Cypris Roalsvig is a Ph.D. student in the Department of Classics. Cypris graduated from Johns Hopkins University with a B.A. in English Literature and M.A. in Classics. They study the modern reception of Greek and Latin literature and the reinterpretations of classical mythology and drama in modern queer literature and theater. They also have an appreciation for ancient material culture; they have worked in an archaeological museum, a study collection, a ceramics preservation lab, a field school, and an excavation. Their Master’s thesis researches the queer undertones of Orpheus’ backwards glance, studying his characterization in classical sources and comparing it to queer poetry and film in modern reception. They research representations of subordinate characters: how the thoughts and actions of female and transgender characters are described by the inherent biases of their male authors.
Their research centers queer, feminist, and trans theory as a new framework to read ancient stories from new and marginalized perspectives, by providing new translations and radical dramatic productions of ancient works. They hope to help challenge the male, elitist rhetoric in classical scholarship by continuing work to diversify the depth and spectrum of gender studies in ancient literature during their graduate studies.
Visit the virtual reconstruction of the lost library of John Addington Symonds and read Cypris’ blog posts about JA Symonds and his memoirs on the John Addington Symonds Project:
