July 27, 2026
Subscribe now for the full episode.
Joel Christensen, professor of classics at the CUNY Graduate Center, joins Danny and Derek for a discussion about Christopher Nolan’s adaptation of The Odyssey. They talk about the scholarly debate over Homer as an idea rather than an individual; the mythic Trojan War; guilt and moral responsibility in Homer's Odysseus vs. Nolan's; the roles of Penelope, Telemachus, and Agamemnon; the film's monsters, casting choices, and depictions of the gods; and how Nolan's ending departs from that of the original.
Be sure to check out Joel’s book Why Odysseus? Survivor, Scoundrel, Anti-Hero.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
starting at $5/MONTH
Subscribe now for an ad-free experience and much more content.
Bonus Episodes
Full Archive
Community