How can learning about ancient Greece and Rome help us understand our modern world?

Students in Dr. Chelsea Gardner’s (History and Classics; Evans Teaching and Learning Scholar for the Faculty of Arts) “Ancient Greece and Rome in Film” class invite you to consider this question all term long at a series of free community movie nights.

Here’s how it works: Dr. Gardner assigned three students to each film, all of which depict ancient Greek and Roman society and/or stories. Every Wednesday night, the class welcomes the campus and wider Wolfville community to join them for a free movie night and discussion.

The students assigned that week’s film introduce the movie by giving some information on its Classical context, whether it’s based on historical events myth, or art. They talk about the reception history of the movie and give the audience some questions to consider as they watch the film.

Left to right: Lexi Butler, Willow Seitz, and Aydaen Markowski

Then, the lights dim, and everyone enjoys the movie together. Once the credits roll, the students return to the front of the room to lead a discussion about the film and field questions from the audience.

Dr. Gardner says that giving the students the opportunity to lead the discussion allows them to dig deep and become experts on the topics they’re learning about. “I want the students to feel empowered to lead the discussion in the way they want to see it go,” she explains.

Breaking outside the ivory tower

Every teacher needs students, even if, like Dr. Gardner’s students, they’re just teaching for an evening. So, in addition to their peers, the students are including the public in the conversation. But adding the community to the conversation does more than just fill seats.

“I feel very strongly about public history,” says Dr. Gardner. “If we’re only talking in our silos of the ivory tower then what’s the point?”

“Every day, brilliant people across campuses all over the world are sharing all this knowledge but it’s so insular,” Dr. Gardner adds. “If we can do anything to model how to bring those discussions outside of academia for our students, then we are doing something about the climate of disinformation.”

Dr. Gardner’s passion for bringing history to the people extends well beyond her classes at Acadia. Her forthcoming book, Ancient Pasts for Modern Audiences, will be Gold Open Access, which means anyone can download it immediately upon publication in March of this year.

She also hosts the Peopling the Past podcast. The fourth season, coming in spring 2025, is called Cultural Heritage and Legacies of Colonialism, which, Dr. Gardner says, is an important topic that everyone should know about.

Josh Butler (fourth year, History and Classical Studies) has also been bitten by the public history bug. He says he’s grateful for the opportunity to bring his scholarly work public in Dr. Gardner’s class. “I have always supported making history and the classics more accessible for everyone,” he says.

“The stereotypical snobbish scholar who only talks to other academics because everyone else is too stupid for him is a stereotype I really want to avoid. By introducing ancient myths to a general audience through film—a medium many people are familiar with—these conversations become approachable for everyone.”

Modern problems require ancient solutions

“In the age of misinformation,” explains Dr. Gardner, “it does no good for academics to sit in their ivory towers and tell each other how the general public is misappropriating the ancient past. It's up to us to make accurate information available to the general public in a way that is accessible, easily located, and interesting!”

“If we are met with the constant refrain that ‘those who do not know history are doomed to repeat it,’” she adds, “then what are we doing about it? How are we making ancient history available to everyone?”

Lexi Butler (fourth year, Classical Studies) says that understanding where we’re coming from can help us to navigate a path forward. “I just think it’s fascinating to explore the roots of our own culture and myth and sharing that builds community engagement and outreach for the university.”

Get the Acadia Experience with Dr. Chelsea Gardner

There are still five movies left in the series! Block off your Wednesday nights, fire up the popcorn maker, grab a friend, and join us for a series of evenings of riveting discussion. The next movie, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, will be screened on February 26.

Acadia students can keep an eye on the course schedule for upcoming classes from Dr. Gardner. In her fall 2025 class, “History Alive! Ancient Greece and Rome” students will bring history to life by engaging in two role playing games that situate them in Athens during the end of the Peloponnesian War, and Rome at the end of the Republic.