The poetic traditions of ancient Greece were deeply rooted in place and cultural events and practices. This course seeks to explore ancient Greek drama beyond the confines of the traditional classroom by associating texts with particular sites in Greece and ancient performance traditions and conventions. Students will be encouraged to think not only about how text creates meaning, but also how performance creates meaning, and how physical and cultural spaces exert influence. It is expected that students will embrace thinking about poetry that sits not quietly on the page, but resounds in the ancient performance space; to think about how cultural products can be both universal and yet rooted in time and place; and to see that the traditions they are learning about, which often seem distant and abstract, have a tangible form where the ghosts of the past can be felt amidst the ruins.
About the experience
Students will travel to a variety of locations in Greece, visiting numerous sites related to ancient performance traditions and the mythology and history of ancient Greece. Students will also participate in a SSHRC-funded project, making a short film of a scene from an ancient Greek tragedy.
Locations visited
Galaxidi, Delphi, Oiniades, Naupaktos, Patras, Nemea, Isthmia, Nafplio, Mycenae, Epidaurus, Naxos, Athens, Athenian Acropolis, Theatre of Dionysus, Ancient Agora of Athens*
* If there are lingering concerns about Covid-19, the travel itinerary may be altered to avoid major urban areas such as Athens.
A typical day might include
A typical day will begin with breakfast at the hotel, following which we will take our bus to one or more archaeological sites, and then return by bus to our accommodations. In some locations, we will have guest lectures or workshops with professors and theatre artists from Greece. Following lunch, students will have a bit of free time and we will regroup in the late afternoon for discussion and/or presentations. There will be occasional group meals in the evenings, but generally, students will have evenings to themselves.
Notable environmental conditions
While May in Greece is usually pleasantly warm (mid-20s), students should be prepared for the possibility of temperatures in the low 30s. Most days we will be visiting archaeological sites which will involve a great deal of walking, sometimes over uneven terrain.
Accommodation
Students will be expected to share rooms with their fellow students in the program, with the number of students in each room varying from hotel to hotel (from doubles to quads). We will be staying at a variety of hotels (generally 3 star) which have been selected for their location and their generous Greek hospitality.
Eligibility requirements
General Global Seminar requirements
You must have at least a 70% average in your most recent Winter Session of full-time studies prior to application
You need to be a UBC student in good standing (e.g. not be under academic or non-academic discipline) to participate in a Global Seminar
You should have full-time student status (as defined by your faculty) in the year prior to your Global Seminar
You must maintain 70% average prior to your Global Seminar departure
You must have completed or intend to complete the necessary (or equivalent) pre-requisite courses prior to Global Seminar start date
Unclassified students will be considered on a case-by-case basis
You will need to be accepted by the Program Director leading the Global Seminar
To be accepted for this Global Seminar, you have to meet both program-specific requirements as well as ARA eligibility.
Program-specific requirements
Priority will be given to students who were accepted for the Go Global Greece program for travel in May 2020, so long as they remain eligible
Students who will have completed 2nd-year requirements by end of April 2021 are eligible to apply
Students must have successfully completed THTR 440C/CLST 360H, or have the permission of the instructor, to apply
ARA Eligibility
Be enrolled in UBC Vancouver’s Faculty of Arts
Be in their third, fourth, or final year of study
Be enrolled in at least 24 credits in the academic year before the program
Must be registered in 24 credits in the current academic year, or sufficient to graduate
Have a minimum GPA of 70% with no fails or incompletes
Students can only be considered for one major International Learning Award throughout their degree e.g. ARA (Arts Research Abroad) funded Global Seminars, Undergraduate Research Conference.
General timelines
The program will take place in the month of May 2021*. Prior to your time in the field, you will be required to attend pre-departure sessions in Vancouver.
Total cost of the program is CAD $5,000 to $5,300 + tuition + flight.
*ARA funded students will pay CAD $1500 to $1600 + tuition + partial flight costs
The program fee includes Accommodation, program-related travel, and excursions (once in Greece), and the Go Global fee. Participants are responsible for tuition, flights, visas and incidentals.
*All undergraduate students will receive ARA funding, which covers 70%-100% of program expenses, including flight costs.
The final fee depends on the number of students in the program. Students do not pay the Go Global fee when applying to a Global Seminar. The Go Global fee is built into the Program Fee and is payable after acceptance into the program. Students will not be charged any fees until programs have been confirmed.
UBC understands the value and impact, that international programs can have on a students’ academic experience. The university also acknowledges the unpredictable nature of planning international programs during a global pandemic. To learn more about the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Go Global Programs, please visit the Go Global student FAQ during COVID-19.
ARA funding
This is an Arts Research Abroad (ARA) funded program. ARA is a funding body made of the Faculty of Arts – Dean’s Office, anonymous donors and Go Global that supports research intensive Global Seminars.
The ARA program offsets the cost to students for participation in an ARA course. 70% of the cost may be offset for academically qualified students; and up to 100% of the cost may be offset for academically qualified students who demonstrate financial need (as determined by Enrolment Services). The ARA program does not fund course development costs; faculty salaries; costs related to tuition, textbooks, course materials, visas, and vaccinations; or personal expenses incurred by students.
Students are automatically considered for the ARA funding. Separate application not required.
For more details, please see the Eligibility and Fees and costs section.
Accessibility
If you are considering applying for a Go Global program and identify with having a disability or pre-existing health condition (mental or physical) which could impact your participation, or if you require academic accommodations, you can contact the following offices and meet with an Accessibility Advisor before the start of the program:
UBC is committed to preparing students for safe and successful international experiences. In order to achieve this, any student participating in a Go Global Program must complete the following:
