Eventlist

Presenter: Dr Alfred Vincent

Language of Presentation: English | R.M.L.G.*: 0 - No knowledge of Greek required.

Synopsis

The poet Ioannis Vilaras (1771-1823) studied medicine in Italy and returned to his home town of Ioannina to become a doctor attached to the court of Ali Pasha. He wrote lyrical poetry (some of which has been set to music), and satirical verse, including a comic poem on the (failed) launching of a hot air balloon near Ioannina. Vilaras was one of the leading Greek intellectuals of his time, with interests ranging from linguistics to botany. He was a passionate advocate for educational reform and in particular for the written use of the spoken language (demotic), as opposed to the archaising Greek favoured by most educated writers in his day. His ideas influenced Dionysios Solomos, among others. Vilaras’s proposal for a radical simplification of spelling and accentuation would have made learning Greek vastly easier. So why have more conservative views on language prevailed? And how did Vilaras and other educated Greeks reconcile their patriotic sentiments with serving the tyrant Ali? These are just some of the issues we will address in discussing Vilaras’s life and work.

Bio

Alfred Vincent studied classics in the UK and did his PhD on an early modern Greek topic. He taught for twenty-five years in the Modern Greek studies programmes at the University of Sydney, and has taught courses as a visitor at the universities of Thessaloniki, Athens and Crete. His main research topics are on early modern Greek literature and society. He was awarded an honorary doctorate by the University of Crete for his work on Crete under Venetian rule (1211-1669).

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* R.M.L.G.: Recommended Minimum Level of Greek in order to enjoy this Event, on a scale of 0 to 5.