orality

By Gregory Nagy

A question of “reception”: how could Homer ever outlive his own moments of performance?

2021.08.30 | By Gregory Nagy §0. In the cover illustration for this essay, a painter is picturing Homer at a moment of performance. Or, I could even say that we see Homer here in—not just at—a moment of performance. Homer sings, accompanying himself on his lyre. Viewing him and listening to him most attentively, in the imagination of our painter, are poets from Homer’s future “reception.” Most visible is old… Read more

By Gregory Nagy

Introductory comments marking the occasion of an international conference on orality and literacy, University of Wrocław 2019.12.04–06

2019.12.04 | By Gregory Nagy §0. It is such an honor for me that my friend Karol Zieliński has asked me to say some introductory comments marking the occasion of the splendid conference that he has so valiantly organized at the University of Wrocław. The text of what I am saying has been preserved by way of audio-and-video, that is, by way of a technological pre-recording that can be heard-and-seen… Read more

By Gregory Nagy

Orality and Literacy revisited

2017.02.03 | By Gregory Nagy I am surprised that I have never been asked the question: since Albert Lord was your mentor, and since you count yourself among those who claim to be his followers, how come you think that orality and literacy are not incompatible? Read more