About
David W. Fearn is Professor of Greek and Head of Department at the University of Warwick, Faculty of Arts. He joined the Warwick department in 2008 after holding Junior Research Fellowships at Corpus Christi College, Cambridge (2003-5), Corpus Christi College, Oxford (2005-7), and Jesus College/Faculty of Classics, Oxford (2007-). His academic career spans over two decades with a focus on Greek literary texts across various socio-political and cultural contexts from archaic and classical Greece through to modern spaces of reception.
His educational background includes:
- BA/MA, Literae Humaniores, Magdalen College, University of Oxford, 1998 (Demy; Double First)
- MSt, Greek and/or Latin Languages and Literature, Magdalen College, University of Oxford, 1999 (Distinction)
- DPhil, Greek Literature, Magdalen College, University of Oxford, 2003
- PCAPP, University of Warwick, 2011
Professor Fearn's research centers on the poetics, aesthetics, and socio-political contextualizability of archaic and classical Greek literature, with particular emphasis on lyric poetry. He investigates the relationship between Greek literature and its original contexts of production and reception, while also exploring contemporary critical-theoretical approaches to literature. His work often engages with Pindar's poetry as a key touchstone. Beyond classical studies, he has developed a significant interest in the history, theory, and practice of photography, which he increasingly integrates with his scholarship on ancient lyric poetry, creating innovative connections between ancient texts and contemporary visual culture.
His publications demonstrate a consistent focus on Greek lyric poetry, particularly the works of Pindar and Bacchylides, while expanding into broader questions of classical reception, the relationship between text and visual culture, and the application of contemporary theoretical frameworks to ancient literature. His work shows an evolving trajectory from close philological studies toward more interdisciplinary approaches that bridge classical scholarship with philosophy, visual studies, and critical theory.
Professor Fearn is an active member of several academic communities:
- Member of the Society for the Promotion of Hellenic Studies
- Committee member of Warwick's Centre for Research in Philosophy, Literature, and the Arts
- Member of Warwick's Environmental Humanities Network
- Associate member of Warwick's Centre for Research in Post-Kantian European Philosophy
He serves as a referee for numerous prestigious journals and reviews academic books for major publishers. Professor Fearn is deeply committed to teaching and supervision, offering undergraduate modules on Greek texts and lyric poetry, and supervising postgraduate students in Ancient Literature and Thought. He also maintains an active photography practice, with his work available through his portfolio website, which increasingly intersects with his academic interests.
