UC Spark

Dr Patrick Dominic O'Sullivan

School of Humanities; Classics

Fields of Research

  • Ancient Greek language and literature
  • Ancient aesthetics and psychological theories; Archaic and Classical Greek art
  • Archaic and Classical Greek philosophy and intellectual history
  • Greek theatre, including satyr play

Researcher Summary

Patrick O'Sullivan's research interests primarily include: Greek theatre, Archaic and Classical Greek intellectual history, aesthetics and psychological theories and the role of visual artworks in Greek literary and philosophical texts. He has published on many aspects of Archaic and Classical Greek literature and cultural history such as epic, lyric, and dramatic poetry, (incl. satyr play), rhetoric and the First Sophistic, with topics ranging from ancient aesthetics and literary criticism to athletics and atheism in antiquity, among others; he has also published on Greek and Roman art, including their reception in the Second Sophistic and beyond antiquity.  His main project is a book on Euripides' Cyclops and major fragments of satyric drama, to be published by Oxbow. In 2008 he was involved as translator and actor in a full production of Euripides' Cyclops, produced in Christchurch.

Subject Area: Disciplines

Key Methodologies

  • Study of ancient views of visual arts with comparative analysis of ancient poetic and rhetorical theories.
  • Study of satyr drama as hybrid genre or 'playful tragedy'; ambivalence of satyrs within cult of Dionysos and in Greek thought.
  • Analysis of transmission of ideas between Greek prose and poetic authors of fifth and fourth centuries BC, e.g. between Sophists and dramatists.
  • Aesthetics and literary criticism from Homer to the First Sophistic and the influence of such views on Plato and Aristotle.

Affiliations

Prizes and Awards

  • Contestable Research Funding Award (c. $2,000). (2009-2010)
  • Contestable Research Grant ($10,000) from the College of Arts, University of Canterbury. (2008)
  • Awarded a Grant from the Marsden Fund, Royal Society of New Zealand, September, 2002 for book on Satyric Drama. (2002-2005)

Research Service

  • Member of University Library Committee (2012-present)
  • Co-ordinator of MA/PhD students in Dept. of Classics. (2011-present)
  • Ph.D. thesis supervision. (2010-present)
  • Library Liaison Officer, Dept. of Classics (2008-2011)
  • Co-ordinator of BA Honours and postgraduate research seminars. (2007-present)
  • MA Thesis Supervisions (2003-present)
  • President of the Christchurch Classical Association (2003-2008)
  • B.A. Honours thesis supervisions (2000-2004) (2000-2004)

