Francesca Econimo (Ph.D. 2021, Scuola Normale Superiore (Pisa, Italy) Classical Studies) is a scholar of philological, linguistic, and historical Classics, whose focus is on Roman literature, in particular Flavian epic poetry. She has published numerous articles in both Italian and English. She has held postdoctoral fellowships at the Scuola Normale Superiore (Pisa) and Trinity College Dublin. Her fellowship research project is titled ‘Other’ Worlds? Islands as Female Domains in Flavian Epic. Francesca is one of our 2024-25 A&S Postdoctoral Fellows in Environmental Humanities.
What are your main research interests and what excites you most about them?
My main research area is Flavian epic poetry, particularly the works of Statius. My Arts & Science postdoctoral project explores the literary representation of islands as sites of subversion of gender and politics in the Flavian epics. What intrigues me most about this research, which was primarily inspired by my interest in the figure of Hypsipyle and the myth of the Lemnian women, is analysing how and why apparently marginal and secluded spaces associated with female figures or community of women can turn into the ideal stage for experimentation and innovation from both a social and political point of view.
What project are you working on at the JHI and why did you choose it?
As a JHI fellow, I am currently working on a case study that allows me to intertwine the main topic of my postdoctoral project with the annual theme of the JHI on Underground/Underworld: the description of the island of Lemnos as a hell on earth in two Flavian epic poems, Valerius Flaccus’ Argonautica and Statius’ Thebaid. This specific perspective, which led me to consider chthonic elements such as the agency of the Furies from the Underworld and their destructive influence on the Lemnian women, gives me the opportunity to broaden my understanding of the destabilising characterisation of Lemons as an upside-down dimension even on a cosmic scale.
How has your JHI Fellowship experience been so far?
Excellent, I would say. At the JHI I have found a vibrant and stimulating community of brilliant fellows. The Thursday seminars are a wonderful opportunity to be guided towards other disciplines and methods, which allows me to learn something new every time. Moreover, the JHI and its staff guarantee a pleasant working environment where it is possible to concentrate on research and ideas, enjoying all the comforts of the 10th floor, including an inspiring view of the skyline.
Why do you believe the humanities are important?
I have always been fascinated by the humanities in the broad sense, particularly visual arts and literature. They are important to me because, both as a subject of research and as a stimulus to creativity and expression, they challenge me to look beyond the surface and, at the same time, help me to cultivate imagination and wonder by fostering a sense of curiosity.
Can you share something you read/watched/listened to recently that you enjoyed/were inspired by?
I recently watched a series of videos of downtown Toronto between the 1970s and the 1990s. I was looking for visual material such as photos, postcards and recordings that would allow me to catch a glimpse of the city in the past to figure out what it looked like and how it changed. I was interested in the idea of seeing or imagining urban areas and architectures that are gradually becoming more familiar to me through their history and their multi-layered metamorphosis that combines absence and presence, old and new.
What is a fun fact about you?
I have a passion for greyhounds. I’d love to adopt one someday!