Professor documents contributions of Greece
October 14, 2004
George Kourvetaris, NIU professor of sociology and social thought, will present ”Origin of Freedom in Ancient Greece,” the second part of his Paideia Project, on Sunday.
The new video, which was written and produced by Kourvetaris with $14,000 in donations, compares freedom in ancient Greece to freedom today in America. The video is about 45 minutes long and makes a parallel between ancient Greek freedom from the Persians to American freedom and the war in Iraq.
The Paideia Project is a non-profit organization founded in 2002 by Kourvetaris that produces videos and DVDs on the “assimilation of various aspects of Greek culture.” “Paideia” is a Greek word meaning “learning and education,” Kourvetaris said.
The videos, used for educational purposes, highlight the major contributions of classical Greece – especially Athens in the fourth and fifth centuries B.C. – to the Western world, known as the ”Golden Age of Pericles,” Kourvetaris said.
“In the Paideia videos, Kourvetaris is trying to illustrate the contributions of ancient Greek thought and values to modern society, particularly in such areas of influence as our democratic principles, our concepts of war and peace and our family/gender relations,” said Kay Forest, associate professor and chair of the sociology department.
Kourvetaris, who is originally from Greece, said the video is important for the public to view because it shows the relationship between the past and the present. Many Greek concepts – art, culture and literature – are still used today, he said.
The first video of the Paideia Project, ”The Structure of the Athenian Polis and the Birth of the First Democracy in the West,” was presented in 2003.
Junior sociology major Manal Abdel-Motaleb said she watched the first Paideia Project video about a month ago in Kourvetaris’ sociology class.
“The video contained a lot of knowledge about Greek civilization and how it affected countries all over the world,” Abdel-Motaleb said.
Abdel-Motaleb will be attending the presentation of the video and said it will be a good experience for students.
Kourvetaris said he plans to make an additional 15 videos for the Paideia Project.
The Paideia Project’s “Orgin of Freedom in Ancient Greece”
When: 5 to 8 p.m. Sunday
Where: The Wellington of Arlington Banquets, 2121 S. Arlington Heights Road, Arlington Heights
Cost: $50 per person, $30 for students
For more information, or to purchase tickets, contact Professor George Kourvetaris at 758-4088. To make a donation to the Paideia Projects NFP, Inc., send checks payable to: Paideia Projects, 109 Andresen Court, DeKalb, IL, 60115.
Source: Sociology and social thought professor George Kourvetaris
Topics and themes of the Paideia Video Project to be produced in the next several years
– The American Founding Fathers and Ancient Greece
– Music and Poetry in Ancient Greece
– The Philosophical Thought of Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle (at least two videos)
– Athletics, Games and Celebrations
– Theater and Drama
– Mythology, Gods and Heroes
– Art, Architecture and Sculpture
– Life, Work and Leisure in Ancient Greece
– On Medicine in Ancient Greece
– Geometry and Mathematics
– Martial Arts, War and Conflict
– On Women and the Family in Ancient Greece
– Greek Etymology into the English and Other Indo-European Languages
Source: Sociology and social thought professor George Kourvetaris