Publications


  • O'Sullivan, P.D. (2013) ‘Cyclops’. In R. Mitchell-Boyask (Ed.), The Blackwell Companion to Euripides (1st ed.): in press. Malden, MA & Oxford: Blackwell. (Chapter in Book)
  • O'Sullivan, P. (2012) Dionysos, Polyphemos, and the idea of Sicily in Euripides' Cyclops. In D. Rosenbloom and J. Davidson (Ed.), Greek Drama IV: Texts, Contexts, Performance: 169-189. Oxford: Aris & Phillips. (Chapter in Book)
  • O'Sullivan, P.D. (2012) Jean-François Pradeau (Ed.), Les Sophistes. Écrits complets. Tomes 1 & 2. Paris: Flammarion, 2009. The Classical Review 62(2): 392-394. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S0009840X12000273. Book Review. (Other)
  • O'Sullivan, P.D. (2012) Life, the universe and everything: Empedocles' philosophy of painting. Melbourne, Australia: Australasian Society for Classical Studies General Meeting and Conference (ASCS 33), 5-9 Feb 2012. (Conference Contribution - Full conference paper)
  • O'Sullivan, P.D. and Wong, A. (2012) Odysseus the Athenian: Thucydides, Antisthenes, and an Homeric hero in an intellectual age. Melbourne, Australia: Australasian Society for Classical Studies General Meeting and Conference (ASCS 33), 5-9 Feb 2012. 15pp. http://ascs.org.au/news/ascs_proceedings.html. (Conference Contribution - Paper in published proceedings)
  • Matthews, B., O'Sullivan, P., Lochhead, I. and Lovell-Smith, M. (2011) Architecture & Design. In C. Jones, B. Matthews and J. Clement (Ed.), Treasures of the University of Canterbury Library: 29-46, 229-230. Christchurch: Canterbury University Press. (Chapter in Book)
  • O'Sullivan, P. (2011) Dio Chrysostom and the Poetics of Pheidias' Zeus. In J. McWilliam, S. Puttock, T. Stevenson and R. Taraporewalla (Ed.), The Statue of Zeus at Olympia: New Approaches: 137-154. Newcastle upon Tyne: Cambridge Scholars Publishing. (Chapter in Book)
  • O'Sullivan, P.D. (2011) Friends of Dionysos: Philia in Euripides' Cyclops. University of Auckland, New Zealand: ASCS XXXII: Australasian Society for Classical Studies Conference, 23-27 Jan 2011. (Conference Contribution - Full conference paper)
  • O'Sullivan, P.D. (2011) S. Goldhill and E. Hall (edd.) Sophocles and the Greek Tragic Tradition. (Cambridge University Press: Cambridge, 2009). Classical Review 61(1): 36-9. Book Review. (Other)
  • O'Sullivan, P. (2010) Use your Illusion: 'Critias' on Religion Reconsidered. University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia: 31st Annual Conference of the Australian Society of Classical Studies (ASCS 31), 2-5 Feb 2010. (Conference Contribution - Full conference paper)
  • O'Sullivan, P. (2010) Use your Illusion: 'Critias' on Religion Reconsidered. University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia: 31st Annual Conference of the Australian Society of Classical Studies (ASCS 31), 2-5 Feb 2010. In ASCS 31 [2010] Proceedings 14pp. http://msc.uwa.edu.au/classics/ascs31/OSullivan.pdf. (Conference Contribution - Paper in published proceedings)
  • O'Sullivan, P. (2009) The Literary Powers of Zeus Olympios. University of Sydney, Australia: ASCS 30: Conference of the Australasian Society for Classical Studies, 2-6 Feb 2009. (Conference Contribution - Full conference paper)
  • O'Sullivan, P. (2008) Aeschylus, Euripides and Tragic Painting: Two Scenes from Agamemnon and Hecuba. American Journal of Philology 129(2): 173-198. (Journal Article)
  • O'Sullivan, P.D. (2008) Art as Persuasion, Magic and Deceit: Some Greek Philosophical Concepts. Melbourne, Australia: Centre for Classics and Archaeology Research Seminar, 3 Dec 2008. (Oral Presentation)
  • O'Sullivan, P. and Bond, R. (2008) Cyclops, by Euripides. Old Queen's Theatre, Christchurch, New Zealand, 29 Jan-2 Feb 2008. [Translation and Direction]. (Performance)
  • O'Sullivan, P.D. (2008) Dio Chrysostom and the Poetics of Pheidias' Zeus. Brisbane, Queensland: The Statue of Zeus at Olympia, 3-4 Jul 2008. (Conference Contribution - Full conference paper)
  • O'Sullivan, P. (2008) Drinking, Desire and the Friends of Dionysos. Melbourne, Australia: Public Lecture at the University of Melbourne, 9 Dec 2008. (Oral Presentation)
  • O'Sullivan, P.D. (2008) Euripides' Cyclops in Performance 2008. Christchurch, New Zealand: Australasian Society for Classical Studies, 29th Conference and General Meeting, 27-31 Jan 2008. (Conference Contribution - Full conference paper)
  • O'Sullivan, P.D. (2008) Herakles the Greek Hero: Nothing Succeeds Like Excess. In M. Maguire, E. Rankin and P. O'Sullivan (Ed.), The Labours of Herakles: as a New Zealand Pioneer: 57-63. Christchurch: PaperGraphica. (Chapter in Book)
