Masters Degrees (Classics)

Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://hdl.handle.net/10413/12704

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Of men and gods : a study of masculinities represented by select characters in attic black-figure ceramics.
(2014) Lindsay, Dylan.; Ryan, Adrian John.
Is a question that has troubled scholars working in the Classics since the formalisation of masculinity as a field of study, this question has a central place in the current study. What troubles scholars is that the very nature of our understanding of masculinity is subjective, premised upon the way in which it operates in the modern societies. It is an understanding that is typically explored through the written word, with a stronger emphasis on social and cultural determinates. The problem then arises as to how we interpret sources from the ancient world, without subjecting them to modern bias, and in the case of the topic of this dissertation, how we treat a period where there is a paucity of literature. This dissertation argues for an alternate theory for the conceptualisation of masculinities for Late Archaic Athens, centring its focus on the rich corpus of Athenian Black-figure ceramics, by testing this theory with two of its popular characters, namely Herakles and Dionysos. At the core of this theory is a reorientation of sources, by focusing on the images rendered on the ceramics as a central resource. To forward this argument, I first suggest a model for the interpretation of general meaning, based on theories borrowed from the study of modern media, and secondly suggest a practical model for the interpretation of masculine meaning reflected in these ceramics by examining masculine markers and ranges of masculinity depicted on them. Both models seek to create a more inclusive understanding of masculinity, supported by investigation and comparison of other visual media of the period, as well as influential literature on the subject.
The theory of reincarnation and the journey of the soul : a comparison between ancient Greek and Indian belief.
(2015) Banwari, Siobhan.; Hilton, John Laurence.
The objective of this dissertation is to demonstrate that, although contemporary Hinduism and ancient Greek philosophy are far removed from each other by time and geography, the ancient Greeks and Indians nevertheless shared similar ideas with regard to the soul and reincarnation. To place this research within a scholarly context, the dissertation begins with some general observations about the concept of reincarnation in human beliefs across the world. It then continues with an overview of research into the idea of the soul and reincarnation in these two cultures to find a connection between them. It then proceeds to trace the evolution and origins of the idea of the soul and its possible reincarnation in ancient Greek literature. This will be done by an examination of selected ancient Greek sources to establish a chronological timeline of the development of these ideas/theories. For the Indian part of this dissertation the idea of the soul and reincarnation will be determined through an in-depth analysis of Hindu scriptures written in Sanskrit, as well as by investigating other scholars’ analysis of the Hindu scriptures. A comparison between the two cultures and their roles within their respective cultural and religious systems will then be undertaken in order to deduce if there was a pre-Hellenistic (Indo-European period) exchange between the cultures. This dissertation seeks to expand on and deepen existing comparative studies in respect of the ancient Greek and Indian cultures.
The Spartans and the AmaZulu : a comparative study of their military and social systems.
(2016) Parker, Lloyd William.; Hilton, John Laurence.
Abstract available in PDF file.
Rider Haggard, classics, and great Zimbabwe : constructing lost cities in King Solomon's mines, and Elissa.
(2016) Carrick-Tappeiner, Liliana Sheena.; Steinmeyer, Elke Gisela.
The British novelist Sir Henry Rider Haggard, who is arguably best known for his swashbuckling African adventure stories, wrote a considerable number of works concerned with the presence of ancient white cities in southern Africa. These narratives appear to have been inspired by nineteenth century theories surrounding the Ruins of Great Zimbabwe which came to the public‘s attention after their (re)discovery in 1871 by the German explorer Karl Mauch. Reluctant to attribute such accomplishments to local African ingenuity, laymen and archaeologists developed theories that the ruins could have been built only by an ancient white race. This motif appears in two of Haggard‘s lost city novels, King Solomon’s Mines (1885) and She (1887), and a work of historical fiction, Elissa; or The Doom of Great Zimbabwe (1900). In addition to this archaeological influence, a significant amount of Classical material has also contributed to these narratives in various ways. The aim of this dissertation is to establish the role of Great Zimbabwe and Classics in Haggard‘s composition of these works. Chapter One provides a discussion of Haggard‘s background and takes aspects such his education and connection to the