History and Myth in the Digital Age (CL 329)

The only class where you can fulfill your HSC/GER requirement while reading webtoons, playing games, and watching anime!

Have you ever stopped to think about how many references there are to ancient history in modern media? Whether through films like 300, video games like Age of Empires or Assassin’s Creed, or even comics, antiquity continues to influence and be re-imagined by modern digital entertainment. In “Ancient Worlds, Modern Media” you’ll explore how mythology and the ancient world are depicted in video games, webcomics, anime, film, music videos, and other new media. You’ll tackle questions of authenticity vs. creative license and learn to recognize how works use history and myth in order to express cultural and political viewpoints through live gameplay, film screenings, guest speakers, and more.

Promo art from Fenyx: Immortals Rising

Not Your Average Zoom Class

Featuring live game streams, film/TV screenings, special guests and more, this class is specifically designed as an online experience.

Plato quote, from Montero video by Lil Nas X

No Expensive Books or Prior Knowledge Required

All assigned media will be provided on Canvas, and there are no prerequisites for enrolling.

Excerpt from Thermae Romae, by Mari Yamazaki

Design Your Own Project

Rather than a midterm/final, you’ll be designing your own project based on a media work of your choice. Past projects have included JoJo’s Bizarre Adventures, Elder Scrolls, Hades, Lady Gaga, Kpop, and Neil Gaiman’s Sandman.

Poseidon from Supergiant's Hades

Special Guests

You’ll learn from special guests of industry and academia about how and why creative choices get made, and what they mean. Past guests include Rachel Smythe (Lore Olympus), Charley and Vlas Parlapanides (Blood of Zeus), Dr. Anise K. Strong (music video specialist), and Dr. Natalie Swain (anime, comic, manga specialist).

Meet your Teacher: Dr. Kira Jones

Dr. Jones is a classicist and art historian who works on the reception of ancient history in modern media, with a focus on video games. She has articles coming out on Assassin’s Creed: Odyssey and Hades and has consulted on major media projects like The Conjuring 3: The Devil Made Me Do It, WandaVision, and Red Notice. She is a devoted gamer, hopeless nerd, and probably has a forgotten mug of tea somewhere.