  • O'Sullivan, P.D. (2008) S. Goldhill and R. Osborne (ed.), Rethinking Revolutions Through Ancient Greece. Cambridge University Press: Cambridge, 2006. Polis: Journal of the Society for Greek Political Thought 25(2): 337-343. Book Review. (Other)
  • O'Sullivan, P. (2007) Curb Your Enthousiasmos: Polyphemos, Dionysos & the Idea of Sicily in Euripides' Cyclops. Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand: Greek Drama Conference IV, 3-6 Jul 2007. (Conference Contribution - Full conference paper)
  • O'Sullivan, P. and Maitland, J. (2007) Greek and Latin Teaching in Australian and New Zealand Universities: A 2005 Survey. Antichthon 41: 109-120. (Journal Article)
  • O'Sullivan, P. (2007) Iphigeneia, Hecuba and the Art of Pity in Greek Tragedy. Sydney, Australia: Australasian Universities Language and Literature Association Conference (AULLA) 2007: Cultural Interactions in the Old and New Worlds, 5-7 Feb 2007. (Conference Contribution - Full conference paper)
  • O'Sullivan, P. (2007) Sex, Drinking and Other Religious Activity in Ancient Greece. Christchurch Art Gallery: Montana Wednesday Evening Lecture Series, 12 Dec 2007. (Oral Presentation)
  • O'Sullivan, P.D. (2006) A. Nightingale, Spectacles of Truth in Classical Greek Philosophy: Theoria in its Cultural Context. Cambridge University Press: Cambridge, 2004. Journal of Hellenic Studies 126: 212-213. Book review. (Other)
  • O'Sullivan, P.D. (2006) ASCS Language Survey. University of Tasmania, Hobart, Australia: Australasian Society for Classical Studies 27th Conference and General Meeting (ASCS 27), 30 Jan-3 Feb 2006. (Conference Contribution - Full conference paper)
  • O'Sullivan, P.D. (2006) G. Paduano, Euripide: Il Ciclope. Introduzione, traduzione e note. Milan: Biblioteca Universale Rizzoli, 2005; 133pp. Classical Review 56(2): 513. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S0009840X06002721. Book Review. (Other)
  • O'Sullivan, P.D. (2006) Geographical and Political Space: The Idea of Sicily in Euripides' Cyclops. University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia: Close Relations - The 'Spaces' of Greek and Roman Theatre, 19-23 Sep 2006. (Conference Contribution - Full conference paper)
  • O'Sullivan, P.D. and Maitland, J. (2006) Survey of Latin and Greek Teaching at University Level 2005. Australasian Society for Classical Studies. (Report for External Body)
  • O'Sullivan, P. (2005) Art, Poetry and Pindar's Olympian 7. University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand: Department of Classics, Research Seminar, 3 Jun 2005. (Oral Presentation)
  • O'Sullivan, P.D. (2005) Empedocles, Plato and a Portrait of the Artist among the Greeks. University of Western Australia, Perth: Discipline of Classics and Ancient History Research Seminar, 1 Sep 2005. (Oral Presentation)
  • O'Sullivan, P. (2005) Hit and myth: Athletes and the heroic ideal in Classical Greece. Christchurch, New Zealand: New Zealand Association of Classical Teachers Conference (NZACT), 10-12 Jul 2005. (Conference Contribution - Full conference paper)
  • O'Sullivan, P. (2005) Homer. In M. Ballif and M.G. Moran (Ed.), Classical Rhetorics and Rhetoricians: Critical Studies and Sources: 214-218. Westport, CT: Praeger Publishers/Greenwood Ebooks. (Chapter in Book)
  • O'Sullivan, P.D. (2005) Images and Emotions: The Rhetoric of Greek Art. University of Western Australia, Perth: Discipline of Classics and Ancient History Public Lecture, 31 Aug 2005. (Oral Presentation)
  • O'Sullivan, P.D. (2005) Of Sophists, Tyrants and Polyphemos: The Nature of the Beast in Euripides' Cyclops. In G.W.M. Harrison (Ed.), Satyr Drama: Tragedy at Play: 119-159. Swansea: Classical Press of Wales. (Chapter in Book)
  • O'Sullivan, P. (2005) Pindar's Highway Statues Revisited. University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand: Australasian Society for Classical Studies, 30 Jan-3 Feb 2005. (Conference Contribution - Full conference paper)
  • O'Sullivan, P.D. (2005) The Sophists. In P.A. Miller and C. Platter (Ed.), History in Dispute, Vol. 20: Classical Antiquity and Classical Studies: 172-180. Detroit: St. James Press. (Chapter in Book)
  • O'Sullivan, P. (2005) Thrasymachus. In M. Ballif and M.G. Moran (Ed.), Classical Rhetorics and Rhetoricians: Critical Studies and Sources: 368-371. Westport, CT: Praeger Publishers / Greenwood Ebooks. (Chapter in Book)
