Category: Art

At The End, A Beginning: A playlist to accompany the books of Genesis and Exodus

In case you need any help resonating with the gravitas of these texts….. 1. Bob Marley’s “Exodus” Marley’s lyrics like “We’re the generation…trod through great tribulation” in this classic reggae hit lend millennial readers of the Hebrew Bible some additional encouragement in a time of much political upheaval in the United States.   2. Berliner […]

“That’s Gilgamesh’d Up”: Recreating the Music of Ancient Sumer

We know what you’re thinking. Gilgamesh… sung? No, it’s not the newest historical musical, hoping to capitalize on the hysteria for history-themed performances catalyzed by Hamilton. We’re talked here aboutthe opening lines of the Epic of Gilgamesh performed by musician Peter Pringle. The piece is not only played on a Sumerian lute called a “gish-gu-di” […]

From Vox: Trumps grab ’em by the p***y line anticipated by 600 years

That “Canterbury” contains “Cant-“, and that “cant” shares a precarious assonance with another word, suggests that one of our most literate bards and bawds, Chaucer, might have anticipated Trump’s latest perversion. This possibility was recently illuminated by Constance Grady at Vox. Or, less likely, Trump might have been paying tribute in his comment to some […]

From The New York Times: Can You Read a Book the Wrong Way?

Some people are so religiously devoted to a method of reading that we may properly call them Methodists. Others feel the text should be all things to all men, which is good politics but bad for criticism. For if every interpretation is welcomed open-armed, then little room is left for pressing one reading against any […]

Another video game takes on the classics

Guest post by Core House RA, Brianna Randolph (CAS ’17) When you take Core, you scrutinize every line in the works of Emily Dickinson, Homer, and Nietzsche, as you analyze and critique their viewpoints on life. After that kind training, it’s only natural that you when leave Core, you notice more. All sorts of details outside the worlds […]

The Aeneid: Whose side are you on?

Are you #TeamDido or #TeamAeneas? Here at the office, we’re split on the question of who to root for. Prof. David Green — an ardent supporter of Team Aeneas — sympathizes with Dido’s plight, but recognizes the importance of duty over impious furor. However! Cat Dossett (CAS ’18) thinks that Dido doesn’t need Prof. Green’s sympathy. […]

Priceless statues now open to the public

Since the 1960s, anaristocratic, Italian familyhas kept hundredsof ancient Greek and Roman statues hiddenfrom the public eye.After many failed attempts in opening a private museum, the Torlonia family finally started negotiations with the Italian government. Now about 60-90 pieces will start traveling the worldin places such as the rest of Europe and America. The familyowns […]

Class Distinctions Photo

From Prof. David Green, a photo of one of the extraordinary paintings the Core group saw at the Class Distinctions exhibition at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston this past Friday: Abraham del Court and Maria de Keersegieter, 1654, Bartholomeus van der Helst. Current Core student? Alum in the Boston area? Let us know if […]

Upcoming MFA Events

Wine, Poets, and Performers in Ancient Greece Opens September 16th ~ Gallery 215 A-C In mid-September, our reimagined Greek galleries open. Both the art and the literature of ancient Greece are the foundations of Western civilization. As these galleries demonstrate through innovative displays and interactives illuminating ancient works, Greek poetry and drama can be closely […]

Dante’s Inferno… in LEGO!

The recent LEGO film shows that these popular construction toys are still thriving after more than half a century. Dante’s Divine Comedy has thrived for nearly seven centuries. Romanian LEGO artist Mihai Marius Mihu celebrates both by constructing scenes from each level of the Inferno. Here we share some of our favorites! The rest can […]