ΠΡΟΒΛΗΜΑΤΙΣΜΟΣ ΘEMAΤΟΛΟΓΙΑΣ ~ ο βλάσφημος καθηγητής και ο αντιδραστικός έλληνας (ανανέωση)

Καληνωρίσματα από το +yannidakis

Ίσως να έτυχε να το διαβάσετε πριν λίγο καιρό. Πρόκειται για ένα άρθρο που δημοσιεύτηκε στο BBC ενός καθηγητή πανεπιστημίου με θέμα την ελληνική αρχαιότητα. Ο αρθρογράφος-καθηγητής προσπάθησε να ξεγυμνώσει μια σειρά από ελληνικούς μύθους επιχειρώντας να αποδείξει πως είναι ψευδείς ή υπερβολικοί. Έτσι, ασχολήθηκε με τη σειρά με τον Δούρειο Ίππο, την μη ύπαρξη του Ομήρου, το ελληνικό αλφάβητο, τον Πυθαγόρα, την φιλοσοφία των συναλλαγών, τους Σπαρτιάτες, τους Έλληνες φιλόσοφους, τα αρχαία θέατρα, τον Σωκράτη συγκεκριμένα και τέλος τον Μέγα Αλέξανδρο. Αποκαλεί τους έλληνες από μέθυσους μέχρι που αμφισβητεί κάθε συμβολή τους στην ιστορία και την κοινωνία.

Το άρθρο εξόργισε πολλούς αναγνώστες και δεν αναφέρομαι μόνο σε Έλληνες αλλά και σε ξένους. Αλήθεια όμως πόσοι αντιδράσαμε; Ο +Vassilis Anastasiadis, μόνιμος κάτοικος Λονδίνου και συντάκτης του yannidakis, αποφάσισε να διαμαρτυρηθεί και στην εφημερίδα και στον ίδιο τον συντάκτη και με την άδειά του παραθέτω τα κείμενα διαμαρτυρίας.

Προς τον ίδιο τον καθηγητή:
"Good evening Dr. D'Angour,

I hope you are well.

I carefully read your BBC article about the Greek Legends today and couldn't help but noticing the following:

1. There are no references in your article
2. There is no supporting literature to support your statements/opinions
3. There is no justification of your opinions
4. It doesn't state anywhere that these are your personal opinions

I was intrigued, to say the least, by your opinion on the touched subjects and by the way you "nullified" some of the greatest achievements and personalities of the Greek civilisation so I took the time to do some research about you and your academic credentials. I noticed that your research focus is on the Greek and Latin music and literature which, I don't think justifies the writing of this article (my humble opinion).

Please allow me to share an abstract taken from your article: "According to ancient sources, however, he was physically unprepossessing. Short and stocky, he was a hard drinker with a ruddy complexion, a rasping voice, and an impulsive temper which on one occasion led him to kill his companion Cleitus in a violent rage." - I don't think that anyone believes that the term "Great" was given to Alexander because of his height (or, for that matter, the clean tone of his voice). He was a great General and King, he led the Macedonian Army to countless victories and conquered a vast part of the, then, known world. In the eyes of his people and those of his enemies he was "Great" because of his achievements. No one cares if he was tall, handsome or had a "radio-friendly" voice. 

Would you be so kind as to share with me your references and the papers you studied that led you in those conclusions?

I apologise for contacting you directly and for the tone of my email; I mean no disrespect to you or your academic studies but I think that the tone of the article is diminishing towards the Greek civilisation and its contribution to the world.

Thank you for taking the time to read my email and I am looking forward to your reply.

Kind Regards,
Vassilis Anastasiadis"

Αντίστοιχα το κείμενο διαμαρτυρίας προς το BBC:
"I was shocked when I read the article about the Greek legends and whether they are true or not (posted today (23rd July 2014) on the BBC News website). The author has no credentials whatsoever to discuss/comment on the Greek Mythology, History or Legends as it can be clearly seen on his Oxford University profile Dr. D'Angour's research interests and his (limited) research publications are focused on the Greek and Roman music yet he composed an article commenting on the Ancient Greek Trade, Alphabet, Mathematicians, etc., areas where he has no expertise.

There are no justifications, no references, no supporting literature in the article .. nothing at all that can support the author's views.

It is frustrating to see that the BBC is publishing an article full of bias and inaccuracies without checking who the author is. I will personally complain to the author of the article but wanted to officially complain to the BBC as well. I can only perceive this as an attempt to diminish a great civilisation which has influenced the whole world and see no gain value for the respected readers of the BBC service.

Thank you for taking the time to consider my complaint.
Kind Regards,
Vassilis Anastasiadis"

Οι απαντήσεις που ήρθαν είχαν ενδιαφέρον. Αρχικά η αποκαρδιωτική απάντηση από το BBC:
"Dear Mr Anastasiadis

Thanks for your contact regarding this article.

I understand you feel the article is full if inaccuracies and bias, however, you haven’t stated what they are.

Without this information it's difficult to respond in more detail beyond advising that the article stated Dr Armand D'Angour is "associate professor of classics at the University of Oxford” and we feel he was well placed to write an article of this nature.

Thanks again for taking the time to contact us.

Kind Regards

Nicola Maguire

BBC Complaints"

Και κατόπιν η απάντηση του ίδιου του καθηγητή που θέλησε να δώσει μια πολύ διαφορετική εξήγηση, που δεν γνωρίζω κατά πόσο έπεισε το Βασίλη ή θα πείσει εσάς. Διαβάστε την:
"Dear Vassilis

I was asked to comment on Michael Gove's reference to the Trojan Horse, and then invited to submit '10 mysteries of Greek culture' for a lay audience. The BBC changed the title unfairly, and did not allow footnote references. The editor also lightened the tone to popularise the study of Greek culture.

As a philhellene and scholar of Greek I am nonetheless dismayed that anyone can read the result as negative or diminishing, especially as nothing in it has not been said before, by Greeks not least. It credits Ancient Greece with Homer's epics, the alphabet, money, theatre, conquest...etc. and asks about these amazing and fascinating accomplishments.  I think you have misread the tone and intent, as did the journal Greek Reporter who then distorted my views disgracefully, and I am sorry that is so. 

You should know that I have many Greek friends and relatives who did not react negatively at all to the original and were saddened that some people misinterpreted the aim. Some of those who did were kind enough to admit it and to withdraw and apologise for inappropriate reactions.

Since you are obviously inclined to scholarship perhaps you might read some of my academic articles or my book on Greek innovation - The Greeks and the New; you will find many scholarly references there, and I can point you to many more, such as the work of Richard Seaford to whom the article refers, and myriad articles by Greek academics and others which show that not one of the suggestions in the piece are original or even controversial among historians.

Dr Armand D'Angour

Jesus College Oxford"

Το άρθρο και οι απαντήσεις στην διάθεση σας για κάθε είδους προβληματισμό και αντίδραση από μέρους σας στα σχόλια παρακάτω. Ευχαριστώ τον Βασίλη για την κοινοποίηση του θέματος. +Yanni Spiridakis 

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σχόλια; αντιρρήσεις; ερωτήσεις;

ΠΡΟΣΘΕΣΤΕ ΤΟΝ ΠΡΟΒΛΗΜΑΤΙΣΜΟ ΣΑΣ ΠΑΝΩ ΣΤΟ ΣΗΜΕΡΙΝΟ ΘΕΜΑ