Prize for Reimagining the Classics
The prize for Reimagining the Classics is awarded to the best creative work by an undergraduate or graduate student at Illinois that engages with an aspect of ancient Greco-Roman world or post-classical Greece, including modern Greece.
The work can take any form, including but not limited to a piece of visual art, electronic media, creative writing, recorded performance, adaptation, or creative translation into English (further suggestions may be found below). Poetry in ancient or modern Greek or Latin should be submitted to the Verse Composition Prize.
Submissions will be judged on the artist’s knowledge of and ability to work within the conventions of the genre they adopt; appropriate use of narrative, poetic or artistic elements and innovation in form or content.
Prizes will be awarded in two categories: Undergraduate & Graduate
To apply, submit your piece, its title, and an accompanying 300 word artist’s statement by April 1, 2024 to Ariana Traill (traill@illinois.edu), Chair of the Committee on Honors and Awards. The artist’s statement should explain your vision for the piece and the choices you made as well as any other context you want the judges to consider.
To submit a piece of visual art that cannot be easily reproduced (e.g. a painting), contact Ariana Traill (traill@illinois.edu) to arrange a drop-off.
The award will be announced formally at the Classics Award Ceremony at the Spurlock Museum on Friday, May 10, 2024 from 4:00-6:00PM.
Past Winners:
2023
Undergraduate Category
Adam Cassem for "Promethean Joy" (short story)
Elizabeth Scherschel for "Aristophanes, Playwright" (monologue)
2022
Undergraduate Category
Spencer Gallagher for "The Socrates Show" (radio play)
Habib Rehman for "Synaristosae Mosaic Recreation" (Honorable Mention) (computer program & artwork)
Graduate Category
Vaughn Fenton for “Lupus Exsurgens” (dystopian fiction drawing on Polybius and Athenaeus Mechanicus)
Emma Reymann for “The Lives of Denethor II and Thorin Oakenshield” (parallel biographies in the style of Plutarch)
2021
David Hansen for "Anger Management" (sketch comedy)
Suggestions for media/genres from past creative work
biography
comic strip
costume(s) for ancient drama
Discord/Groupme/Text chat
Facebook page
fan fiction
fresco
Instagram/Twitter account
line drawing
museum installation
musical comedy
musical composition
news story
novel
obituary
performance review of an ancient personality
photography project
podcast
poem
poster
psychological or astrological profile for ancient personality (e.g., Myers-Briggs)
public relations materials (e.g., advertising copy, customer reviews for an ancient product or service)
radio show
recommendation letter for an ancient personality
role-playing game session
screen play
sculpture
short film
short story
sketch comedy
song lyrics + music
stage play
subreddit posts
therapist’s notes on an ancient personality
vase painting
yearbook entry