Get a 1-hour sampling of the power of a Notre Dame liberal arts education with the College of Arts & Letters' Crash Course series on home football Fridays! Each event features an A&L professor leading a class session pulled directly from some of the most popular and riveting courses on campus.
Long before Matt Damon strung his bow, the ancient trickster hero Odysseus had captivated audiences with clever schemes and a grueling journey home. Christopher Nolan’s blockbuster film has sparked a massive cultural moment for Homer’s The Odyssey. But why does a story born nearly 3,000 years ago still command our attention? The truth is, the modern superhero era didn't start in American comic books — it began in ancient Greece around 800 BCE.
In this engaging session, attendees will trace the ancient origins of the superhero archetype, discover what Odysseus has in common with Iron Man, and compare Homer’s cunning king with Nolan's adaptation on the IMAX canvas.