American Classical League Institute 2024

As a journey of the human heart, the import and beauty of Marcus Aurelius’ "Meditations" should not be contained within the boundaries of course curricula or annotated lists of suggested readings. It belongs to a larger, more expansive curriculum of life that is less about gathering information than about seeking illumination. Revisiting Marcus Aurelius through the words and images embedded in Ocean Vuong’s (2019) epistolary novel, "On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous", is a journey that challenges who we are, who we’ve been, and who we’re becoming. This presentation is for individuals looking to rediscover Marcus Aurelius’ work and/or for teachers searching for innovative ways to engage students with the text. At the intersection of Marcus Aurelius and Ocean Vuong (ancient and contemporary authors respectively) is an intellectual, emotional, and spiritual space wherein we and our students are challenged to explore the values and truths that most represent our authentic selves.