This conference presents ongoing research findings of an international group of scholars studying the topic of dragons in performance. In the past, the cartographic legend “hic sunt dracones” (like “hic sunt leones”) indicated the extent of known territories (land and seas) and the boundaries of safety, yet what laid beyond pervaded the consciousness of many artists, travelers and scholars. Dragons, which have occupied the human imagination since antiquity, gained particular importance after 1400 CE, and appear in many guises— St. George plays, Karagöz, Chinese shadow puppets, etc.—and so mark the outlines of a Denkraum (or “thinking space”) between cosmology, zoology,…
Participation in the Seminar consists of group discussion of pre-circulated papers, typically drafts of articles, book chapters, or dissertation chapters (with complete apparatus). Two of the papers are ordinarily by emerging scholars (including PhD students) and the other two are by established scholars. We allocate one hour per paper and presenters should anticipate substantial, and substantive, feedback. Calls for presenters are circulated via e-mail from the Center approximately two months prior to each meeting. Faculty, postdocs, and grad students from across California are welcome to participate. The papers will be discussed at the seminar in the following order: “A King,…
Verity Platt will be giving a talk entitled,‘The Garland in Greco-Roman Art: An Exercise in Anthocriticism’. Location and details to come so stay tuned.
Why do we suffer? Why do people die young? Is there any point to our excessive pain, physical or emotional? This talk explores the ways that we have tried to minimize or eliminate suffering, and examines people’s attempts to find ways to live with pointless suffering. Ultimately, to be fully human—and to have healthy culture—means to acknowledge a mysterious paradox: we must simultaneously accept suffering and oppose it. RSVP to attend in person Register for Zoom link Scott Samuelson studied philosophy at Grinnell College (BA, 1995, valedictorian) and Emory University (PhD, 2001). He is currently a Professor of Practice in the…
Lift a glass to the new academic year and meet friends old and new! Welcome remarks by Dean Stern and Professor Bakhos at 4:30p. RSVP required by October 11. See you there!
The 2026 Giorgio Levi Della Vida conference and award ceremony honoring Professor Richard Eaton (University of Arizona). View conference information and register The 2026 Giorgio Levi Della Vida Award presentation and conference will take place on Thursday, November 5, 2026, at UCLA. The award will be presented to Professor Richard Eaton of the University of Arizona, in recognition of his contributions to the field of Islamic Studies. The conference is part of a tradition established by CNES first director, Gustave E. von Grunebaum, to encourage research in the field of Islamic studies and to honor outstanding scholars in the field,…
Λέσχη Ανάγνωσης Ελληνικών Βιβλίων της Δυτικής Ακτής Αιολική Γη του Ηλία Βενέζη Τη συζήτηση θα συντονίσουν η Δρ. Σάρον Γκερστέλ, διευθύντρια του Κέντρου Μελέτης Ελληνικού Πολιτισμού Ίδρυμα Σταύρος Νιάρχος στο UCLA, και η Δρ. Ειρήνη Κωτσοβίλη, λέκτορας Παγκόσμιων Ανθρωπιστικών Σπουδών του Πανεπιστημίου Simon Fraser. Η διάλεξη θα γίνει στα Ελληνικά. Σάββατο, 7 Νοεμβρίου 2026 10:00 π.μ. Λος Άντζελες / 8:00 μ.μ. Ελλάδα Μέσω Zoom Πατήστε εδώ για να δηλώσετε συμμετοχή στη συνάντηση της Λέσχης Ανάγνωσης. Το πρόγραμμα αυτό πραγματοποιείται χάρη στη γενναιόδωρη υποστήριξη του Ιδρύματος Σταύρος Νιάρχος (ΙΣΝ). Μπορείτε να βρείτε την ελληνική έκδοση εδώ: https://www.greeceinprint.com/index.php/en/literature/literary/aioliki-gi-detail For those who understand…
