Political emotions in ancient Rome
I wrote my MA thesis about "weeping victors" in ancient Rome and my doctoral dissertation about tears in the political culture of ancient Rome. Tears, whether shed in different in mourning, court, victory or the exercise of power, all interest me. I am at the beginning of the process of reworking my thesis and publishing it as a proper book. Another area I am particularly fascinated by and is pursuing is the dynamic interplay between historical and literary contexts.
Emotional populism
A combination of my interest in politics and political science and work on emotions and the political culture of ancient Rome, the project Emotional populism combines political science theories about populism and emotional research. It applies the theoretical battery to ancient Rome, both during the Republic and the Empire.
Mapping political emotions in emotions in ancient Rome In a newly proposed project, I adopt digital technologies and methods to read ancient texts, databases, to plot on a digital map where, when, and who expressed emotions in the city of ancient Rome.
Prehistoric Italy
the Etruscans and early Rome, interpretations and origins Exciting and great to think with, the prehistory of the italic peninsula actualises questions about culture, identity, the relationship between archaeology and historical texts, origins and the use and reception of antiquity. It is mainly the latter aspects that is a concern for me.
Motorsport as problematic cultural heritage
Motorsports, like all sports in general, form part of our cultural heritage. Traditionally almost exclusively male and white, decorated by grid-girls, European and North American, financed by Big Tobacco, and fueled by fossil fuel, it is fair to say that motorsports' cultural heritage and identity is problematic. It is also complex, seeing as much of it curated by stakeholders, such as car and motorcycle manufacturers, race tracks, and heritage, which is primarily a branding exercise meaning that knowledge and information are both biased and fragmented. How can digital technologies create a more comprehensive, objective, inclusive yet problematising cultural heritage for motorsports?
