Mary Brown [mary.brown@sju.edu; 610.212.6908]
February 2, 2017
In the weeks leading up to the one-year anniversary of the January 10th death of David Bowie, Robert Drake and others of WXPN radio characterized Bowie’s artistry and music as “cross-dimensional.”
The events, highlights, and interviews of Philadelphia Loves Bowie Week, January 6th-14th, illustrated the various ways in which Bowie crossed dimensions through his dynamism, creativity, and innovation.
As a longtime fan-from-afar of Bowie, I am prompted to apply the concept of cross-dimensionality to my passion for Classical Latin, its richness, and its access to the phenomenal accomplishments of the ancient Romans.
This epiphany comes as the 78th annual arts and literary contests sponsored by the Philadelphia Classical Society get underway this month.
It should come as no surprise to readers that nearly every secondary school in the Main Line has a thriving Latin program, with many students engaging in the PCS Latin Week contests.
Traditionally, the study of Latin has been ancillary to building an excellent foundation in English language vocabulary acquisition, grammar understanding, and creative composition.
In addition, the Philadelphia Classical Society arts and literary contests, combined with a rigorous competitive exam, offer cross-dimensionality comparable to Bowie’s lifetime output.
Currently, Latin students from Friends Central to Radnor High School are developing original projects in sketches, paintings, mosaics, costumes, jewelry, military costumes, architectural models, artifacts, and storyboards – all illustrating ancient Latin, and Greek, themes and connections to ancient Mediterranean cultures.
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