Mary-Kay Gamel to Speak at Nov. 9 Common Hour

Story posted November 05, 2007

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Mary-Kay Gamel, professor of classics, comparative literature, and theater arts at Cowell College, University of California–Santa Cruz, will speak at the next Common Hour at 12:30 p.m., Friday, November 9, 2007, in Kresge Auditorium, Visual Arts Center.

Common Hour is open to all Bowdoin students, faculty and staff. Admission is free and tickets are not required.

Gamel will give a talk titled "Revising 'Authenticity' in Staging Ancient Mediterranean Drama." Her visit is part of the Department of Classics' series "Greece: Past into Present."

The concept of authenticity, which underlies many productions of ancient Mediterranean drama, should not be based solely on archaeological correctness, but rather on the audience's reaction, Gamel says. Ancient audiences scrutinized performances for ethical, social and political implications, and responded vigorously, intellectually and emotionally, to what they saw. Gamel claims that those modern adaptations that stimulate audience response most authentically create the effect of ancient performance.

In her book-length manuscript, also titled Revising "Authenticity" in Staging Ancient Mediterranean Drama, Gamel argues for a new, more flexible concept of authenticity in staging ancient drama.

Gamel has been published in multiple scholarly journals including American Journal of Philosophy, Helios, and Amphora. She also has professional experience as a producer, director and actor in numerous theatrical performances.

Gamel earned her B.A. in classics at Smith College and her Ph.D. in comparative literature at the University of California–Berkeley.

Common Hour events are held every other Friday of the term at 12:30 p.m. Class and meeting schedules are altered so that students, faculty, and staff may attend.

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