the foundation of the classics department and offers USC classicists a window on the ancient world. Thalmann, who began learn- ing Latin when he was 11 and was fluent in Greek by his 14th birthday, says John Milton’s “Paradise Lost” is one of his favorite texts to teach. “Language is a wonderful way into the ancient world. When you just read the translation, there is a real barrier between you and the text. There is a wonderful analytical aspect to learning the languages. It carries over to the way you think, read and write,” he says. Thalmann and Habinek are revising our understand- ing of the relationship between oral and written performance through their research on Latin and Greek lit- erature respectively. Classics professors and their grad- Classics: Back to the Future uate students often find themselves in the midst of unusual research projects that link two seemingly ith a roster of only eight faculty, the USC College classics guage, philosophy and archaeology unrelated topics. Take associate pro- department is small but mighty. As its professors fessor Vincent Farenga’s study of continuously engage ancient examples to explain communication and psychology. His modern phenomena, like the war with Iraq and When he heard a New Englander say that scholars research explains how communica- racial conflicts, and with its cutting-edge syllabi, should not study the classics because its languages tion influences the political and like the one that compares the leadership styles are dead, Henry David Thoreau responded: “We cognitive development of the Greek Wof Socrates to Thomas Jefferson, the department has gained a reputa- might as well refuse to study nature because she is city-state citizens. Anthony Boyle’s tion as being a laboratory for the future of the classics. expertise in Senecan drama has also old.” This issue is devoted to the classics, the cradle of “In the College, the study of classics is much more than a search led him to teach courses on the for roots,” says College Dean Joseph Aoun. “By understanding the modern culture. To study these timeless teachings is reception of Seneca in the successes and failures of ancient civilizations we are better equipped to discover our past and prepare for our future. Renaissance. Kate Gilhuly research- to analyze modern society.” es prostitution in the ancient world. “What we can draw out of the ancient world are historical patterns It’s this unusual mix of subjects that that impact the way our society functions today,” says department chair Thomas into a broader framework.” Habinek. “USC classicists are very good at putting the nuts and bolts of lan- Despite its focus on the past, the continued on page 5 The Classics: Timeless Teachings VOLUME 4 NUMBER 3 Love Letters in Students Dig Here Comes Brain Research Partners in Ancient Rome Despotiko the Sun Gets a Boost Crime PAGE 6 PAGE 8 PAGE 16 PAGE 20 PAGE 21 HABINEK, RICHLIN AND THALMANN PHOTO BY PHILIP CHANNING; BACKGROUND PHOTO, GRAVE NAISKOS OF A SEATED MAN COURTESY THE J. PAUL GETTY MUSEUM A MESSAGE FROM THE DEAN Initiative and is an example of how and read with a critical intellect. we value and constantly improve Learning about the ancient world Classic Answers to Perennial Problems undergraduate education in the provides a solid basis for other areas College. Our classics students may do students may wish to pursue, such as hands-on field work in archaeology at art history, history, philosophy, politi- one time, then use Homer’s “The cal science, comparative literature, Students who study the classics in Iliad” to understand and analyze the law and other professions, to name USC College often use innovative war in Iraq. All of this reinforces the just a few. But most importantly, the means to connect the ancient world idea that studies of the ancient world classics teach us about ourselves— to contemporary problems. Under- reveal historical patterns that impact where we have come from and how standing these ancient cultures the way our society functions today. we have been shaped by our history, provides students with deeper under- This exceptional department has culture, language and literature. standing of contemporary affairs and gained much prestige in recent years. provides a basis for creative thinking. Three faculty members have recently Throughout the department’s won coveted senior fellowships from offerings, students look to the ancient the American Council of Learned world to explore the timeless con- Societies (ACLS), given to fewer Joseph Aoun cepts of leadership, democracy and than 10 percent of applicants. Dean of USC College diversity, concepts brought to us from New faculty appointments provide Anna H. Bing Professor