'History On Tap: From Ancient Epic to Blockbuster Film'

Augustana Professor of Classics Dr. Kirsten Day will talk about the enduring legacy of Homer's Odyssey as Putnam guests prepare for an upcoming trip to Greece. Whether you’re interested in the classics, the Mediterranean, or if you're simply curious about Homer, this is a session you do not want to miss!

This event is part of the Putnam's History On Tap series, which take place the third Thursday of the month. The cash bar opens at 5 p.m., and the lecture begins at 5:30 p.m.

About the talk

Homer's 8th century BCE epic poem The Odyssey is one of the oldest written works of the so-called "Western" world, but despite its great antiquity, it continues to enthrall modern audiences, not only in numerous translations of the original, but in myriad re-imaginings: from relatively “straight” retellings like Mario Camerini’s 1954 Ulysses starring Kirk Douglas to feminist spins like Margaret Atwood’s 2005 novel The Penelopiad; from quirky comic send-ups like the Coen brothers 2000 film O Brother, Where Art Thou? to serious contemplations on the trauma of war like Uberto Pasolini’s 2024 The Return; and from video games like Assassin’s Creed Odyssey to TikTok sensations like Jorge Rivera-Herrans’ recent concept album Epic: The Musical, Odysseus’ story remains as relevant today as it was over 2000 years ago. In this talk, we will journey from Iowa to the Aegean, and from antiquity to the internet age, learning a bit about how Odysseus and his encounters with Lotus Eaters, Cyclops, and Sirens continue to speak to our world today.