Ruins of Great Zimbabwe into account so as to establish his familiarity with the two topics which dominate this study. Chapter Two explores Haggard‘s initial venture into the lost city genre with King Solomon’s Mines and demonstrates the parallels between the ruins and his narrative. The second half of the discussion is concerned with the contribution of Classics in his description of landscape, people and events. Chapter Three looks at Haggard‘s treatment of the lost city genre and his engagement with Classics and ancient civilizations in She. The chapter focuses on aspects such the myth of Atlantis, the contribution of Egyptology and the role of Classical females in Haggard‘s portrayal of in novel‘s eponymous character. Chapter Four is concerned with the influence of nineteenth century Zimbabwean archaeology and two ancient accounts of the Carthaginian queen Dido in Haggard‘s construction of Elissa‘s plot.
Listening to the voiceless: Briseis and Lavinia in modern fiction.
(2020) Pather, Theshira.; Steinmeyer, Elke.
Research on female characters from ancient epic has steadily increased over the years and especially in recent times. Despite this, research on the female characters Briseis and Lavinia from Homer’s Iliad and Vergil’s Aeneid, and their reception in modern fiction, has been somewhat neglected in Classical scholarship. I will examine Homer’s Briseis and Vergil’s Lavinia, as well as their depictions in the modern novels The Silence of the Girls (2018) and Lavinia (2008) by authors Pat Barker and Ursula K. Le Guin respectively, focusing specifically on themes of objectification and subjectivity. My examination will be aided and informed by two main theories, in addition to Reception Studies theory: Martha Nussbaum’s theory concerning objectification and Monique Wittig’s gender theory involving subjectivity, structure and personal pronouns. The main reason I believe this topic is important lies in the modern engagement with ancient texts, as evident in the modern works chosen for this dissertation. The works of ancient Greek and Roman authors, such as Homer and Vergil, have gripped the attention of audiences since they were created and have spawned hundreds of receptions. In more recent years, female authors have acted to create their own interpretations of these ancient works, focusing especially on marginalised or demonised women. These modern receptions involving a female-centric narrative are especially significant given the current social climate of feminist movements. The topic of this dissertation is therefore of importance as its focus on two marginalised female characters and themes of objectification and subjectivity may contribute to the ongoing discussions regarding the place of ancient texts and Classics as a discipline in modern society. Chapter 1 will focus on Briseis from Homer’s epic with Chapter 2 focusing on Briseis from Barker’s novel, The Silence of the Girls, while Chapter 3 will focus solely on Lavinia from Vergil’s epic with Chapter 4 focusing on Lavinia from Le Guin’s novel, Lavinia. This dissertation will be my contribution to the scholarship on female characters in ancient Greek and Roman epics and their modern receptions.
The movement from face-to-face healthcare to e-health services: an ethical exploration of the telemedicine experiences of healthcare seekers in Harare, Zimbabwe.
(2022) Mukarati, Media Rufaro.; Okyere-Manu, Beatrice Dedaa.
This dissertation provides an overview of the experiences of healthcare seekers in the shift from the tradition face-to-face way of seeking healthcare to a virtual alternative, known as telemedicine. The COVID-19 pandemic forced the world to go into lockdown which created limitations for gatherings and accessibility of physical healthcare facilities. This reality resulted in healthcare seekers in Harare seeking alternative healthcare methods which not only allowed them to comply with the restrictions put in place by the government but also decreased their exposure and risk of contacting the airborne virus. The use of telemedicine presents many opportunities with healthcare seekers in Harare as the Zimbabwean capital battles with providing adequate healthcare for all with some of the challenges experienced within the healthcare system including sparse numbers of healthcare seekers, shortage of resources at healthcare facilities and dilapidated healthcare facilities. The shift to telemedicine comes with a change in medical culture for healthcare seekers and it is against this backdrop that, through the lenses of the ethical theory of consequentialism, this dissertation will explore the ethical implications of the movement from face-to-face healthcare to telemedicine. Taking from the experiences of healthcare seekers in Harare, this dissertation analyses the notable changes which have come from this shift and explores both the favourable and unfavourable consequences. Furthermore, this dissertation argues for more contextualised implementation and use of telemedicine that takes into consideration the social setting under which this tool is being administered to maximise the favourable results.

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