[Usyd_Classics_Events] Reminder: USYD Classics Research Seminar: Oct 20 Sarah Lawrence

[Dexter Hoyos]

Dear Ben,
        Many thanks for the notice. I’m really sorry not to be able to join the seminar, as it would be definitely informative and stimulating to listen to Sarah’s exposition. Jann and I have ongoing commitments Mondays at lunchtime, which always rule me out from coming in.
        Sincere apologies too to Sarah, and best regards from
                Yours,
                Dexter


From: Usyd_Classics_Events <usyd_classics_events-bounces at mailman.sydney.edu.au> on behalf of Ben Brown via Usyd_Classics_Events <usyd_classics_events at mailman.sydney.edu.au>
Reply to: Ben Brown <benjamin.brown at sydney.edu.au>
Date: Thursday, 16 October 2025 at 9:11 am
To: Ben Brown via Usyd_Classics_Events <usyd_classics_events at mailman.sydney.edu.au>
Cc: "CLASSICISTS at LISTSERV.LIV.AC.UK" <classicists at listserv.liv.ac.uk>, _ARTS SOH Academics <_ARTSSOHAcademics at mcs.usyd.edu.au>
Subject: [Usyd_Classics_Events] Reminder: USYD Classics Research Seminar: Oct 20 Sarah Lawrence

Dear Friends of Classics and Ancient History at the University of Sydney,

We are delighted to invite you to the seventh presentation of Semester 2, 2025 in our Classics and Ancient History research seminar series.

October 20th (Mon, 12.15pm UTC+11)
V. Gordon Childe Boardroom (Level 2, Madsen Building)

Zoom link: https://uni-sydney.zoom.us/j/83159864939

Sarah Lawrence (University of New England)


Reading Caesar Backwards


Abstract
Caesar’s Gallic Wars could be read as a textbook exemplar of imperialistic and colonial ideology. Modern readers needn't look far to find familiar techniques of division, intimidation, and manipulation in Caesar’s account of his interaction with the Gallic and German peoples. In this paper, I examine Book 6, chapters 11-28 - the ethnographic excursus. While some scholars are reluctant to accept this section was written by Caesar, I argue it is in keeping with the overall project and provides a useful point of comparison for discussions of how anthropology and ethnography have been implicated in colonialism in the modern world. With this in mind, I ask whether Caesar’s description of Gallic and Germanic customs might also be used as a resource for decolonisation, if we look at it as a guide to some of the things that need to be un-done.

Sarah Lawrence is the Charles Tesoriero Assoc. Prof. in Latin at UNE. She is also currently the Assoc. Dean Teaching and Learning: Strategy and Quality. Her research focuses on using underloved Latin texts to access Roman thinking. She is also keenly interested in pedagogy and social justice in teaching.

Best, Ben
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