CLAS 816
Type: 800 level
Units: 3.00
Term: Winter 2026
Instructor: Dr. Reeves
Delivery: In-Person
Ever since humans became cognizant, they have been leaving behind signs commemorating their existence, their thoughts, and their desires. The most diachronically and geographically widespread of such records are graffiti: images, symbols, and texts drawn, painted, scratched, and abraded onto natural and manufactured surfaces that were not originally intended for such messages. The purpose of this course is to examine the graffiti produced by the ancient Greeks, Romans and neighbouring peoples from both a local and a global context. Questions to be addressed include: Who produced graffiti and why? What kinds of graffiti were produced in particular locations? What imagery is common across cultures and what is unique? What can graffiti tell us about cross-cultural interactions? How were graffiti regarded in ancient and modern times? And how should 21st century scholars approach graffiti produced by past or other cultures? This is a graduate seminar incorporating weekly readings, class discussions, reviews of scholarly sources, and a research paper and presentation. Although the focus will be on the ancient Mediterranean, topics will include general discussions of graffiti interpretation, recording, and cultural identity of relevance to all locations and time periods.