Al Duncan

Al Duncan is an Associate Professor in the Department of Classics at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC-CH). He holds a PhD in Classics and Humanities from Stanford University (2012) and a BA from the University of Michigan (2006). His research focuses on ancient Greek and Roman theater, emphasizing aesthetics, materiality, and performance. He is the author of the forthcoming book Ugly Productions: An Aesthetics of Greek Drama, which explores the role of ugliness in defining theatrical genres.

His research interests include cognitive approaches to drama, reception studies (especially in South Africa), and connections between performance and pedagogy. He has directed performances of classical plays and serves as Director of Undergraduate Studies for UNC’s Classics Department. Notable awards include the Schwab Academic Excellence Award (2017) and the Junior Faculty Research Grant (2016).

Teaching spans classical Greek literature and courses on ancient Mediterranean culture, such as The Age of Pericles and Athletics in the Greek and Roman World. He has advised graduate students on topics like tragic trauma, tyranny in drama, and Apollonius’ Argonautica. His work bridges academic scholarship with public engagement, including lectures on Euripides and Socrates.