A. C. "Al" Duncan
@adclassics.bsky.social
Associate Professor of Classics at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, working on ancient Mediterranean drama and issues of performance, aesthetics, reception, cognition, and materiality. Parenting and DIYing when not emailing...
I came to SCS simply to help run logistics for the annual CAMP production. Because of some unexpected logistical rearrangements, however, I'm now acting in this year's production of TANTALIDS: TAKE II, under the direction of the creative dynamo, Vanessa Stovall @theoctopiehole.bsky.social
January 7, 2026 at 9:49 PM
I came to SCS simply to help run logistics for the annual CAMP production. Because of some unexpected logistical rearrangements, however, I'm now acting in this year's production of TANTALIDS: TAKE II, under the direction of the creative dynamo, Vanessa Stovall @theoctopiehole.bsky.social
Hello to everyone inSan Francisco for AIA/SCS 2026! Hope to catch you all in and around the conference.
January 7, 2026 at 9:44 PM
Hello to everyone inSan Francisco for AIA/SCS 2026! Hope to catch you all in and around the conference.
Classicists! It's just over a week until the annual AIA/SCS meeting, this time in San Francisco, and that means preparations are gearing up for the annual CAMP production.
This year, CAMP is proud — and incredibly excited — to present "Tantalids: take ii," under the direction of Vanessa Stovall!
This year, CAMP is proud — and incredibly excited — to present "Tantalids: take ii," under the direction of Vanessa Stovall!
December 27, 2025 at 2:44 PM
Classicists! It's just over a week until the annual AIA/SCS meeting, this time in San Francisco, and that means preparations are gearing up for the annual CAMP production.
This year, CAMP is proud — and incredibly excited — to present "Tantalids: take ii," under the direction of Vanessa Stovall!
This year, CAMP is proud — and incredibly excited — to present "Tantalids: take ii," under the direction of Vanessa Stovall!
It's official! UNC Classics is hiring for the Paddison Professor of Latin: unc.peopleadmin.com/postings/306...
George L. Paddison Professor of Latin
The Department of Classics at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill has been authorized to search for a distinguished colleague to join the Department as George L. Paddison Professor of Lati...
unc.peopleadmin.com
September 30, 2025 at 4:54 PM
It's official! UNC Classics is hiring for the Paddison Professor of Latin: unc.peopleadmin.com/postings/306...
Reposted by A. C. "Al" Duncan
The argument Musk is making here resembles that published in a peer reviewed journal by a PhD who has given interviews to notorious white supremacist publications. It's so bad the journal published a rebuttal in the same issue. I wrote about it for Pharos: pharos.vassarspaces.net/2020/10/30/p...
April 8, 2025 at 12:31 PM
The argument Musk is making here resembles that published in a peer reviewed journal by a PhD who has given interviews to notorious white supremacist publications. It's so bad the journal published a rebuttal in the same issue. I wrote about it for Pharos: pharos.vassarspaces.net/2020/10/30/p...
Reposted by A. C. "Al" Duncan
🔥 📝 FOLKS — I'm working on a piece for Slate about the NEH cuts. If you've been affected in ANY way and would be willing to talk with me, please message me! I would love to learn more and include your story. katina [at] katinarogers [dot] com
#humanities #neh #education #highered
#humanities #neh #education #highered
April 7, 2025 at 11:05 PM
🔥 📝 FOLKS — I'm working on a piece for Slate about the NEH cuts. If you've been affected in ANY way and would be willing to talk with me, please message me! I would love to learn more and include your story. katina [at] katinarogers [dot] com
#humanities #neh #education #highered
#humanities #neh #education #highered
This is, obviously, not the most pressing economic/social issue of April 2025. The pay of academic staff and non-tenure faculty remains the a higher moral imperative. Still, for those of us fortunate enough to have T-T/tenured posts, it is worth keeping dwindling pay in mind...
