Modern Greek Studies and Public Scholarship: Intersections and Prospects

Journal of Modern Greek Studies (forthcoming, Spring 2015) 

Public involvement in U.S. Modern Greek Studies represents both a visible and an invisible practice. Although an obvious presence among non-academic publics, it is largely absent as an object of critical reflection. The ethos of civic responsibility—of giving back to the community—has defined Modern Greek, being also consistent with the founding principle of American higher education, namely to “serve the interests of the larger community” (Boyer 1990, 21-22). But this public participation rarely merits analytical attention. It is as though a wall obscures the connection between academic work and its scholarly rendering for various non-academic publics both within and beyond university campuses. Activities that are fundamentally interconnected are artificially severed. If scholars of Modern Greek have honed the skills necessary for sophisticated analyses of various boundaries, this particular boundary still awaits serious consideration. . . .