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...https://bsky.app/profile/adclassics.bsky.socialhttps://bsky.app/profile/adclassics.bsky.social/post/3mf2ofjsgck2yRest in power, JJ — such a visible and powerful figure in the struggle for equality, especially during my tender years growing up in the Detroit suburbs. [contains quote post or other embedded content]17 Feb 2026 13:31 +0000at://did:plc:awk3ajnt4ny77nlme7tv5cmg/app.bsky.feed.post/3mf2ofjsgck2yhttps://bsky.app/profile/adclassics.bsky.social/post/3mf2lgi7sa22iRidiculous. Anodyne statement, recorded over a year ago, and trotted out for chilling effect. This sets terrible precedent – for NC State, the UNC System, and higher ed generally. [contains quote post or other embedded content]17 Feb 2026 12:38 +0000at://did:plc:awk3ajnt4ny77nlme7tv5cmg/app.bsky.feed.post/3mf2lgi7sa22ihttps://bsky.app/profile/adclassics.bsky.social/post/3mbuh47qti22qI 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.social07 Jan 2026 21:49 +0000at://did:plc:awk3ajnt4ny77nlme7tv5cmg/app.bsky.feed.post/3mbuh47qti22qhttps://bsky.app/profile/adclassics.bsky.social/post/3mbugswmsnc2qHello to everyone inSan Francisco for AIA/SCS 2026! Hope to catch you all in and around the conference.07 Jan 2026 21:44 +0000at://did:plc:awk3ajnt4ny77nlme7tv5cmg/app.bsky.feed.post/3mbugswmsnc2qhttps://bsky.app/profile/adclassics.bsky.social/post/3may2a3sdvs2jClassicists! 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!27 Dec 2025 14:44 +0000at://did:plc:awk3ajnt4ny77nlme7tv5cmg/app.bsky.feed.post/3may2a3sdvs2jhttps://bsky.app/profile/adclassics.bsky.social/post/3m22yi5iitk2pIt's official! UNC Classics is hiring for the Paddison Professor of Latin: https://unc.peopleadmin.com/postings/30699430 Sep 2025 16:54 +0000at://did:plc:awk3ajnt4ny77nlme7tv5cmg/app.bsky.feed.post/3m22yi5iitk2phttps://bsky.app/profile/adclassics.bsky.social/post/3lmckm7h6gk26This 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... [contains quote post or other embedded content]08 Apr 2025 13:15 +0000at://did:plc:awk3ajnt4ny77nlme7tv5cmg/app.bsky.feed.post/3lmckm7h6gk26https://bsky.app/profile/adclassics.bsky.social/post/3letlc4pqzc26At 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.03 Jan 2025 12:21 +0000at://did:plc:awk3ajnt4ny77nlme7tv5cmg/app.bsky.feed.post/3letlc4pqzc26https://bsky.app/profile/adclassics.bsky.social/post/3lbkltwysfc2cThis 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. [contains quote post or other embedded content]22 Nov 2024 18:21 +0000at://did:plc:awk3ajnt4ny77nlme7tv5cmg/app.bsky.feed.post/3lbkltwysfc2chttps://bsky.app/profile/adclassics.bsky.social/post/3lbhtlarmkc2rOnly one more day until Gladiator II (and, this high-school theater kid is glad to note, Wicked!) hits the big screen across the US.21 Nov 2024 16:01 +0000at://did:plc:awk3ajnt4ny77nlme7tv5cmg/app.bsky.feed.post/3lbhtlarmkc2rhttps://bsky.app/profile/adclassics.bsky.social/post/3lbfkdpfxhs2lWith 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."20 Nov 2024 18:11 +0000at://did:plc:awk3ajnt4ny77nlme7tv5cmg/app.bsky.feed.post/3lbfkdpfxhs2lhttps://bsky.app/profile/adclassics.bsky.social/post/3lbdskiotsc2rIn 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.20 Nov 2024 01:32 +0000at://did:plc:awk3ajnt4ny77nlme7tv5cmg/app.bsky.feed.post/3lbdskiotsc2rhttps://bsky.app/profile/adclassics.bsky.social/post/3lawgfrlkxm22Although 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. https://endeavors.unc.edu/unmasking-ugliness/14 Nov 2024 17:50 +0000at://did:plc:awk3ajnt4ny77nlme7tv5cmg/app.bsky.feed.post/3lawgfrlkxm22https://bsky.app/profile/adclassics.bsky.social/post/3latg3ayztk2rIs this the moment BlueSky achieves critical momentum? Let's make it happen! LMK some accounts to follow https://media.tenor.com/CBYhKTtpH6IAAAAC/sisyphus-toy.gif?hh=278&ww=49813 Nov 2024 13:07 +0000at://did:plc:awk3ajnt4ny77nlme7tv5cmg/app.bsky.feed.post/3latg3ayztk2rhttps://bsky.app/profile/adclassics.bsky.social/post/3kudmqirxtl24Folks 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!07 Jun 2024 13:21 +0000at://did:plc:awk3ajnt4ny77nlme7tv5cmg/app.bsky.feed.post/3kudmqirxtl24https://bsky.app/profile/adclassics.bsky.social/post/3kopqpneshk2hDisturbingly on the nose, like when advertisements on your cell phone can only be explained by digital eavesdropping... https://www.mcsweeneys.net/articles/class-is-canceled-until-further-notice-while-i-do-my-job?fbclid=IwAR0SSSclmB6ImuL8Y919htP7YiDLbS45LoxPyWwK5n3RW-XTWqN9VbxUuos_aem_ASTtB_LMQRkk0o3w-mbYA5uWcOn7w3YSCvtVDcUtJMiTKeSrA2jN9xrl6F9pvHK7mlbE2S_K7VHNGiB3Of0WwCKQ28 Mar 2024 00:33 +0000at://did:plc:awk3ajnt4ny77nlme7tv5cmg/app.bsky.feed.post/3kopqpneshk2hhttps://bsky.app/profile/adclassics.bsky.social/post/3kmndyrj3yz2zMy 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. https://msupress.org/9781611864847/a-prophet-of-the-people/01 Mar 2024 14:49 +0000at://did:plc:awk3ajnt4ny77nlme7tv5cmg/app.bsky.feed.post/3kmndyrj3yz2zhttps://bsky.app/profile/adclassics.bsky.social/post/3klwqoak42d26Excited 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! https://parrcenter.unc.edu/alcestis/21 Feb 2024 15:05 +0000at://did:plc:awk3ajnt4ny77nlme7tv5cmg/app.bsky.feed.post/3klwqoak42d26