Dr. James Oakley

Biography

James Oakley is a Teaching and Research Fellow specializing in Classical Languages and Literature at the University of Edinburgh. He completed his undergraduate degree in Classics and Egyptology at the University of Oxford, where he continued his studies with an MSt and a DPhil, finishing his doctorate in 2022. His dissertation focused on the literary trope of war through the lens of Greek and Egyptian literatures, examining how these narratives reflect the conquests of foreign powers. Oakley has taught a variety of subjects, including Greek and Latin language, Greek tragedy, and Roman epic literature at institutions like Oxford and Durham. His research interests span the Greek, Roman, and Egyptian worlds, with a particular focus on the literatures of the Roman Empire and Egypt's New Kingdom during the Hellenistic/Ptolemaic Period. He is currently exploring military narratives and cultural trauma through comparative studies that utilize phenomenology, as well as the portrayal of whiteness and colorism in Greek and Roman poetry. Oakley has published various works on these topics and continues to engage in active research while teaching.

Research Interests

Experience