Ancient Greeks/Modern Lives: Poetry-Drama-Dialogue

When
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
7:00 PM - 8:00 PM

Where
Ryerson Auditorium, Level 3, Grand Rapids Public Library, 111 Library NE

Category
Art, Humanities

Description
This is the first in a series of events that illustrate how Ancient Greek drama themes still resonate today. Ancient Greeks/Modern Lives is a major national program funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities that aims to create an in-depth cultural programming partnership between communities, libraries, and theatres.

Grand Valley Classics professor Diane Rayor will give a public lecture using Sophocles' Antigone to illustrate the struggle between the individual and the state - and the community's response, which has powerful implications today. Rayor, who co-founded Grand Valley's Classics Department in 2000, most recently translated Sophocles' Antigone (Cambridge University Press, 2011).

The Grand Rapids Public Library will also host Rayor for a reading group on four consecutive Wednesdays, beginning March 7. The program includes the four books free of charge and snacks during the discussions. Veterans and their families, immigrants, and people without a background in Greek drama are encouraged to sign-up.

Rayor will also lead a discussion following a staged reading of scenes from Greek drama by Aquila Theatre actors, at the library on April 18.

The programs are free and open to the public. For more information, visit www.ancientgreeksmodernlives.org or call the library at (616) 988-5400.