By Charlie Steinback
For Olga Faccani, Ancient Greek theater extends beyond classical amphitheaters, shaping how we understand human connection and conflict resolution even now. Over 2,000 years have passed since many of the Greek tragedies were written and performed, but the values of justice, democracy and human connection remain deeply relevant today, she says.
Teaching Assistant Development Program manager, Olga Faccani. She received her Ph.D. from the Department of Classics at UCSB in 2022.
Faccani, currently a Teaching Assistant Development Program manager, received her Ph.D. from the Department of Classics at UCSB in 2022. While pursuing her Ph.D., she worked in the Interdisciplinary Humanities Center (IHC) on campus as a graduate teaching fellow.
Additionally, she worked as a social media manager and TA for The Odyssey Project, a Theater Department community initiative, allowing her to explore the intersection between classics and social activism.
Prior to coming to UCSB, Faccani lived in Italy, surrounded by its rich ancient history. She saw the classics as “a way to travel back in time.” This sparked her interest in pursuing an education in classics.
She received her B.A. and M.A. equivalents from the University of Bologna before pursuing a doctorate at UCSB where she took advantage of interdisciplinary opportunities.
Through her Ph.D. work on The Odyssey Project, a theater performance that connects UCSB students with incarcerated youth, Faccani’s passion for the classics was reaffirmed. She says the experience reshaped her understanding of the field, teaching her how to approach ancient texts through the lens of marginalized voices.
“For a lot of these students, the ancient text becomes a tool to explore questions of isolation, incarceration and trauma,” Faccani said. The project gave Faccani not only a new perspective on her favorite texts, but also changed her professional path.
UCSB Classics scholar Olga Faccani giving a presentation to the Teaching Assistant Development Program.
After working on The Odyssey Project, she became a Communications Fellow for the IHC’s New Beginnings project, which helps provide safe places to park and sleep for those experiencing vehicular homelessness. She was able to continue her new passion for humanitarian work.
Foccani says New Beginnings made her more aware of social isolation, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. Projects such as the Theater of War Project, an online performance of ancient theater to foster community and connection during the global lockdown, helped alleviate some of that loneliness.
Unlike a book, which is geared to an individual reading experience, Ancient Greek theater is meant to be shared. “[The plays] were used as a way to bring people together and reflect on certain themes,” said Faccani.
Her experience has prompted her to urge students to be open to changing refining their academic focus. “Talk to your TAs, faculty, and peers—there’s a richness of opportunities that can help you transition to unexpected fields,” Faccani said.
Charlie Steinback is a third-year Economics major. He wrote this piece for a digital journalism class.