David Fearn

David Fearn serves as Professor of Greek and Head of Department at the University of Warwick's Faculty of Arts, where he joined in 2008 after holding Junior Research Fellowships at Corpus Christi College (Cambridge/Oxford) and Jesus College, Oxford. His academic leadership extends to University Senate membership and Faculty Board roles since 2023.

His educational background includes a BA/MA in Literae Humaniores (Double First) from Magdalen College, Oxford (1998), MSt in Greek/Latin Literature (Distinction, 1999), and DPhil in Greek Literature (2003) focusing on Bacchylides under Peter Parsons and Peter Wilson.

• Classics
• Literae Humaniores, Magdalen College, University of Oxford, 1998 (Demy; Double First)
• Greek and/or Latin Languages and Literature, Magdalen College, University of Oxford, 1999 (Distinction)
• Greek Literature, Magdalen College, University of Oxford, 2003

Fearn investigates Greek literary texts across socio-political contexts from antiquity to modern reception, with special focus on lyric poetry's poetics and aesthetics. His scholarship critically examines the stakes of historicizing ancient texts while exploring contemporary theoretical approaches. Current projects examine intersections between ancient Greek lyric and modern photography, particularly landscape representation.

His publication trajectory reveals sustained engagement with Pindar and Bacchylides, evolving toward broader theoretical frameworks in classical reception. Recent works integrate visual culture studies with philological analysis, demonstrating increasing interdisciplinary scope through collaborations with philosophy and photography communities. The 2024-2025 publications continue his exploration of contemplative dimensions in Greek poetry while incorporating material culture perspectives.

Fearn actively supervises postgraduate research across Greek literature genres, emphasizing socio-political contexts and critical-theoretical approaches. His administrative service includes University Staff Wellbeing Working Group (2024) and Academic Skills Steering Group (2025) membership.

His photography practice directly informs scholarly work, with experimental projects like Lost and Submerged (2023) exploring water-based image-making processes while investigating conceptual parallels between photographic and poetic representation of landscapes.