Carolyn M. Laferrière (Ph.D., History of Art, Yale University, 2017) is the Archaia Postdoctoral Associate for 2017-19. During her time with Archaia, she will offer an interdisciplinary graduate course, ‘Ancient Greek Festivals,’ which includes an on-site trip to Greece, funded by the Institute of Sacred Music. In 2018-19, Carolyn also plans to organize a year-long lecture series and exhibition that will explore the relationship between sensory perception and religious ritual as it was practiced throughout the ancient world.
In addition to her work with Archaia, Carolyn’s research focuses on the many ways that visual art could communicate the presence of the divine by evoking specific sensations in ancient Greek viewers. Her current book project looks specifically at music and dance, and examines the visual significance of the Greek gods depicted as musicians, to determine the effect that images of divine musical performance may have had upon the ancient viewer’s religious experience.
While earning her Ph.D., Carolyn was a visiting scholar in the Faculty of Classics at Oxford University in 2015, and a Student Associate Member at the American School of Classical Studies in 2016-17. She has also studied at Carleton University (B.A., Art History and Classics & Religion, summa cum laude, 2008) and the University of British Columbia (M.A., Classical and Near Eastern Archaeology, 2010).