Seeing through the fog: Digital problems and solutions for studying ancient women

Authors

  • Alex McAuley McGill University

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5210/fm.v20i4.5467

Keywords:

Classics, Ancient Women, GIS Technologies, Ancient Gender, Digital Humanities

Abstract

In spite of the proliferation of online resources dedicated to the study of the ancient world, there is nonetheless room for the improvement and expansion of methodology and content. This paper identifies two predominant problems in the realm of digital classics: the perpetuation of traditional methods of presenting research rather than the promotion of technology-driven analysis, and the virtual invisibility of ancient women in cyberspace. Arguing that there is a gender imbalance in Web-based resources for antiquity, two solutions are proposed beginning with the addition of more material regarding ancient women to existing platforms in the interest of equalization. Using an analogous project from McGill University as inspiration, an approach that combines ancient data with GIS analysis is proposed in order to make room for technology-driven research while beginning to mitigate the invisibility of women in the ancient world and on the Web.

Author Biography

Alex McAuley, McGill University

After working as the Director of Sales for a Montreal-based Web and graphic design firm, Alex McAuley then dove into the world of academia with a Master's in classics at the University of Edinburgh, before returning to Quebec to pursue his Ph.D. in ancient history at McGill University. Apart from his principal research interest of ethnicity and pluralism in the Hellenistic world, he is the primary author and editor of the ongoing Seleucid Genealogy project (http://www.seleucid-genealogy.com), and has several published and forthcoming articles in the fields of Seleucid dynastic history, Hellenistic royal women, Greek federalism, and the reception of the ancient world in film and television series.

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Published

2015-04-03

How to Cite

McAuley, A. (2015). Seeing through the fog: Digital problems and solutions for studying ancient women. First Monday, 20(4). https://doi.org/10.5210/fm.v20i4.5467