  • O'Sullivan, P. D. (2004) Review article of P. Vasunia, The Gift of the Nile: Hellenizing Egypt from Aeschylus to Alexander (University of California Press: Berkeley and Los Angeles, 2001).. Prudentia 36(1): 75-80. (Journal Article)
  • O'Sullivan, P. (2004) Review of Homer, The Odyssey. Translated by M. Hammond. The Classical Bulletin 80: 43-45. (Other)
  • O'Sullivan, P. (2004) The Good, the Bad and the Athlete: Concepts of Athletics in Ancient Greece. University of Canterbury Staff Club: PhiloLogie: Friends of the James Logie Memorial Collection, July. (Oral Presentation)
  • O'Sullivan, P.D. (2003) Polyphemos as Tyrant in the Cyclops. Xavier University, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA: Satyr Drama: Tragedy at Play. An Academic Colloquium and Production of Euripides' Cyclops, 20-21 Feb 2003. (Conference Contribution - Full conference paper)
  • O'Sullivan, P. (2003) Review of "Pictorial Narrative in Ancient Greek Art" (Author: M. Stansbury-O'Donnell. Publisher: Cambridge University Press, 1999). The European Legacy 8(1): 114-115. (Other)
  • O'Sullivan, P. (2003) Victory Statue, Victory Song: Pindar's Agonistic Poetics and Its Legacy. In D. Phillips and D. Pritchard (Ed.), Sport and Festival in the Ancient Greek World: 75-100. Swansea: Classical Press of Wales. (Chapter in Book)
  • O'Sullivan, P. (2002) Another Look at Polyphemos in Euripides. Sydney, Australia: Greek Drama III Conference, July, 2002. (Conference Contribution - Full conference paper)
  • O'Sullivan, P. (2002) Artist and Sophist in Classical Greek Thought. Edinburgh, Scotland: Joint Classical Association and Classical Association of Scotland Conference, April, 2002. (Conference Contribution - Full conference paper)
  • O'Sullivan, P. (2002) Competitive Aspects of Orality, Literacy and Visual Artworks in Classical Greece. Melbourne, Australia: The Fifth Biennial Orality and Literacy in Ancient Greece Conference: Oral Performance and its Context, July 2002. (Conference Contribution - Full conference paper)
  • O'Sullivan, P. (2002) Review of "The Fragility of Goodness. Luck and Ethics in Greek Tragedy and Philosophy (Revised Edition)" (Author: M. Nussbaum, Publisher: Cambridge University Press, 2001). Bryn Mawr Classical Review 2002.10.06 (Other)
  • O'Sullivan, P. (2001) Aspects of Art and Emotion in Archaic and Classical Greek Culture. University of Otago, NZ: Otago Classical Association, May, 2001. (Oral Presentation)
  • O'Sullivan, P.D. (2001) D. Collins, Immortal Armor. The Concept of Alkê in Archaic Greek Poetry, (Rowman and Littlefield: Maryland and Oxford, 1998). Book Review. Bryn Mawr Classical Review 01.02.02 (Other)
  • O'Sullivan, N. and O'Sullivan, P. (2001) The Arts. In J.T. Kirby (Ed.), Classical Greek Civilization in the World Eras Series, v2: 41--94. Detroit: Gale Group. (Chapter in Book)
  • Helzle, M. and O'Sullivan, P. (2001) 'The Arts'. In Kirby, J.T. (Ed.), The Roman Republic and Empire (264 BCE-476 CE) in the World Eras Series, v2: 65--139. Detroit: Gale Group. (Chapter in Book)
  • (2001) Word and Image in Pindar and Beyond. Dunedin: Research Seminar, Department of Classics, University of Otago, 04 May 2001. (Oral Presentation)
  • O'Sullivan, P.D. (2000) A. J. Bowen, Xenophon. Symposium, (Aris and Phillips: Warminster, 1998). Book Review. Prudentia 32.1: 58-62. (Other)
  • O'Sullivan, P. (2000) Agonistic Aesthetics: Poets, Victory Odes and Visual Monuments. Sydney, Australia: Olympic and the Olympics Conference, July 2000. (Conference Contribution - Full conference paper)
  • O'Sullivan, P. (2000) Satyr and Image in Aeschylus' Theoroi. Classical Quarterly 50(2): 353-366. (Journal Article)
  • O'Sullivan, P. (2000) The Greeks and Wagner. University of Canterbury Okeover House: The Wagner Society of Christchurch, November 2000. (Oral Presentation)
  • O'Sullivan, P.D. (1999) A. Stewart, Art, Desire and the Body in Ancient Greece, (Cambridge University Press: Cambridge, 1997), Bryn Mawr Classical Review: 99.10.9. Book Review. Bryn Mawr Classical Review 99.10.9. (Other)
  • O'Sullivan, P. (1999) The Virtues of Words and the Limits of Art. Auckland, New Zealand: New Zealand Assocation of Classical Teachers, Triennial Conference, July, 1999. (Conference Contribution - Full conference paper)
  • O'Sullivan, P. (1997) Empedocles' Cosmic Painters. London, England: London/Oxford/Cambridge Ancient Art History Conference/Seminar, May 1997. (Conference Contribution - Full conference paper)
  • O'Sullivan, P. (1997) Gorgias and the Psychology of Images. London, England: Classical Association Conference, April, 1997. (Conference Contribution - Full conference paper)