Why Dante and his Divine Comedy remain relevant 700 years after his death
Redemption. Romance. Body horror. USC scholars explore these concepts and other reasons why the medieval author and his master work resonate with modern readers.
What is Sharia? Islamic law shows Muslims how to live, and can be a force for progress as well as a tool of fundamentalists
Jessica Marglin, associate professor of religion and history at USC Dornsife, provides insight into an oft-misunderstood aspect of Muslim culture.
What would the ancient Greeks think of an Olympics with no fans?
A USC professor of classics thinks they’d find it absurd: The ancient Olympics were never solely about the athletes, but about an experience shared by all who attended.
5 ways the ancient Olympics differ from the modern games
The games that begin July 23 in Tokyo will be quite different from their ancient counterparts.
USC Dornsife Mellon Mays Scholar explores queer culture and Black identity
Emmy Esquerre links “queer phobia” in today’s Black communities to political and religious systems put in place by European colonizers and missionaries in Africa and South America.
Studying psychedelic mushrooms propels first-gen student to divinity school
Graduating senior Kimberly Melgoza researches how mind-altering substances have been used in rituals across Latin America. She’ll bring her studies to Yale Divinity School this fall.
Mayor’s civic working group addresses Los Angeles memorials and monuments
USC faculty members and 40 other experts from diverse fields produce a report on the triumphant and tragic moments in L.A.’s history.
The Pilgrims’ attack on a May Day celebration was a dress rehearsal for removing Native Americans
Puritans chopping down a festive Maypole in 1629 was a harbinger of future destruction, a USC historian notes.
Exploring ‘Magic, Witchcraft and Healing’ in the classroom
USC Dornsife’s Thomas Ward of anthropology covers Vodou, witchcraft and shamanism, while focusing on “white magic” used for holistic healing.
Why Christianity put away its dancing shoes — only to find them again centuries later
The tradition of Christian dance did not happen overnight. For the first five centuries of Christianity, the church opposed dancing. But as time went on dance continued to be integrated into Christianity.
The Holocaust separated two childhood friends; USC Shoah Foundation reunited them
Betty Grebenschikoff and Ana María Wahrenberg hadn’t seen each other since their families fled Berlin. More than 80 years later, astute work by a foundation indexer brought them back together.
The pandemic echoes a history of disruption for Black families
USC experts discuss how COVID-19’s disproportionate impact on the Black community connects to a long history of upending Black families in America, from slavery to incarceration.
Looking to explore Black history online? USC Libraries has you covered
Just in time for Black History Month, you’ll find thousands of primary documents — including letters and photos — available with a few keystrokes and the click of a mouse.
USC historian uncovers the Underground Railroad that ran to Mexico
Mexico played an important role in helping escaped slaves find freedom — and in shaping the U.S. Civil War, argues USC Dornsife’s Alice Baumgartner.
This Black History Month, better understand the role of the Black family
USC experts weigh in on the Black family, which has been “reverenced, stereotyped and vilified from the days of slavery to our own time,” according to the Association for the Study of African American Life and History.
9 books that offer inspiration and comfort at the end of a challenging 2020
USC English professors reflect on the books that soothed and uplifted them during a tumultuous year.
Why the Puritans cracked down on celebrating Christmas
It wasn’t because they were joyless and humorless. USC’s Peter Mancall, who researches the Puritans, says it was about their desire to impose their will on the people of New England – natives and immigrants alike.
History professor traces Black women’s migration from the Caribbean
Joan Flores-Villalobos brings to life the women who journeyed to Panama for money, love and adventure during the construction of the famous canal.
Virtual reality project will recreate a 15th century religious experience
USC Dornsife’s Sabina Zonno and Lynn Dodd have received a National Endowment for the Humanities grant to develop an immersive world around a Renaissance-era manuscript.
USC alum looks at history of Thai Americans — beyond just food
Mark Padoongpatt’s examination of Thai immigrants landed him air time on a Hulu show hosted by Padma Lakshmi.
COVID-19 proves to be a test of faith for believers, churches and communities
While in-person worship remains risky, some congregations are reimagining their communities online. USC experts address the intersections of religion, a pandemic and a historic social movement.
The complicated legacy of the Pilgrims is finally coming to light 400 years after they landed in Plymouth
The glory heaped on the Pilgrims puzzles USC historian Peter Mancall: Native Americans had met Europeans in scores of places before 1620, the Plymouth colony attracted relatively few migrants and it lasted only 70 years.
The belief that demons have sex with humans runs deep in Christian and Jewish traditions
Accounts of demon sex go as far back as the Book of Genesis, a USC scholar of early Christianity notes.
How have people responded to pandemics throughout history?
Through their research on plagues dating back to the late 19th century, USC Dornsife historians have discovered striking parallels between the coronavirus and previous outbreaks.