preview: theme lecture

salvete homines !

magister Cavedo adsum. I am very excited to be giving our theme lecture on colamus humanitatem this summer. In a typical, in-person summer, the theme lecture is at the end of the first full day (tonight!) and is all about setting the tone and getting things off to a good start. In virtual academy, the theme lecture is the very last activity and allows me to have the last word on our theme after you all have worked out your wonderful theme projects and taken these amazing classes with our fabulous instructors. Until then, I encourage you to think about all the different ideas colamus humanitatem could mean, in particular the verb colamus, from general to specific, from literal to abstract. Translation is interpretation and while we need not commit to any one translation of our theme we want to consider as many interpretations as possible with a clear mind and open heart. 

Another fun new activity is the afternoon reading group. Each afternoon you will rotate through the reading of a short passage with each of the instructors related to both their class and the theme. I am excited to share the text that our theme comes from with you this week!

Thank you for making this academy special! See you soon.

valete!