iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

A. C. "Al" Duncan @adclassics.bsky.social · 17/02/2026

Rest in power, JJ — such a visible and powerful figure in the struggle for equality, especially during my tender years growing up in the Detroit suburbs.

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A. C. "Al" Duncan @adclassics.bsky.social · 17/02/2026

Ridiculous. Anodyne statement, recorded over a year ago, and trotted out for chilling effect. This sets terrible precedent – for NC State, the UNC System, and higher ed generally.

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A. C. "Al" Duncan @adclassics.bsky.social · 07/01/2026

I came to SCS simply to help run logistics for the annual CAMP production. Because of some unexpected logistical rearrangements, however, I'm now acting in this year's production of TANTALIDS: TAKE II, under the direction of the creative dynamo, Vanessa Stovall @theoctopiehole.bsky.social

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A. C. "Al" Duncan @adclassics.bsky.social · 07/01/2026

Hello to everyone inSan Francisco for AIA/SCS 2026! Hope to catch you all in and around the conference.

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A. C. "Al" Duncan @adclassics.bsky.social · 27/12/2025

Classicists! It's just over a week until the annual AIA/SCS meeting, this time in San Francisco, and that means preparations are gearing up for the annual CAMP production. This year, CAMP is proud — and incredibly excited — to present "Tantalids: take ii," under the direction of Vanessa Stovall!

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Curtis Dozier @curtisdozier.bsky.social · 08/04/2025

The argument Musk is making here resembles that published in a peer reviewed journal by a PhD who has given interviews to notorious white supremacist publications. It's so bad the journal published a rebuttal in the same issue. I wrote about it for Pharos: pharos.vassarspaces.net/2020/10/30/p...

Partial image of article from notorious white supremacist publication to whom post's subject has given interviews. Title: "How Did Whites Get Their Appearance," with image of blue eyed woman with (likely dyed) red hair.

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Katina Rogers @katinalynn.bsky.social · 07/04/2025

🔥 📝 FOLKS — I'm working on a piece for Slate about the NEH cuts. If you've been affected in ANY way and would be willing to talk with me, please message me! I would love to learn more and include your story. katina [at] katinarogers [dot] com #humanities #neh #education #highered

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A. C. "Al" Duncan @adclassics.bsky.social · 08/04/2025

This is, obviously, not the most pressing economic/social issue of April 2025. The pay of academic staff and non-tenure faculty remains the a higher moral imperative. Still, for those of us fortunate enough to have T-T/tenured posts, it is worth keeping dwindling pay in mind...

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A. C. "Al" Duncan @adclassics.bsky.social · 03/01/2025

At the AIA/SCS in Philly and looking for something exciting, new, artistic, tonight? Come to the CAMP performance of Ellen McLaughlin's Conversations at the Return of Spring tonight (Friday, 1/3) at 8:00pm in Independence 3! No tickets required; seating is limited.

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A. C. "Al" Duncan @adclassics.bsky.social · 22/11/2024

This week I've been playing up the spectacle/gladiatorial angle (which pertains to my teaching and, more tangentially, research), but do check out this thread by the wonderful @bretdevereaux.bsky.social on the political/personal representation of the Severans.

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A. C. "Al" Duncan @adclassics.bsky.social · 21/11/2024

Only one more day until Gladiator II (and, this high-school theater kid is glad to note, Wicked!) hits the big screen across the US.

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A. C. "Al" Duncan @adclassics.bsky.social · 20/11/2024

With only three days until the theatrical release of Gladiator II, I thought I'd turn to three different Roman items, each aimed at a different class of consumer, that reflected the broad appeal of combats in the arena, known to the Romans as "munera."

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A. C. "Al" Duncan @adclassics.bsky.social · 20/11/2024

In the buildup to the North American widespread release of Gladiator II this week, I'm sharing some favorite pieces from the "Athletics in the ancient Greek and Roman Worlds" class I teach at UNC.

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A. C. "Al" Duncan @adclassics.bsky.social · 14/11/2024

Although you can't tell from the way I am serving "serious author face" in the photo, I was honored and deeply humbled to have my first book, Ugly Productions: An Aesthetics of Greek Drama, profiled in this week's edition of UNC Research Stories.

endeavors.unc.edu

Unmasking Ugliness - UNC Research Stories

Al Duncan has spent the last 15 years exploring why humans are drawn to the unpleasant and uncomfortable aspects of life.

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A. C. "Al" Duncan @adclassics.bsky.social · 07/06/2024

Folks at UNC, please let any undergraduates know about this summer session II (6/24–7/30) course taught both online and in-person by talented Classics graduate student, Anna Balaguer!

