Byron MacDougall teaches courses on ancient and medieval literatures—especially Ancient and Byzantine Greek literature—and their modern reception. Before coming to RISD, he taught at Brown University, the University of California Davis and Salve Regina University, and he has held research fellowships at Dumbarton Oaks, the University of Vienna and Princeton University. His research focuses on Greek literary, philosophical and religious culture of Late Antiquity and Byzantium. In addition to his first book, Philosophy at the Festival: The Festal Orations of Gregory of Nazianzus and the Classical Tradition (Brill 2022), his work has also been featured in academic journals including Greek, Roman, and Byzantine Studies, American Journal of Philology, Dumbarton Oaks Papers, The Medieval Review, Harvard Studies in Classical Philology, Byzantinische Zeitschrift, Journal of Early Christianity, Journal of Late Antiquity, Jahrbuch der Österreichischen Byzantinistik and Byzantine and Modern Greek Studies.
Academic areas of interest
ancient, late antique, and medieval literature and book culture, Byzantine Studies, ancient and medieval philosophy, reception studies (especially the reception of ancient philosophy, rhetoric and the Ancient Greek Novel), Early Christianity
Courses
Fall 2023 Courses
LAS E101-03 - FIRST-YEAR LITERATURE SEMINAR
LevelUndergraduate
UnitLiterary Arts and Studies
Subject Literary Arts and Studies
Period Fall 2023
Credits 3
FormatSeminar
Mode In-Person
Start date
End date
LAS E101-03
FIRST-YEAR LITERATURE SEMINAR
LevelUndergraduate
UnitLiterary Arts and Studies
Subject Literary Arts and Studies
PeriodFall 2023
Credits3
FormatSeminar
ModeIn-Person
Start and End2023-09-06 to 2023-12-13
Times: MTH | 8:00 AM - 9:30 AMInstructor(s): Byron MacDougallLocation(s): Washington Place, Room 310Enrolled / Capacity: 15Status: Closed
SECTION DESCRIPTION
An introduction to literary study that helps students develop the skills necessary for college-level reading, writing, research and critical thinking. Through exposure to a variety of literary forms and genres, historical periods and critical approaches, students are taught how to read closely, argue effectively and develop a strong writing voice. The course is reading and writing intensive and organized around weekly assignments. There are no waivers for LAS-E101 except for transfer students who have taken an equivalent college course.
First-year Students are pre-registered for this course by the department.
Sophomore, Junior, Senior or Transfer Students register into the designated section(s).
Major Requirement | BFA
LAS E101-04 - FIRST-YEAR LITERATURE SEMINAR
LevelUndergraduate
UnitLiterary Arts and Studies
Subject Literary Arts and Studies
Period Fall 2023
Credits 3
FormatSeminar
Mode In-Person
Start date
End date
LAS E101-04
FIRST-YEAR LITERATURE SEMINAR
LevelUndergraduate
UnitLiterary Arts and Studies
Subject Literary Arts and Studies
PeriodFall 2023
Credits3
FormatSeminar
ModeIn-Person
Start and End2023-09-06 to 2023-12-13
Times: MTH | 9:40 AM - 11:10 AMInstructor(s): Byron MacDougallLocation(s): Washington Place, Room 310Enrolled / Capacity: 15Status: Closed
SECTION DESCRIPTION
An introduction to literary study that helps students develop the skills necessary for college-level reading, writing, research and critical thinking. Through exposure to a variety of literary forms and genres, historical periods and critical approaches, students are taught how to read closely, argue effectively and develop a strong writing voice. The course is reading and writing intensive and organized around weekly assignments. There are no waivers for LAS-E101 except for transfer students who have taken an equivalent college course.
First-year Students are pre-registered for this course by the department.
Sophomore, Junior, Senior or Transfer Students register into the designated section(s).
