Earlier in the semester we asked our History professors 10 questions: ranging from which television shows they are currently watching to their childhood aspirations. In this two part blog series we will share their answers with you and help you learn more about some of the professors in our department!
So come in, sit down, our office hours are just starting! You might be surprised by what we have uncovered:
QUESTION ONE: WHAT TV SHOW(S) ARE YOU WATCHING RIGHT NOW?
Professor Cookson-Hills:"Downton Abbey, Game of Thrones, Futurama, Four in the Morning"
Principal Woolf: "Orphan Black"
Professor van Deusen: "I am a complete dinosaur and do not watch TV."
Professor Hardwick: "Lucifer; whatever happens to be on PBS"
Professor Currarino: "O.J.: Made in America"
Professor Manley: "The Americans (although I have taken a hiatus for the past month).
Professor D'Elia: "Penny Dreadful"
QUESTION TWO: WHO IS YOUR FAVOURITE HISTORICAL FIGURE TO STUDY?
Principal Woolf: "Tough to narrow down--all mine are past scholars or historians (I'm a historiographer). One I want to spend some future time studying is Catharine Macaulay, one of the earliest female historians of Britain."
Professor van Deusen: "Ursula de Jesus (she even has a Wikipedia entry now, woo hooo!)"
Professor Hardwick: "Come on. I'm a social historian. I don't study prominent public figures, just regular folks."
Professor Currarino: "Theodore Roosevelt"
Professor Manley: "The only major historical figure I have addressed in my research is Stalin, but I would hardly rate him as a favourite! The figures I have enjoyed learning about the most have been less well known individuals, people who are not without significance, perhaps, as writers, doctors, or revolutionaries, but who would probably not make the cut as “historical figures.”
Professor D'Elia: "Depends on research of the moment. I just spent 7+ years researching and writing a book on Sigismondo Malatesta, Lord of Rimini (1417-1468). He was an amazing warrior, who loved Latin and Greek literature, and cultivated learning. He had his court writers compose a Latin epic poem featuring Sigismondo as a new Achilles fighting on Italian battlefields, and a manual on the art of war in which Sigismondo is the ideal commander. Pope Pius II hated him so much that he performed a "Reverse Canonization" on him, in which the pope formally damned to Hell Sigismondo while still living. Only one in history!"
QUESTION THREE: AS A CHILD, WHAT DID YOU THINK YOU WOULD BE WHEN YOU GREW UP?
Professor Cookson-Hills: "A paleontologist. I loved dinosaurs... and probably have always been a nerd."
Principal Woolf: "A history professor (yes, really)."
Professor van Deusen: "A professional tree climber"
Professor Currarino: "Marlin Perkins (or perhaps Jim)"
Professor D'Elia: "Something in the military (grandfather was a Colonel in US Army, corps of engineers) or academia (father was History professor). I also wanted to do something involving martial arts."
QUESTION FOUR: FAVOURITE HISTORICAL FILM (ACCURATE OR OTHERWISE)?
Professor Cookson-Hills: "A tie: Life of Brian and Blazing Saddles. Do those even count?"
Principal Woolf: "Spartacus."
Professor van Deusen: "I have two: Dersu Uzala and Rashomon"
Professor Hardwick: "Madness of King George."
Professor Currarino: "All the President's Men"
Professor Manley: "October, by Sergei Eisenshtein"
Professor D'Elia: "I am not very judgemental when it comes to pop culture. I have enjoyed 300, Rome, Spartacus (first 2 seasons), Gladiator, Excalibur, The Last Kingdom and most movies of this ilk."
QUESTION FIVE: IF NOT HISTORY, IS THERE ANY OTHER SUBJECT YOU COULD SEE YOURSELF STUDYING?
Professor Cookson-Hills: "If not history, then sociology."
Principal Woolf: "Astronomy."
Professor van Deusen: "Philosophy"
Professor Hardwick: "Medicine."
Professor Currarino: "Horticulture"
Professor D'Elia: "Classics, with a focus in Latin/Greek literature. That's a cop-out since I already do this…"
Well, that's all for today's office hours, but be sure to come back next week and we can talk more about our professors: their favourite spots on campus, their caffeine interests etc.
If there's a professor you would like to learn more about or perhaps one not included in this series feel free to contact us and we will do our best to include them in future posts. The same goes for questions: if you have some ideas for interesting questions send us a message and it might be included.
Later days!