"Adjusting for inflation, tenure-track faculty are now paid 10.2 % less than before Covid... While 'median pay increases for most higher education employees in 2024–25 remained strong, they have dropped...” www.insidehighered.com/news/quick-t... #edsky #highered
Most Higher Ed Workers Still Paid Less Than Before Pandemic
Although raises for most higher education employees last academic year beat inflation, most are still effectively earning less than they were in 2019–20, according to new salary survey data released M...
www.insidehighered.com
April 8, 2025 at 1:15 PM
This is, obviously, not the most pressing economic/social issue of April 2025. The pay of academic staff and non-tenure faculty remains the a higher moral imperative. Still, for those of us fortunate enough to have T-T/tenured posts, it is worth keeping dwindling pay in mind...
At the AIA/SCS in Philly and looking for something exciting, new, artistic, tonight? Come to the CAMP performance of Ellen McLaughlin's Conversations at the Return of Spring tonight (Friday, 1/3) at 8:00pm in Independence 3! No tickets required; seating is limited.
January 3, 2025 at 12:21 PM
At the AIA/SCS in Philly and looking for something exciting, new, artistic, tonight? Come to the CAMP performance of Ellen McLaughlin's Conversations at the Return of Spring tonight (Friday, 1/3) at 8:00pm in Independence 3! No tickets required; seating is limited.
This week I've been playing up the spectacle/gladiatorial angle (which pertains to my teaching and, more tangentially, research), but do check out this thread by the wonderful @bretdevereaux.bsky.social on the political/personal representation of the Severans.
I'm struck by how much of the Gladiator II academic commentary is focused on gladiators and the Colosseum. I mean, that makes sense for historians who focus on that sort of thing but...having seen the movie...the wildest parts of the historical presentation are not the gladiator bits.
November 22, 2024 at 6:21 PM
This week I've been playing up the spectacle/gladiatorial angle (which pertains to my teaching and, more tangentially, research), but do check out this thread by the wonderful @bretdevereaux.bsky.social on the political/personal representation of the Severans.
Only one more day until Gladiator II (and, this high-school theater kid is glad to note, Wicked!) hits the big screen across the US.
November 21, 2024 at 4:01 PM
Only one more day until Gladiator II (and, this high-school theater kid is glad to note, Wicked!) hits the big screen across the US.
With only three days until the theatrical release of Gladiator II, I thought I'd turn to three different Roman items, each aimed at a different class of consumer, that reflected the broad appeal of combats in the arena, known to the Romans as "munera."
November 20, 2024 at 6:15 PM
With only three days until the theatrical release of Gladiator II, I thought I'd turn to three different Roman items, each aimed at a different class of consumer, that reflected the broad appeal of combats in the arena, known to the Romans as "munera."
In the buildup to the North American widespread release of Gladiator II this week, I'm sharing some favorite pieces from the "Athletics in the ancient Greek and Roman Worlds" class I teach at UNC.
November 20, 2024 at 1:32 AM
In the buildup to the North American widespread release of Gladiator II this week, I'm sharing some favorite pieces from the "Athletics in the ancient Greek and Roman Worlds" class I teach at UNC.
Although you can't tell from the way I am serving "serious author face" in the photo, I was honored and deeply humbled to have my first book, Ugly Productions: An Aesthetics of Greek Drama, profiled in this week's edition of UNC Research Stories.
Unmasking Ugliness - UNC Research Stories
Al Duncan has spent the last 15 years exploring why humans are drawn to the unpleasant and uncomfortable aspects of life.
endeavors.unc.edu
November 14, 2024 at 5:50 PM
Although you can't tell from the way I am serving "serious author face" in the photo, I was honored and deeply humbled to have my first book, Ugly Productions: An Aesthetics of Greek Drama, profiled in this week's edition of UNC Research Stories.
Is this the moment BlueSky achieves critical momentum? Let's make it happen!
