Biography
Josh Beer has taught Greek and Roman Studies at Carleton for 40 years. For him, lecturing is a form of live theatre in which he tries to elicit from the students an emotional response to the subject, as a conduit to a deeper intellectual engagement. The theatre space (i.e., the classroom) serves as a crucible for shaping a symbiotic relationship between students and instructor.
Whether teaching Latin and Greek languages or their civilizations, Josh attempts to show how the Greeks and Romans provide useful counter-models for examining and understanding more critically many modern cultural assumptions (linguistic, religious, political, sexual, etc.).
Since 2002 Josh has directed students in dramatic presentations of Greek tragedy. His most recent publication is the book Sophocles and the Tragedy of Athenian Democracy.
Research Interests
- Greek tragic theatre
Publications
Sophocles and the Tragedy of Athenian Democracy. Westport, CT: Praeger, 2004.
Awards
- Nominee Capital Educators Award 2007