Tori Lee
Assistant Professor of Classics
Education
- Ph.D. Duke University
- M.A. Washington University in St. Louis
- B.A. Brown University
Areas of Expertise
- Latin poetry
- Ancient pastoral literature
- Classical reception
- Public scholarship
Background
My interest in the ancient world centers around the tradition of ancient literature and its reception in contemporary society鈥搕hat is, what and how did ancient Greeks and Romans read and write, and how does that influence what and how we read and write today? Although my research questions are rooted in Latin poetry, they range from questions of translation鈥揷an you give a new voice to the words of Catullus even if you don鈥檛 know Latin?--to obscenity鈥搘hat is taboo for us now but wasn鈥檛 for the ancient Romans, and vice versa?--to reception鈥揾ow does Dark Academia affect how we think about the ancient world?
My current book project uses an ecofeminist lens to explore violence in ancient Greek and Latin pastoral literature, looking at how women, animals, and nature are all subjugated in order to create and maintain 鈥減aradise.鈥 I am involved in a number of organizations aimed at expanding access to and community in the study of global ancient civilizations. As Assistant Editor of the Society for Classical Studies blog, and formerly for Eidolon Journal, I promote writing about the ancient world for a broad audience both within and outside of academia. As a leader of the Asian and Asian American Classical Caucus, I work to maintain a community of classicists who identify as Asian or Asian American, as well as those whose research extends beyond the Mediterranean into ancient and/or modern Asia. As Secretary of CripAntiquity, I aim to make the field more welcoming for classicists who are disabled, chronically ill, or neurodivergent.
Outside of work, I enjoy crossword puzzles, dance fitness classes, and food documentaries. I鈥檓 also an avid fan of the New York Mets and Duke basketball.