The Greek Orthodox Community of Melbourne and Victoria (GOCMV) has announced the program for the 2014 History and Culture Seminars, to take place from March 27 until October 14 next year.
In the fourth year of the seminars, twenty-eight academics will be addressing issues of historical and cultural importance to the wider community.
The first term, to May 29th, focuses on the Ancient Greek civilisation, encompassing a wide range of topics from the Greek myths/tragedies to Homer’s Iliad and the closing stanza of the seminars retains a focus on 20th century history and the Greek diaspora.
The inaugural 2014 lecture will be presented by the University of Queensland’s Professor Alistair Blanchard, who was recently appointed as the inaugural Paul Eliadis Chair of Classics and Ancient History.
During June, July and early August most of the seminar presenters are engaged in philosophy and cultural studies and analyse its intimate connection with the political element. The form of the Orthodox Church, the racist ideology, Byzantine history and the work of thinkers like author Nikos Kazantzakis and philosopher Karl Marx become part of a public discourse through a contemporary insight.
What was evident during the current year in the seminar series was not only the higher average attendance but also the number of newcomers discovering the event.
As for next year, almost one third of the presenters will be from interstate. The aim of the organisers is to set the benchmark even higher, with additional lectures and collaborative partnerships. If someone has excelled in an area related to Greek affairs, history or culture, the GOCMV seminars aim to be one of the premier events to present such work to wider audiences.
There will also be an effort next year, according to the organisers, to encourage people to sponsor lectures to help mitigate costs associated with hosting the series.
The 2014 full year’s program is already up on the website and can be found at the following link: www.greekcommunity.com.au/gocmv_public/index.php/seminars/162-2014-greek…
All seminars for 2014 will be held at the Ithacan Philanthropic Society building at Level 2, 329 Elizabeth Street, Melbourne.