Visual advertising CLAS 122: The Romans.

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Society for Classical Studies @scsclassics.bsky.social · 29/04/2024

The Spring 2024 issue of TAPA, Race and Racism: Beyond the Spectacular co-edited by Sasha-Mae Eccleston and Patrice Rankine, is now available online through Project MUSE: muse.jhu.edu/issue/52400

Cover of TAPA, Race and Racism: Beyond the Spectacular, Spring 2024, Volume 154, Number 1

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Josephine Quinn @josephinequinn.bsky.social · 27/03/2024

I’m quite pleased about this news too

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A. C. "Al" Duncan @adclassics.bsky.social · 01/03/2024

My better half isn't on the socials, but I'm so excited that I can't help sharing that today's the publication day for A Prophet of the People: Isaiah Shembe and the Making of An African Church. msupress.org/978161186484...

msupress.org

A Prophet of the People

In 1910 Isaiah Shembe was struggling. He had left his family and quit his job as a sanitation worker to become a Baptist evangelist, but he ended his first m...

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Nina Willburger @drnwillburger.bsky.social · 27/02/2024

The hand of a lost bronze statue of a pugil (a pugilist/boxer), wrapped in a caestus - a glove made of leather and wicker. Found in the Roman theatre of Verona. Dating 1st c. AD. Pugilatus (boxing) was very popular in Roman times. On display at Museo Archeologico Teatro Romano 🏺 AncientBlueSky

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Dr Mai Musié (ሙሴ) @drmaimusie.bsky.social · 23/02/2024

Delighted to announce our second workshop in our @SASNews Fellowship series looking at Ancient ‘Aithiopian’ Voices & Modern Ethiopian-Eritrean diaspora communities. AncientBlueSky Book here: ics.sas.ac.uk/events/explo...

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A. C. "Al" Duncan @adclassics.bsky.social · 21/02/2024

Excited for this year's colab on Euripides' Alcestis with Michael Vazquez (@mvazquez.bsky.social), Kari Lindquist, and other ultra-talented and inspiring individuals parrcenter.unc.edu/alcestis/ Alcestis is a peculiar play, and one that is peculiarly timely in 2024. Please spread the word!

parrcenter.unc.edu

Greek Tragedy in the Community | Parr Center for Ethics

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Tofte @tofte.bsky.social · 31/01/2024

Prof. Houston was unfailingly kind to me, and I think this obituary captures his personality well. classics.unc.edu/2024/01/30/i...

classics.unc.edu

In Memoriam — George Woodard Houston | Department of Classics

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Gregory Stringer @gregorystringer.bsky.social · 28/01/2024

Some more Latin Connections! Let me know if you like them and how you did! 🏺 AncientBluesky connections.swellgarfo.com/game/-NpFWrJ...

connections.swellgarfo.com

Connections – Custom Puzzle Creator

Create custom puzzles based on the Connections New York Times daily game

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Ideas Roadshow @ideasroadshow.bsky.social · 24/01/2024

One of our most popular podcast conversations was with @armanddangour.bsky.social about the challenges of reconstructing ancient Greek music. 🎧 ideasroadshow.com/armand-dango... You can listen on the Ideas Roadshow app (free) or on NBN. 🗃️🏺#EduSky AncientBlueSky ClassicsBluesky BlueskyClassics

ideasroadshow.com

Armand D’Angour

Reimagining The Classical World is a wide-ranging conversation with University of Oxford classicist and musician Armand D’Angour about the challenges of reconstructing ancient Greek music, what the�...

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Antike Kulturgeschichte @antikekultur.bsky.social · 15/01/2024

Apply, apply, apply!

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Yale Classics Library @yaleclassicslib.bsky.social · 09/01/2024

New issue of New Classicists No. 9 (2023) newclassicists.com/publications @newclassicists.bsky.social #openaccess

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The Sportula: Microgrants for Classics Students @sportula.bsky.social · 06/01/2024

Some Sportula stats for #AIASCS #AIASCS2024! This year, we raised and gave away over $23k, but we still have a backlog of 80(!) requests for #microgrants from #Classics students. More than half of our funds go towards covering basic living expenses. #ClassicsBlueSky #AncientBlueSky

A stat sheet that reads THE SPORTULA est. 2018. Microgrants for Classics Studnets. Approx. $257,338.97 raised since 2018. $23,547.99 raised this year alone. How are funds used? Tuition 18%, Conferences/research 6%, books 17.3%, living expenses 52%. 150 grants filled in 2023. Monthly donations $1700, avg. monthly requests $5000. Average amount requested: $256.32. Backlog of 80 requests. Who do we fund? Mostly undergraduates and graduate students, a few postdocs and contingent faculty, independent researchers.

