Yuyao Sun, 2024-2025 Fenwick Scholar
Location
Smith Hall, Rehm Library, 310
Start Date
22-4-2025 4:00 PM
End Date
22-4-2025 4:30 PM
First Advisor
Katherine Lu Hsu
Second Advisor
John Manoussakis
Department
Classics
Description
The dramatic nature of the Platonic dialogues has long been noticed by their readers. To what extent is this by then still novel genre rooted in the literary tradition of Attic tragedy, or the Greek theatrical culture in general? In what ways, if at all, is the Platonic philosophy a continuation or a transformation of the Greek stage? Or, in turn, is there not only action that is performed in the Greek theater, but also philosophy? This study, which focuses primarily on Plato’s Symposium and Euripides’ Bacchae, intends to respond to these questions by analyzing prominent themes in both works such as erotic love and wisdom, especially as they intersect with the representation of family, nature, city, and customs.
Yuyao Sun, 2024-2025 Fenwick Scholar
Smith Hall, Rehm Library, 310
The dramatic nature of the Platonic dialogues has long been noticed by their readers. To what extent is this by then still novel genre rooted in the literary tradition of Attic tragedy, or the Greek theatrical culture in general? In what ways, if at all, is the Platonic philosophy a continuation or a transformation of the Greek stage? Or, in turn, is there not only action that is performed in the Greek theater, but also philosophy? This study, which focuses primarily on Plato’s Symposium and Euripides’ Bacchae, intends to respond to these questions by analyzing prominent themes in both works such as erotic love and wisdom, especially as they intersect with the representation of family, nature, city, and customs.
Comments
Yuyao Sun is a double major in Classics and Medieval and Renaissance Studies and a minor in Philosophy. His project focuses on the dramatic nature of Plato's works and positions it with reference to Greek Tragedy. By examining Plato's critique of traditional poetry and simultaneously comparing examples of Plato's works with those of Green tragedies, the project aims to understand the dramatics in Plato's philosophy. The project reconsiders the significance of Plato's response to poetry and initiates dialogues with later critics of Plato such as Nietzsche, who sees the advent of Socrates, Plato's most famous protagonist, the death of tragedy and the beginning of a civilizational crisis whose influence is still tangible to us today. In the course of this dialogue with various cultural critics, the project ultimately seeks to contribute to the ongoing discourse on the past and future of (the Western) civilization. His project will be overseen by Katherine Lu Hsu (Department of Classics) and John Manoussakis (Department of Philosophy). Professor Lee Oser (English) and Professor Faisal Baluch (Political Science) will also serve as readers for the project.