Society / Civilizational Shift
Mary Beard on Classics and Contemporary Politics
Mary Beard reflects on her early fascination with the ancient world, sparked by a childhood encounter with a piece of Egyptian bread. She discusses the troubling appropriation of classical imagery by far-right groups, particularly during the January 6th Capitol riots, and the shame felt by many classicists regarding this misuse. Beard emphasizes the need for classicists to confront these issues and engage with the classical past constructively.
Source material: Mary Beard: classicists feel ashamed about the far right | The Exchange
Summary
Mary Beard reflects on her early fascination with the ancient world, sparked by a childhood encounter with a piece of Egyptian bread. She discusses the troubling appropriation of classical imagery by far-right groups, particularly during the January 6th Capitol riots, and the shame felt by many classicists regarding this misuse. Beard emphasizes the need for classicists to confront these issues and engage with the classical past constructively.
Beard highlights that the classical past has been appropriated by both left-wing and right-wing movements over the last 300 years, indicating its lack of inherent political bias. She points out that historical figures like Marx and Gramsci have drawn on classical themes to support revolutionary ideas, showcasing the adaptability of classical literature across political contexts.
She critiques the perception that classical antiquity is limited to Italy and Greece, emphasizing the importance of regions like Gaza and the Near East in classical history. Beard argues that the multicultural nature of the ancient Roman world challenges the right-wing appropriation of classical studies and highlights the diversity of ancient societies.
Beard discusses the historical role of Latin as a marker of elite culture in the UK, which has impacted access to classical education. She notes the shift in university admissions policies that now allow students to learn Latin and Greek from scratch, promoting broader accessibility to classical studies.
Perspectives
Classical Studies as a Tool for Understanding
- Emphasizes the importance of engaging with classical texts to challenge distorted narratives
- Advocates for a broader understanding of classical studies that includes diverse cultures
Right-Wing Appropriation of Classics
- Critiques the use of classical imagery by far-right groups to legitimize their ideologies
- Highlights the shame felt by classicists regarding the misuse of classical heritage
Neutral / Shared
- Acknowledges that both left-wing and right-wing movements have appropriated classical themes
- Recognizes the historical role of Latin as a marker of elite culture in education
Metrics
71 years
Mary Beard's age
Her perspective is informed by decades of experience in the field
I'm 71
20th century
Gramsci's influence
This highlights the historical significance of classical education in leftist thought
Gramsci, the most famous 20th century Italian Marxist thinker
Key entities
Key developments
Phase 1
Mary Beard discusses the appropriation of classical imagery by far-right groups and the shame felt by classicists regarding this misuse. She emphasizes the need for a constructive engagement with the classical past to challenge distorted narratives.
- Mary Beards fascination with the ancient world began at age five when she encountered a 4,000-year-old piece of Egyptian bread
- She highlights the troubling appropriation of classical imagery by far-right groups, particularly during the January 6th Capitol riots, and stresses the need for classicists to address this issue
- Beard expresses shame among classicists regarding the misuse of classical heritage, noting the conflict many feel about its ties to white supremacy and imperialism
- She underscores the importance of challenging distorted narratives about classical art, emphasizing that ancient sculptures were often painted rather than the white marble representations commonly assumed
- Beard points out that both the right and left have complex relationships with the classical past, with the right taking pride in it while the left often feels ashamed, advocating for a more constructive use of history
Phase 2
Mary Beard discusses the appropriation of classical imagery by both left-wing and right-wing movements, highlighting the lack of inherent political bias in the ancient world. She emphasizes the importance of critical engagement with historical narratives to challenge distorted interpretations.
- The classical past has been appropriated by both left-wing and right-wing movements over the last 300 years, indicating its lack of inherent political bias
- Historical figures such as Marx and Gramsci have drawn on classical themes to support revolutionary ideas, showcasing the adaptability of classical literature across political contexts
- Critiques of empire have emerged from within imperial cultures, with Roman writers like Tacitus denouncing imperialism and highlighting the destructive nature of empires
- Anti-colonial thinkers have also engaged with classical themes, exemplified by Nelson Mandelas staging of Sophocles Antigone, which illustrates the potential for constructive reinterpretation of the classics
- The ancient world serves as a battleground for ideological debates, with both conservative and progressive interpretations competing for legitimacy, emphasizing the need for critical engagement with historical narratives
Phase 3
Mary Beard discusses the multicultural nature of the ancient Roman world, emphasizing its significance beyond Italy and Greece. She critiques the right-wing appropriation of classical studies, highlighting the diversity and complexity of ancient societies.
- The ancient world, including regions like Gaza and the Near East, challenges the notion that classical culture was exclusively centered in Italy and Greece
- Mary Beard highlights the multicultural nature of the ancient Roman world, citing a tombstone from Hadrians Wall inscribed in both Latin and Aramaic as evidence of cultural interaction
- The discussion critiques the right-wing appropriation of classical studies, emphasizing the overlooked diversity of ancient societies
- Beard argues that defining the ethnicity and skin color of historical figures, such as Roman emperors, often leads to unproductive debates, reflecting the complexity of identity in antiquity
- The ancient Roman world serves as a framework for examining contemporary issues related to ethnicity and cultural boundaries, providing insights into modern societal dynamics
Phase 4
Mary Beard discusses the multicultural nature of ancient Rome, emphasizing its origins in migration and diversity. She critiques the appropriation of classical history by political movements, advocating for open discussions about historical narratives.
- Mary Beard highlights that Roman culture was built on migration and diversity, contrasting it with the more uniform perception of classical Greece
- She points out that narratives about the ancient world often neglect its multicultural dimensions, which can facilitate the far-rights appropriation of classical history
- Beard acknowledges that historians personal political views shape their interpretations of history, leading to varied constructions of the past
- She calls for open discussions about historical narratives, emphasizing the importance of countering extremist uses of history
- The complexity of historical identity, especially regarding ethnicity and race, challenges simplistic understandings of ancient populations
Phase 5
Mary Beard critiques the conservative gatekeeping in classical studies, emphasizing the need for a more inclusive approach that recognizes the diversity of ancient societies. She advocates for expanding the scope of classical studies to include cultures beyond Greece and Rome, such as Ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia.
- Mary Beard stresses the need to recognize the diversity of ancient Britain, challenging the notion that people of color only arrived with the Windrush generation
- She critiques the role of university academics as gatekeepers in classical studies, advocating for more inclusive and open discussions about historical interpretations
- Beard suggests that expanding the scope of classical studies to include cultures like Ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia could enhance the field, despite past expansions often being driven by conservative agendas
- She reflects on the historical context of classical studies, noting that early efforts to include languages like Sanskrit focused more on linguistic aspects than on fostering cultural understanding
Phase 6
Mary Beard discusses the need to broaden classical studies to include diverse cultures, emphasizing the historical oversight of significant texts. She critiques the perception that classical education is solely a right-wing pursuit, advocating for its accessibility to all students.
- Mary Beard emphasizes the importance of broadening classical studies to include cultures such as Ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia, which can deepen the understanding of the classical world
- She points out the historical oversight of key texts like the Acts of the Apostles, which were dismissed due to their theological implications, reflecting a narrow definition of classical literature
- Despite a decline in classical studies in state schools, initiatives like Classics for All aim to revive interest by providing funding for schools to incorporate classical education
- Beard challenges the notion that classical education is solely a right-wing pursuit, advocating for its accessibility to all students and cautioning against the elitism often associated with Latin and Greek studies