Media appearances
I regularly contribute to public conversations on mythology, antiquity, and their role in contemporary culture. My media appearances often explore how ancient stories and ideas function in debates on politics, identity, technology, popular culture, and storytelling today.
For interviews, podcasts, or other media enquiries, please get in touch.
Radio
In this NPO Radio 1 conversation with Roos Abelman, I discuss the meaning of ‘epic’ today. How do story structure patterns from ancient literature live on in modern cinema? And is the recent boom in fantasy franchising really so new, or can we recognize continuities between the worlds of ancient mythology and Star Wars?
Jort Kelder and I discuss how classical antiquity is appropriated in (extreme) right politics and culture, from the manosphere’s obsession with ancient Stoicism to Trump’s claim on classical architecture.
In this episode of OVT, I join Christianne Alvarado to review The Return, a recent film adaptation of Homer’s Odyssey. We explore how the film reimagines the homecoming of Odysseus, why this ancient story resonates with modern audiences, and how epic traditions are adapted and transformed in contemporary cinema.
With Jurgen van den Berg I discuss Epic The Musical, a musical adaptation of the Odyssey that is highly popular on social media. What do these new media do with the ancient epic? How does it revive the Homeric story world in the imaginations of children today? And is it a good adaptation?
Podcasts
In this podcast episode, I discuss my research on epic and fantastical worlds from antiquity to the present. In conversation with Timo Epping I explore how ancient mythological and literary worlds can be compared to modern fantasy franchises such as Star Wars and Marvel, and why these imagined worlds resonate today. The conversation moves from Homeric epic and classical mythology to contemporary transmedia storytelling, worldbuilding, and popular culture.
In this episode of the Jortcast, I join Jort Kelder and Jan Rotmans to discuss how modern ideas about leadership are formed around receptions of classical antiquity. From Roman emperors and modern strongmen to the enduring influence of the hero’s journey, we explore the ancient roots of contemporary leadership ideals and the ways in which historical examples of female leadership are often overlooked or distorted in both popular culture and public discourse.
In this podcast episode, I join historian Rachel Gillett to discuss Epic: The Musical, the viral reimagining of Homer’s Odyssey that grew from a student project into a global online phenomenon. Together, we explore why ancient epic continues to resonate in the age of TikTok, how modern audiences reinterpret figures such as Odysseus, and what this reveals about storytelling, fandom, and the continuing cultural power of classical myth.
Interview
In this interview with NRC, I discuss the central argument of my PhD research, The Epic Strikes Back: that the ancient epic tradition did not disappear, but lives on in modern fantasy and science-fiction franchises such as Star Wars, Harry Potter, and the Marvel universe. We explore how epic storytelling has evolved from Homer and Vergil to contemporary blockbuster culture, why fantasy has become the dominant form of modern epic, and how these stories reflect the values, anxieties, and political debates of their own time.
Interested in an interview or media appearance?
Available for talks, interviews, and collaborations.
Contact
Location
Utrecht
k.vacano@uu.nl