For a team of University of Nebraska–Lincoln classics students, the Greek tragedy "Antigone" has transformed into something much more than just another work of ancient literature.
This summer, through Nebraska's Undergraduate Creative Activities and Research Experience program, the students traveled to England to work with Oxford's Archive of Performances of Greek and Roman Drama. There, they chronicled and compiled the history of the play, which will eventually be published in an online book.
Spearheaded by classics and religious studies professor Michael Lippman, the summer project included Nichole Brady, Ellie Churchill, Ellen Kratzer, Vanessa Larsen and Lexi Robertson.
The group began their work in fall 2018, spending the semester learning how to use the archive's toolkit. Spring 2019 was spent knee-deep in research, searching online and through Nebraska's libraries to analyze images related to the play. An initial chapter of the book was also written.
Each member on the project has a specific focus area, with some concentrating more on the research side and others on the writing path.
With some parts of their project needing fleshed out, the students found the perfect opportunity through Oxford's Archive of Performances of Greek and Roman Drama. The archive has previously published interactive multimedia electronic books on ancient performances and frequently collaborates with universities, making it a natural fit.
Visiting the archive allowed the group to fill in missing pieces of their project, which they will place throughout the book this semester. Over the next academic year, they hope to finish three more chapters.
Along with piecing together the book, the team is also piloting a toolkit process created by the APGRD. The toolkit is aimed at helping them streamline their research and writing, and the team provides feedback to the APGRD on the toolkit's utility in order to determine if it will be effective for future collaborators.
While crafting an entire book is unlike anything they've done before, the UCARE project has given the group a unique chance to take part in humanities-based research. It's become more than just a line on their resume — now, they hope to preserve history for future classics scholars.
To learn more about Nebraska's classics and religious studies program, click here.
