So now that I'm sure that you all think I have died or dropped off the face of the planet or some such event, I thought I would take some time to give you all a much overdue update on my current projects. Some insane personal things have gotten me somewhat off track in the past few months I am ashamed to admit. However, I should be back on track now.
First off, the Hephaestion book is still very much in the works. Though I haven't necessarily had the time or ability to sit down and research lately, the topic is never out of my mind. Ideas and thoughts are constantly churning away and, as Ptollers will attest, Hephaestion constantly crops up in my tweets! Now that I do have time to sit down and research, I'm plotting out some definite plans. Dr. Reams' dissertation on Hephaestion was a wonderful secondary resource. I am in the process of going back and reading it while notating the most salient points. Her take on Hephaestion shares similarities with my mine but a few differences. As far as primary sources, I am beginning with Arrian as his work, according to current consensus, is the most balanced ancient source available. What I wouldn't give for a copy of Ptolemy Lagides' or Aristobulus' diary though!
Secondly, a new project is in the works. Several months ago, I was introduced to the game-changing work of an Serbian-born, Australian-bred, transgender model named Andrej Pejic. I highly recommend acquainting yourself with him and his work if you are not already so. This person is turning the fashion world upside down by presenting a completely new and unique "picture" of what it means to be man/woman/human. I am fascinated by the way clothing is used as nonverbal communication. Andrej blows all preconceived notions of what a man or woman should "look" like and turns traditional gender roles on their heads. So, a work examining how clothing, especially specific articles of clothing, have been used throughout history to create the image of "man" and "woman" with Andrej's work as the glass through which these ideas are viewed. For those of you unfamiliar with Andrej Pejic, I'm enclosing a pics below. The first is just a basic shot of Andrej that I happen to find interesting. The second is from a photo shoot which used the androgyny by picturing Andrej as in both "male" and "female" roles in each picture.
Lastly, there is the question of school. I was supposed to begin a distance-learning program in Classics as the next step to getting that Classics PhD (as all academics know, it's not about what you know but what piece of parchment you can whip out), but the recent craziness has forced me to postpone this. I guess I will have to keep studying on my own with the fear of making Hephaestion ashamed as motivator instead of grades.
This is what's in the works for those of you playing the home game. As always, feel free to comment and question.
First off, the Hephaestion book is still very much in the works. Though I haven't necessarily had the time or ability to sit down and research lately, the topic is never out of my mind. Ideas and thoughts are constantly churning away and, as Ptollers will attest, Hephaestion constantly crops up in my tweets! Now that I do have time to sit down and research, I'm plotting out some definite plans. Dr. Reams' dissertation on Hephaestion was a wonderful secondary resource. I am in the process of going back and reading it while notating the most salient points. Her take on Hephaestion shares similarities with my mine but a few differences. As far as primary sources, I am beginning with Arrian as his work, according to current consensus, is the most balanced ancient source available. What I wouldn't give for a copy of Ptolemy Lagides' or Aristobulus' diary though!
Secondly, a new project is in the works. Several months ago, I was introduced to the game-changing work of an Serbian-born, Australian-bred, transgender model named Andrej Pejic. I highly recommend acquainting yourself with him and his work if you are not already so. This person is turning the fashion world upside down by presenting a completely new and unique "picture" of what it means to be man/woman/human. I am fascinated by the way clothing is used as nonverbal communication. Andrej blows all preconceived notions of what a man or woman should "look" like and turns traditional gender roles on their heads. So, a work examining how clothing, especially specific articles of clothing, have been used throughout history to create the image of "man" and "woman" with Andrej's work as the glass through which these ideas are viewed. For those of you unfamiliar with Andrej Pejic, I'm enclosing a pics below. The first is just a basic shot of Andrej that I happen to find interesting. The second is from a photo shoot which used the androgyny by picturing Andrej as in both "male" and "female" roles in each picture.
Lastly, there is the question of school. I was supposed to begin a distance-learning program in Classics as the next step to getting that Classics PhD (as all academics know, it's not about what you know but what piece of parchment you can whip out), but the recent craziness has forced me to postpone this. I guess I will have to keep studying on my own with the fear of making Hephaestion ashamed as motivator instead of grades.
This is what's in the works for those of you playing the home game. As always, feel free to comment and question.
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