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A. C. "Al" Duncan @adclassics.bsky.social · 03/01/2024

This was, obviously, lots of fun, and I'm so very grateful to have had the opportunity to talk about my work. Hearty thanks to Alyssa LaFaro and everybody at UNC Research for championing and sharing scholarship at (and beyond) UNC!

endeavors.unc.edu

RUNC: Al Duncan - Endeavors

Al Duncan unpacks the nuances of ancient Greek and Roman theater.

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Jay Houston @jthouston.bsky.social · 03/01/2024

I am one of many people whose lives were irreversibly affected by the work and legacy of Sharon James, and I am one of many people who mourn the passing of such a tremendous figure as herself. I met her only once, but, even if we had never met, I would be forever indebted and thankful to her.

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Bettina Joy de Guzman @ancientlyric.bsky.social · 01/01/2024

I am shocked & absolutely gutted by the sudden passing of Sharon James. These past 5 years she gave her support, ink pens & ink, advice, kindness, her time, her friendship. I will post her last conference with CCA South, April 2023. I am so so sad. Rest In Peace, dear great lady. You are so missed.

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Women's Classical Caucus @womensclasscaucus.bsky.social · 01/01/2024

Anyone whose life was touched by Sharon James is encouraged to send a remembrance, reflection, or anecdote to T. H. M. Gellar-Goad at thmgg@wfu.edu to be published in an In Memoriam page on the website of the NEH Institute on Roman comedy.

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David J. Wright @rmavirumquecano.bsky.social · 02/01/2024

Are you attending the #AIASCS this week? Sportula is in need of more volunteers to work their booth! I've done it for the past few years and it's always a good time. Please consider signing up!

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Anise K. Strong @anisekstrong.bsky.social · 31/12/2023

Sharon James was one of the kindest and fairest colleagues I knew, and her loss hurts the study of Roman comedy and Roman women immensely. We are losing far too many of the foremothers recently.

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Sam Agbamu @samagbamu.bsky.social · 31/12/2023

Very sad to hear about Sharon James’ passing. I had the pleasure of meeting her a few times and knew her as a warm, supportive, and comradely scholar. I remember her paying for UNC PhD students to take us KCL PhD students to see Sorry to Bother You - something for which I will forever be grateful.

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Michael Weiss @mweissohcgl.bsky.social · 31/12/2023

Very sad to hear about the passing of Prof. Sharon L. James. She was a great colleague at UNC and a kind and funny person.

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Tofte @tofte.bsky.social · 31/12/2023

My dear friend and mentor, Sharon James, died unexpectedly a few days ago. She was a fierce intellect, a force of nature, and a big ol' crusty marshmallow. A few of her students wrote an obituary — goodbye, Marylou, and thanks for everything: classics.unc.edu/2023/12/31/i...

classics.unc.edu

In Memory of Sharon James | Department of Classics

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A. C. "Al" Duncan @adclassics.bsky.social · 01/01/2024

This gives a strong impression of Sharon James meant to so many of us. I'm sure the list of her kindnesses will grow in the coming days and weeks as students, mentees, and colleagues (and weren't many of us all of the above?) reflect on a life very well lived. classics.unc.edu/2023/12/31/i...

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Caroline Bishop @doctorepiscopa.bsky.social · 30/12/2023

Adding to the chorus of people shocked and saddened by Sharon James' death. What a huge loss for UNC, for ancient comedy, and for the study of women and gender in the classical world. She was truly larger than life.

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Rev. Dr. Liz Gloyn @lizgloyn.bsky.social · 30/12/2023

I have just heard of Sharon James' death and I am so, so deeply sad for her loss. She was hugely supportive to me, and a massive cheerleader for the Queer Beaches piece - such an undeserved kindness built on a link made purely by virtue of meeting at conferences a few times when I was a grad.

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Mark Masterson @markjmasterson.bsky.social · 30/12/2023

Sharon James had passed. It would not be an understatement to say that I would not be in the profession without her help at a critical moment. I am gutted.

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Daniel Libatique @thedancinggrad.bsky.social · 29/12/2023

I am devastated by the news that Sharon James passed away yesterday. Her invitation to me to write a paper on Ovid in the #MeToo era set me on the path that I'm on today, and her confidence in my voice, seen in the email below, has been invaluable to me as a scholar and a person. Requiescat in pace.

screenshot of an email from Sharon James to me encouraging me to make bolder assertions and to have confidence in my voice in an article on Ovid in the Me Too era

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