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Language, Poetry and a Hot Air Balloon: Ioannis Vilaras and Ioannina in the time of Ali Pasha
Watch Here: YouTube Live, Facebook Live, Twitter Broadcast
Date: THURSDAY 9 September 2021 @ 7:00pm AEST (Melbourne) | 12:00pm EEST (Athens) | 5:00am EDT (New York)
Presenter: Dr Alfred Vincent
Language of Presentation: English | No knowledge of Greek required
Entry: FREE
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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.
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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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How To Participate
The event will be simulcasted YouTube Live, Facebook Live, and Twitter Broadcast.
You don't need an account to watch the live broadcast with any of the above services.
However, if you want to participate in the Q&A at the end of the seminar you'll need an account with the equivalent service in order to post your question in the comments.
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Sponsors
We thank Geoffrey Conaghan for the kind donation that make seminars like this possible.
During the course of the year considerable expenses are incurred in staging the seminars. In order to mitigate these costs individuals or organisations are invited to donate against a lecture of their choice. You too can donate for one or more seminars and (optionally) let your name or brand be known as a patron of culture to our members, visitors and followers, as well as the broader artistic and cultural community of Melbourne. Please email: info@greekcommunity.com.au or call 03 9662 2722. We thank the following corporate sponsors:
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The Greek Community of Melbourne is registered as a charity with the Australian Charities and Non-Profits Commission ABN 14004258360.
The Greek Community of Melbourne respectfully acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the land, the Boon Wurrung and Woiwurrung (Wurundjeri) peoples of the Kulin Nation and pays respect to their Elders, past and present.
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