LMK some accounts to follow
LMK some accounts to follow
a lego statue of a man pushing a large ball with a shovel
Alt: A moving Lego statue of a man (Sisyphus) pushing a large ball in a repetitive, futile motion
media.tenor.com
November 13, 2024 at 1:07 PM
Is this the moment BlueSky achieves critical momentum? Let's make it happen!
LMK some accounts to follow
LMK some accounts to follow
Folks at UNC, please let any undergraduates know about this summer session II (6/24–7/30) course taught both online and in-person by talented Classics graduate student, Anna Balaguer!
June 7, 2024 at 1:21 PM
Folks at UNC, please let any undergraduates know about this summer session II (6/24–7/30) course taught both online and in-person by talented Classics graduate student, Anna Balaguer!
Reposted by A. C. "Al" Duncan
Just learned of the death of David Konstan.
A major loss. He was both a towering figure in the field and a very warm and generous person. He showed me a signal kindness at a moment of high vulnerability, which I will never forget.
A major loss. He was both a towering figure in the field and a very warm and generous person. He showed me a signal kindness at a moment of high vulnerability, which I will never forget.
May 3, 2024 at 8:16 PM
Just learned of the death of David Konstan.
A major loss. He was both a towering figure in the field and a very warm and generous person. He showed me a signal kindness at a moment of high vulnerability, which I will never forget.
A major loss. He was both a towering figure in the field and a very warm and generous person. He showed me a signal kindness at a moment of high vulnerability, which I will never forget.
Reposted by A. C. "Al" Duncan
The Spring 2024 issue of TAPA, Race and Racism: Beyond the Spectacular co-edited by Sasha-Mae Eccleston and Patrice Rankine, is now available online through Project MUSE: muse.jhu.edu/issue/52400
November 20, 2024 at 5:20 PM
The Spring 2024 issue of TAPA, Race and Racism: Beyond the Spectacular co-edited by Sasha-Mae Eccleston and Patrice Rankine, is now available online through Project MUSE: muse.jhu.edu/issue/52400
Disturbingly on the nose, like when advertisements on your cell phone can only be explained by digital eavesdropping...
Class Is Canceled Until Further Notice While I Do My Job
Dear Students —
I am sorry to say that I will need to cancel all classes for an indeterminate length of time while I work on doing my job.
I realiz...
www.mcsweeneys.net
March 28, 2024 at 12:33 AM
Disturbingly on the nose, like when advertisements on your cell phone can only be explained by digital eavesdropping...
Reposted by A. C. "Al" Duncan
I’m quite pleased about this news too
The news is finally public:
"@josephinequinn.bsky.social will join the Cambridge Classics Faculty on 1 January 2025 and will be the first woman to hold the Professorship of Ancient History in the University."
(It's Moses Finley's old chair, and it is fantastic news, obvs.)
"@josephinequinn.bsky.social will join the Cambridge Classics Faculty on 1 January 2025 and will be the first woman to hold the Professorship of Ancient History in the University."
(It's Moses Finley's old chair, and it is fantastic news, obvs.)
Election of two new Professors in the Faculty of Classics | Faculty of Classics
The Faculty is delighted to announce the election of Professor Josephine (Jo) Crawley-Quinn to the Professorship of Ancient History and Professor Serafina Cuomo to the A. G. Leventis Professorship of ...
www.classics.cam.ac.uk
March 27, 2024 at 9:02 PM
I’m quite pleased about this news too
My better half isn't on the socials, but I'm so excited that I can't help sharing that today's the publication day for A Prophet of the People: Isaiah Shembe and the Making of An African Church. msupress.org/978161186484...
A Prophet of the People
In 1910 Isaiah Shembe was struggling. He had left his family and quit his job as a sanitation worker to become a Baptist evangelist, but he ended his first m...
msupress.org
March 1, 2024 at 2:49 PM
My better half isn't on the socials, but I'm so excited that I can't help sharing that today's the publication day for A Prophet of the People: Isaiah Shembe and the Making of An African Church. msupress.org/978161186484...
Reposted by A. C. "Al" Duncan
The hand of a lost bronze statue of a pugil (a pugilist/boxer), wrapped in a caestus - a glove made of leather and wicker.
Found in the Roman theatre of Verona. Dating 1st c. AD.
Pugilatus (boxing) was very popular in Roman times.
On display at Museo Archeologico Teatro Romano
🏺 AncientBlueSky
Found in the Roman theatre of Verona. Dating 1st c. AD.
Pugilatus (boxing) was very popular in Roman times.
On display at Museo Archeologico Teatro Romano
🏺 AncientBlueSky
February 27, 2024 at 4:41 PM
The hand of a lost bronze statue of a pugil (a pugilist/boxer), wrapped in a caestus - a glove made of leather and wicker.
Found in the Roman theatre of Verona. Dating 1st c. AD.
Pugilatus (boxing) was very popular in Roman times.
On display at Museo Archeologico Teatro Romano
🏺 AncientBlueSky
Found in the Roman theatre of Verona. Dating 1st c. AD.
Pugilatus (boxing) was very popular in Roman times.
On display at Museo Archeologico Teatro Romano
🏺 AncientBlueSky
Reposted by A. C. "Al" Duncan
Delighted to announce our second workshop in our @SASNews Fellowship series looking at Ancient ‘Aithiopian’ Voices & Modern Ethiopian-Eritrean diaspora communities.
AncientBlueSky
Book here:
ics.sas.ac.uk/events/explo...
AncientBlueSky
Book here:
ics.sas.ac.uk/events/explo...
February 23, 2024 at 3:01 PM
Delighted to announce our second workshop in our @SASNews Fellowship series looking at Ancient ‘Aithiopian’ Voices & Modern Ethiopian-Eritrean diaspora communities.
AncientBlueSky
Book here:
ics.sas.ac.uk/events/explo...
AncientBlueSky
Book here:
ics.sas.ac.uk/events/explo...
Excited for this year's colab on Euripides' Alcestis with Michael Vazquez (@mvazquez.bsky.social), Kari Lindquist, and other ultra-talented and inspiring individuals parrcenter.unc.edu/alcestis/ Alcestis is a peculiar play, and one that is peculiarly timely in 2024. Please spread the word!
Greek Tragedy in the Community | Parr Center for Ethics
parrcenter.unc.edu
February 21, 2024 at 3:05 PM
Excited for this year's colab on Euripides' Alcestis with Michael Vazquez (@mvazquez.bsky.social), Kari Lindquist, and other ultra-talented and inspiring individuals parrcenter.unc.edu/alcestis/ Alcestis is a peculiar play, and one that is peculiarly timely in 2024. Please spread the word!
Reposted by A. C. "Al" Duncan
Prof. Houston was unfailingly kind to me, and I think this obituary captures his personality well. classics.unc.edu/2024/01/30/i...
In Memoriam — George Woodard Houston | Department of Classics
classics.unc.edu
January 31, 2024 at 12:47 PM
Prof. Houston was unfailingly kind to me, and I think this obituary captures his personality well. classics.unc.edu/2024/01/30/i...
Reposted by A. C. "Al" Duncan
Some more Latin Connections! Let me know if you like them and how you did! 🏺 AncientBluesky
connections.swellgarfo.com/game/-NpFWrJ...
connections.swellgarfo.com/game/-NpFWrJ...
Connections – Custom Puzzle Creator
Create custom puzzles based on the Connections New York Times daily game
connections.swellgarfo.com
January 28, 2024 at 4:48 PM
Some more Latin Connections! Let me know if you like them and how you did! 🏺 AncientBluesky
connections.swellgarfo.com/game/-NpFWrJ...
connections.swellgarfo.com/game/-NpFWrJ...