Mario Telò

Mario Telò is a Professor of Ancient Greek & Roman Studies, Comparative Literature, and Rhetoric at the University of California, Berkeley, with an affiliation in the Program for Critical Theory. He serves as Chief Editor of the journal Classical Antiquity and sits on the editorial board of Representations. His work bridges antiquity and modernity through interdisciplinary lenses, focusing on psychoanalysis, queer theory, and political theory. Telò has authored monographs such as Archive Feelings: A Theory of Greek Tragedy (2020) and Resistant Form: Aristophanes and the Comedy of Crisis (2023), exploring themes like tragic aesthetics, crisis, and canonical reimagining. Recent projects include co-editing Reading Greek Tragedy with Judith Butler (2024) and organizing conferences on Jean-Luc Nancy and Classics. His research emphasizes textual form’s emancipatory potential, engaging with art, film, and architecture to deconstruct normative narratives.

Education: His academic background is not detailed here, but his prolific publications reflect advanced expertise in Classics and interdisciplinary humanities.

Research Interests: Telò’s work critically examines Greek tragedy and comedy through modern theoretical frameworks. He investigates the interplay between aesthetic form and political/social issues, leveraging psychoanalysis (Freud, Lacan) and queer theory (Judith Butler, Lee Edelman) to analyze ancient texts. His focus on 'resistant form' highlights how classical works challenge equilibrium and normativity, offering tools for contemporary critical discourse.

Grants & Collaborations: He co-organizes international conferences (e.g., on Jean-Luc Nancy) and collaborates on interdisciplinary projects like a forthcoming book on artist William Kentridge. His editorial work spans special journal issues on topics like elemental objects and queer philology.

Labs/Teams: He leads editorial initiatives and hosts academic events such as the Townsend Center book chats and Syndicate symposia, fostering dialogue between classicists and modern theorists.