Unpacking Odysseus
With Christopher Nolan’s new film adaptation of The Odyssey arriving at theaters on July 17, educators Harry Campion and John Monaghan embark on their own epic journey to put the history, the original story, and the film in context.
Campion and Monaghan taught Homer’s epic poem for nearly 20 years in the rigorous Advanced Placement English Literature course at Grosse Pointe South High School.
Unpacking Odysseus will run very much like their classes, relying heavily on Campion’s knowledge of Greek art and Mythology, while Monaghan, a film historian and former Detroit Free Press film critic, will lead a discussion on the work of director Nolan (The Dark Knight, Dunkirk, Oppenheimer) and how this story aligns with his previous films.
“Campion and Monaghan taught The Odyssey in a way that was engaging, accessible, and one of the most memorable units of my entire high school career.”
Claire Zimmeth - former student
“…having not just one but TWO teachers who were committed to making the information digestible and entertaining changed everything for me. Their understanding of how to interpret the language was so enthusiastic it was impossible not to get sucked into it …”
Anna Sophia Abundis, former student