democracy’s birthplace in Greece. broadened scope, adding to the In one course, students examine department scholars of late antiquity, the readings of Sophocles, Melville the intersection between Greek and Dean Aoun USC College of Letters, and Shakespeare, repeatedly poring Roman culture and the Mediter- Arts & Sciences through the texts to analyze race, ranean world. ethnicity, nationality, gender and reli- available for study. There are four undergraduate Board of Councilors Robert F. Erburu, Chairman gious differences within the Western Each summer, a group of classics tracks for study: civilization and soci- Joan Abrahamson tradition. students visits a tiny island in the ety; literature and mythology; and Ken Ambrose A new minor examines the politi- Aegean Sea exploring excavations at separate tracks in language, literature Mark Benjamin cal and moral leadership qualities of Despotiko. and culture, in Greek or Latin. This Jay V. Berger history’s tyrants, lawgivers, oligarchs, In this issue of The College array of concentrations gives students Robert Beyer George N. Boone demagogues and autocratic emperors. Magazine, we examine in depth multiple pathways for academic dis- Gregory Brakovich A collaboration with the USC these programs and others in our covery. The department also offers Robin Broidy School of Religion embraces the West classics department, which has a the Ph.D. in classics (Greek and Susan Casden Semitic Research project, a photo worldwide reputation as a laboratory Latin) and the M.A. in Greek, Latin Richard W. Cook archival research project that has for the future of the classics. and classics. James S. Corfman Robert Dockson amassed a collection of more than The department helps drive our Studying the classics teaches stu- Allen Gilbert 100,000 images of ancient inscriptions Language, Mind and Culture dents how to think, write, analyze Ilene Gold Jana Waring Greer Patrick C. Haden Gary R. Hooper George “Chip” Hughes Stephen G. Johnson BOARD OF COUNCILORS’ CORNER Suzanne Nora Johnson David Y. Lee Katherine Loker Gerald S. Papazian Beyer Sold on Well-Rounded Education Debra L. Reed Marilyn Simpson Alicia Smotherman Rosemary Tomich Robert Beyer has a list of subjects he Angeles with his wife, Catherine, Nancy Vickers wants to learn more about—and it’s Beyer is particularly excited about Administration growing fast. “Every time I visit the the vast opportunities students have Joseph Aoun, Dean College, I hear of another topic or to enrich themselves in the College, Donal Manahan, Dean of Research subject that just fascinates me,” he specifically, with the emergence of Beth Meyerowitz, Dean of Faculty June Poust, Senior, Associate Dean for says. more joint degree programs. “Joint Advancement As president, chief investment degree programs are critical to build- Sarah Pratt, Dean of Academic Programs officer and director of Trust Company ing new and exciting businesses into Robert Beyer Margo Steurbaut, Senior Associate Dean for of the West, a Los Angeles-based established and mature industries. It’s Business Affairs Roger Stewart, Senior Associate Dean for investment advisory firm that man- a privilege to have a front-row seat Like many students who study in Administration and Planning ages more than $85 billion in assets, while these transformations take the College, Beyer has a must-read USC College Magazine Beyer is a well-respected expert in place.” list that expands with every campus Karen Newell Young, Executive Editor the business arena. He earned his Beyer is excited to be serving on visit. “At each board meeting, Dean Nicole St.Pierre, Senior Editor B.S. in business administration from the board of councilors, especially at a Aoun focuses on a particular theme, Eva Emerson, Science Writer USC in 1981. time when the College is so fortu- such as the life sciences or the Pacific Kathy Yoshihara, Graphic Designer “Initially, it seemed my business nate. “In most institutions of higher Rim. The faculty, researchers and Merlyn Stigger, Administrator Al Kildow, Advisor orientation wouldn’t have much to education right now, the greatest students I have met at these meet- offer the College,” says Beyer, who challenge is having the leadership ings have caused my list of what I USC College Magazine is published by joined USC College’s Board of and financial resources to pursue your want to learn more about to grow the USC College of Letters, Arts & Councilors in 2002. “But that was goals. Reduced levels of support have substantially.” Sciences at the University of Southern California. Permission to quote or repub- when I had an archaic view of what severely impacted the development It’s the unbridled energy on cam- lish is given freely.