(PhD OR PD) Cultural Change and Greco-Roman Reference Cultures: Valuing Antiquity in 20th- and 21st-Century Culture

The research program in classical studies ‘Anchoring Innovation’ studies the way in which people regard and cope with ‘the new’ by looking at the role of ‘the old’ or ‘the ancient’ as an anchoring device in processes of innovation, transition and transformation.

This PhD or Postdoctoral project deals with classical reception in the 20^th and 21^st century. It concentrates on the role of Greco-Roman antiquity as a reference culture in times of cultural change. Reference cultures typically provide other cultures with models, ideas or examples, and have been formed through public discourse over different generations (Van Eynatten, ‘Beyond Diversity’, 2015). How do these relatively robust cultural formations relate to the social changes and cultural diasporas that are believed to be so endemic to the modern and contemporary world? How are classical reference cultures formed and materialized? What do they mean in the light of contemporary discussions on emancipation and long-standing power mechanisms like Westernization and coloniality?

This PhD or PD project looks at the role of Greco-Roman reference cultures in modern culture, for instance in education (e.g. school books), public media (e.g. printed press), popular media (e.g. comics, videogames), literature (e.g. rewritings) or contemporary art (e.g. performance art, video art). The aim of this project is to relate questions of social change and cultural continuity to the concept of ‘anchoring’ as developed in the OIKOS research agenda.

We invite structured PhD/PD proposals (title, research question, scholarly background, aims, method, corpus) in which candidates may select a specific medium (e.g. comics), a specific theme (e.g. gender) or a specific question (e.g. the role of geopolitics in relation to classical reference cultures) to reflect upon anchoring or ‘de-anchoring’ (delinking from or revising classical anchors) as a dimension of classical reception.

More information about the Anchoring Innovation research program can be found on the website (www.anchoringinnovation.nl). Another good starting point to get acquainted with the research program is an article by Ineke Sluiter, entitled “Anchoring Innovation: a Classical Research Agenda”.

Radboud University, Nijmegen, Faculty of Arts, Radboud Institute of History and Culture (RICH).

PhD project, 4 years (1.0 FTE, 38 hrs per week), starting date to be agreed upon, with a preference for September 1, 2023. Initially the employee will receive an 18 month contract, with extension for the following 30 months on condition of a positive evaluation. The appointment must lead to the completion of a PhD thesis. Salary range from € 2.541 to € 3.247 gross per month for a fulltime appointment (pay scale for PhDs, in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities).

Radboud University offers an attractive benefits package with additional holiday (8%) and end-of-year bonuses (8.3%), training and career development. Candidates from outside the Netherlands may be eligible for a substantial tax break. Please note that if the successful candidate is not already registered as living in the Netherlands, it is required that the candidate will officially relocate to the Netherlands on the starting date of the contract at the latest.

• Completion of a PhD thesis within the contract period;
• Participation in meetings of the project research group(s);
• Presentations of intermediate research results at workshops and conferences;
• Participation in the training programme of the local Radboud Graduate School and the National Research School in Classics (OIKOS);
• Participation in staff meetings of the Radboud Cultural Studies programme and the intellectual life of the department and the institute;
• Some teaching in the second and third years of the appointment.

• An RMA, MA or MPhil degree in Classics, Media Studies, Cultural Studies, Literary Studies or (Art) History, held by time of appointment, with an MA thesis of high quality with a grade of at least 8.0 on a ten-point scale, or comparable assessment (if the degree is not yet obtained at the time of application, a statement by the applicant’s supervisor should confirm that it will be obtained by time of appointment);
• Well-developed research skills, including the ability to formulate relevant and creative research questions and hypotheses, descriptive and analytical skills, and a clear and persuasive style of writing;
• Excellent competence in the methodology of humanities research and in English, as well as a reading competence in French and German;
• Independent thinker, team player;
• Grit.

Postdoc project, 3 years (1.0 fte, 38 hrs per week), starting date to be agreed upon, with a preference for September 1, 2023. Initially the employee will receive a one-year contract, with extension for the following 2 years on condition of a positive evaluation. Salary range (depending on education and experience) of a minimum of € 3.974,- and a maximum of € 5.439,- (salary scale 11) gross per month for full-time employment, (pay scale for postdoctoral researchers, in accordance with the Collective Labor Agreement for Dutch Universities). This includes medical and pension benefits. If desired, the position may be held part-time and thereby extended in length.

Radboud University offers an attractive benefits package with additional holiday (8%) and end-of-year bonuses (8.3%), training and career development. Candidates from outside the Netherlands may be eligible for a substantial tax break. Please note that if the successful candidate is not already registered as living in the Netherlands, it is required that the candidate will officially relocate to the Netherlands on the starting date of the contract at the latest.

• Completion of a monograph or, alternatively, at least three substantial articles within the contract period;
• Contributing to the Anchoring Innovation exhibition on antiquity in the 21st century that will be hosted by Valkhof Museum in Nijmegen in 2025 (outreach activities);
• Participation in meetings of Anchoring Innovation and the project research group(s);
• Presentations of intermediate research results at workshops and conferences;
• Participation in staff meetings of the Nijmegen literary and cultural studies team and the intellectual life of the department and the institute.

• A PhD in a relevant field (e.g. Classical Studies, Cultural Studies, Media Studies, Comparative Literature, (Art) History, Archaeology), held by time of appointment;
• Demonstrable experience in Reception Studies;
• Demonstrably excellent educational skills and teaching experience (see tasks: outreach activities);
• Excellent research skills;
• A strong cooperative attitude and willingness to engage in collaborative research;
• Excellent command of English;
• Willingness to be involved in teaching and outreach-to-the-public activities.

The Anchoring Innovation program is strongly committed to diversity within its team and especially welcomes applications from members of underrepresented groups.

Enquiries about the position can be addressed to Prof. dr Maarten De Pourcq (maarten.depourcq@ru.nl). We have deliberately scheduled a long period between this announcement and the deadline for submission so that candidates have ample time to prepare their own versions of the projects outlined above. We know that the design of a good project takes time and effort. Do not hesitate to contact your prospective supervisor about this. Questions about the procedure can be directed to Dr Suzanne van de Liefvoort (anchoring@let.ru.nl).

In order to be admissible, applications must include the following information (in the same order), in one PDF file (not zipped):

• Cover letter;
• CV, including contact information of two referees;
• Transcript of records ((i.e. a certified copy of your MA and BA courses and results);
• Research proposal of 1500 words. This does not include the bibliography and (if appropriate) an appendix containing a list of sources (together max. two pages A4);
• Copy of relevant diploma or statement by master thesis supervisor confirming that the applicant will hold the required degree at the time of appointment.