Ajax: Bridging the Gap Between 500 BCE and 2019 — Presentation Detail — Celebration of Scholars

Instructions

Student presentations must have a faculty sponsor.

Abstracts must include a title and a description of the research, scholarship, or creative work. The description should be 150-225 words in length and constructed in a format or style appropriate for the presenter’s discipline.

The following points should be addressed within the selected format or style for the abstract:

A clear statement of the problem or question you pursued, or the scholarly goal or creative theme achieved in your work.
A brief comment about the significance or uniqueness of the work.
A clear description of the methods used to achieve the purpose or goals for the work.
A statement of the conclusions, results, outcomes, or recommendations, or if the work is still in progress, the results you expect to report at the event.

Presenter photographs should be head and shoulder shots comparable to passport photos.

Additional Information

More information is available at carthage.edu/celebration-scholars/. The following are members of the Research, Scholarship, and Creativity Committee who are eager to listen to ideas and answer questions:

Jun Wang
Kim Instenes
John Kirk
Nora Nickels
Andrew Pustina
James Ripley

Ajax: Bridging the Gap Between 500 BCE and 2019

Name: Emma Swain
Major: Music Theatre; English
Hometown: Grayslake, IL
Faculty Sponsor: Martin McClendon
Other Sponsors:
Type of research: Independent research

Abstract

In fall 2019, Carthage Theatre had the exciting opportunity to present a production of Ajax, a Greek tragedy by Sophocles. This was a new translation done by Carthage alumni Lawrence Gums and Melody Abbott. In order to support the cast and creative team in this production, I took on the role of student dramaturg. In this position, I functioned as a researcher and liaison between the script and the actors and creative team. One of my primary responsibilities for this production was to create an actor packet, which provides the cast with a glossary of all the references in the script with which they might not be familiar. My other primary responsibility as the dramaturg for this production was to foster audience involvement and engagement with the play. My primary focus for these parts of the dramaturgical process was on mental health, particularly PTSD and veterans’ issues, and its stigmas in today’s society.

Poster file