Past and Present On Air

Today we spoke about art! Swipe to see the cute visitor we had in the studio 🐶 The following pieces were discussed:
• ‘Gesture of Love’ by June Carey
• ‘Pyramus and Thisbe’ by J. W. Waterhouse
• ‘Parting of Sir Lancelot and Queen Guinevere’ by Julia Margaret Cameron

These piece had clear classical influence to us, what do you think the key influences that we spotted were?

We’ll be back in two weeks time, Friday 3rd 10-11am - time in! ❤️

Hello everyone!

We’re back after a well-earned break. Our semester of radio sessions has started a little late as we’ve been floored these first few weeks but we’re excited to get back to it. Ljiljana has been busy working away on her dissertation and perfecting rehearsals of her part in Bedlam Theatre’s ‘Medea’ - which premiered yesterday! 🔥💪🏻 I’ve been busy with my head in scuba diving books (cue Ljiljana’s yawn), teaching classics courses to primary schools and clocking up volunteering hours. This Friday 10-11am we will be discussing classical influences on modern art, and we expect to have on a couple of lovely guests in the coming weeks to discuss their own favourite subjects. We hope you can tune in and listen. Let us know if you have any subjects you want to hear about in Semester 2!

- Nya and Ljiljana

With the World Cup and Ronaldo’s recent exit from Manchester United, I couldn’t help but consider comparing Ronaldo to the Greek hero Achilles, on lasts weeks radio. Both at the top of their game , whether it be football in Ronaldo’s case, or the art of war in Achilles’. Both were accused of being overly prideful. Ronaldo left MU because he felt he was not being respected and Achilles refused to fight on the battlefield without gaining Agamemnon’s respect first. In both cases their absence is detrimental. The Greeks began losing the war against the Trojan’s without Achilles and arguably Manchester United will begin to deteriorate as a high performing club without Ronaldo.
What’s your opinion ? Are they arrogant ? Or do they have the talent to back it up ?

Week IV done! 💪🏻 Thanks to everyone who tuned in today, we hope you enjoyed our democracy discussion. If you have any follow up questions or opinions you’d love to express please do get in touch! ❤️🏛 see you in Week V!

What do you think Cleisthenes: the father of democracy would make of current affairs? Tune in this Saturday at 12pm for a discussion between two very unqualified but rather opinionated classicists and about democracy and UK vs ancient politics!

We hope to teach you a thing or two about the history of ‘democracy’, women in politics then and now, technical definitions and it’s Athenian origins 👩🏻‍⚖️

We hope you can join us! 🇬🇷✨

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2 weeks ago we spoke about all things Britney B***h… Since the movement hit our feeds in 2021 the concept of female control has really interested us both here at Past and Present.

It got us thinking about Classical female characters that have been trapped and controlled too - Helen of Troy was the perfect example of an idealised woman, captured and kidnapped by Paris and held behind the walls of Troy. We discussed expectations that women suffer both now and within ancient society’s daily and political life, Liz Truss and the lettuce 🥬, our favourite character Cassandra, marriage and relationships, female nudity and more!

Do you think Britney is our modern Helen of Troy?

*Tune in this Saturday for a new and exciting topic! 📻*

Hi, I’m Ljiljana!

✨ I study History and Classics at the University of Edinburgh. I realised my passion for modern history when I was about ten years old, studying the Tudors. Anne Boleyn particularly fascinated me, in the way that she was interpreted as both a tragic victim and a villain. My love of Classics was born from my love of drama, leading me to its origins in Greek tragedy. This led me to fall in love with all things related to Classical Literature and civilisation.

I hope my passion can encourage a love of learning, whilst advocating towards making classics a more accessible subject. ❤️

What’s your favourite part of your degree to study?
🏛 In regards to the classical half of my degree (admittedly my preferred half), I am fascinated with the ancient world and how it corresponds and influences society as we know it today. Although all of antiquity interests me, my greatest passion lies with the ancient Greek world and culture 🇬🇷. I have a particular interest in Greek tragedy and Epic literature! Although when it comes to deadline season I temporarily forget why I love my degree :)

What can we expect to hear from you on past and present?
👯‍♀️ You can expect to discover how the ancient world relates to the 21st century, whilst I rant about the male gaze and female superiority. And of course you can expect some great tunes inbetween mine and Nya’s debates.

Caffeine of choice?
🍹 A hazelnut latte in the winter and an iced latte in the summer, but if I’m being honest I’m more likely to get an Aperol Spritz!

Hi I’m Nya!

🏺 I study Classical Studies at the University of Edinburgh, I fell into the subject accidentally and realised I absolutely loved it. I hope my interest can spark a passion in others for all things nerdy and historical.

What’s your favourite part of your degree to study?
🇻🇦 Anything Rome! Roman History fascinates me, and the city is my absolutely favourite place to visit.

What can we expect to hear from you on Past and Present?
🎭 Ljiljana likes to tease me for soundchecking against my Mum in our first ever episode, but apart from that you can expect some strange music transitions. Eg. Britney Spears to Phantom of the Opera

Caffeine of choice?
☕️ Iced oat latte in the summer, plain black Americano in the winter! ❤️