Christopher Anaforian

Christopher Anaforian

Mr, Mr

 https://orcid.org/0009-0008-4732-8069

Personal profile

Research overview

Christopher Anaforian is currently a PhD candidate in Classics and History at the University of St Andrews, supervised by Dr Henry Stead and Dr Gillian Mitchell. He completed his BA in History with an emphasis in Middle Eastern and European history, and a Minor in Classics from the University of San Francisco (2020). Following that, in 2023, he completed his MLitt at the University of St Andrews (with Distinction) writing his dissertation on the reception of Rome in socialist journals, newspapers, and magazines

His PhD project explores working-class and Marxist classical reception in the United States during the interwar period (1918-1939). The primary focus of this project is the highly popular, working-class-oriented publishing series, the Little Blue Books published by Emanuel Haldeman-Julius in Girard, Kansas which published ideologically-infused translations of ancient texts at low costs.

Christopher is also the Postgraduate Representative and Social Media Lead for the Classical Reception Studies Network (CRSN). He also regularly contributes to Brave New Classics, a project that explores the relationship between communism and classics (Brave New Classics).

Teaching activity

2024-2025 Semester 1

  • AN1003 - Ancient Empires
  • CL1004 - Myth and Community in Ancient Greek Literature

2024-2025 Semester 2

  • ID1007 Ancient Origins, Modern Worlds

2025-2026 Semester 1

  • AN2004 Ancient Societies: Gender, Ethnicity, and Inequality

2025-2026 Semester 2

  • AN2005 Narratives of Antiquity

Research interests

Christopher's main research interests are generally related to Classical Reception with a particular focus on:

  • Subaltern access to classical culture
  • Communist/Socialist/Left-wing (and occasionally anti-Communist) classical reception
  • Radical reinterpretations of ancient dramas, texts, and history
  • Postcolonial approaches to antiquity

Christopher has also co-founded the St Andrews Reception Research Group (STARR) which meets weekly to create a sense of community and foster collaboration between departments and researchers interested in classical reception.

Education/Academic qualification

Master of Letters, Salus populi suprema lex esto: Twentieth-Century American Socialists and Roman Reception

5 Sept 2022 → 26 Sept 2023

Award Date: 29 Nov 2023

Bachelor of Arts, University of San Francisco

15 Aug 2017 → 14 May 2020

Award Date: 14 May 2020

External positions

Postgraduate Representative and Social Media Lead, Classical Reception Studies Network

1 Aug 2024 → …

Keywords

  • PS American literature
  • DE The Mediterranean Region. The Greco-Roman World
  • E151 United States (General)
  • D051 Ancient History
  • HN Social history and conditions. Social problems. Social reform
  • HX Socialism. Communism. Anarchism

Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals

In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):

  1. SDG 4 - Quality Education
    SDG 4 Quality Education
  2. SDG 5 - Gender Equality
    SDG 5 Gender Equality
  3. SDG 10 - Reduced Inequalities
    SDG 10 Reduced Inequalities

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