Chris Francese on Classics Podcasts
Classics Podcasts
Surprisingly few academics have learned how to podcast – but it’s a great way to reach a wider audience. A recent article in The Guardian makes the case for the medium, and offers some how-to advice:
Todd Landman, “Podcasting is perfect for people with big ideas. Here’s how to do it.” The Guardian January 13, 2016. https://www.theguardian.com/higher-education-network/2016/jan/13/podcasting-is-perfect-for-big-ideas
Here is a list of classics podcasts ( I would appreciate notice if you know of others!):
Jessica Hughes and Elton Marker, Classics Confidential.
Interviews with classical scholars on various subjects, since 2010. The
producers are members of the Department of Classical Studies at The Open
University. https://classicsconfidential.co.uk/2016/12/12/senses/
Ryan Stitt, The History of Greece Podcast. By a self-confessed “enthusiastic amateur.” http://www.thehistoryofancientgreece.com/
Rhannon Evans, Emperors of Rome. Dr. Evans is Lecturer in Ancient Mediterranean Studies at La Trobe University, Melbourne https://itunes.apple.com/podcast/emperors-of-rome/id850148806
Alessandro Conti, Semones Raedarii. https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/sermonesraedarii “Podcast Latinum incisum dum autoraedam moderor. Loquor prolixe et mendose de arte docendi. Interdum etiam fabulas narro.”
Jeff Wright, Trojan War: The Podcast. “History’s most awesome epic.” Retelling of Trojan War mythology with comment on matters mythological. http://trojanwarpodcast.com/
Chris Francese, Latin Poetry Podcast. http://blogs.dickinson.edu/latin-poetry-podcast/ a series of short Latin passages, discussed, translated, and read aloud.
Lantern Jack, Ancient Greece Declassified. http://greecepodcast.com/ “a podcast about making the Classics accessible to everyone.” “Lantern Jack” is a graduate student in ancient philosophy.
Alison Innes and Darrin Sunstrum, mythTake. https://mythtake.blog/
Scholarly informed discussions of mythological heroes and topics.
Alison Innes is a journalist with an MA in classics from Brock
University, in Ontario. They also maintain a list of humanities podcasts.
Nowadays podcasting is a highly developed and diverse medium, widely
enjoyed as recreation be people as they exercise, walk, travel, go about
housework routines, etc. This is an audience hungry for new content,
eager to explore new ideas, and interested in all sorts of things. For
my podcast I did a series of 5–10 minute recordings on Latin metrics,
close readings of interesting passages, and whatever I was reading or
thinking about at the time. I felt that the podcast medium was ideal to
discuss Latin pronunciation and metrics, which are passions of mine, but
also to bring across Latin poetry as a performance art. I never focused
on grammar or translation as I would have in a classroom setting, but
tried to foster appreciation and aesthetic enjoyment. I kept the tone
informal, warm, and conversational. My model has always been Karl Haas,
the classical music radio host, who used to make the world of classical
music sound like the most welcoming, wonderful place, and who could
effortlessly pronounce half a dozen languages. With him you always felt
like you were getting the benefit of a lifetime of experience and wisdom
in the presence of a true humanist.
There are now a variety of podcasts on classical topics, many
especially on Greek mythology and history, and Roman history. None of
them is overwhelmingly successful, or up to the Karl Haas level, and
suffice it to say there is room for a lot of innovation and improvement
in this medium.
I’m a journalism student from Australia, who also learnt
Latin in high school (read at poetry competitions too) and I have
desperately been trying to find someone who still reads it. Your site is
perfect.
I have been teaching myself Latin over the last 8 years and I really
enjoy your podcasts! I hope we’ll be getting some new updates soon!
Many of the comments I got on my podcasts were urging me to get off
my duff and produce more, or noting problems in download. This is not
the place to get into the mechanics of podcasting. Suffice it to say
that it is well within the technological competence of most classicists,
and there are several good how-to guides to be found on the internet.
The most gratifying aspect of podcasting is that it gets you in touch
with a whole audience of like-minded enthusiasts and autodidacts out
there who really appreciate hearing from somebody with some expertise.
They often show their appreciation by leaving comments or voting in
various podcast awards competitions.
Success in the medium, as with much teaching, requires a
conversational style, a sense of humor, and an ability to tell stories.
It’s important to have fun with it, not to be turgid or pedantic.
Podcasting principles:
- Be conversational. Imagine talking to your mom.
- Tell good stories.
- Be enthusiastic. Enjoy yourself.
- Listen to other podcasts.
- Always respond promptly to comments.
- Buy a Snowball microphone ($50 US)
If you have thoughts about what makes an effective podcast, or know of any classics ones that I missed, please leave a comment!
Some other podcasts on classical topics:
ReplyDeleteThe History of Rome, by Mike Duncan, is one of the most successful educational podcasts out there.
The History of Byzantium continues the story from the fall of the western empire, and is also extremely popular and successful.
Quomodo Dicitur is another spoken Latin podcast.
Literature and History covers a number of Classical texts.
I co-host a podcast that covers a wide range of topics, but we regularly talk about Latin, Roman poetry, and Roman and Greek culture and literature: The Endless Knot Podcast.
Thanks for this post!
Thanks for the additions!
DeleteYour readers may be interested in "The Mirror of Antiquity: Where we see ourselves in the study of the ancient world," a podcast featuring classical scholars talking about how their research informs their understanding of the contemporary world and their own lives. At www.mirrorofantiquity.com and on FB and Twitter @mirrorantiquity
ReplyDeleteThanks!
Delete