University of Sydney's Vrasidas Karalis Honored by Humanities Academy

The Australian Academy of the Humanities has announced the induction of 41 new Fellows, honoring individuals who have made significant and lasting contributions to their respective fields, as well as to our understanding of societies and cultures.

Among these esteemed individuals is Professor Vrasidas Karalis from the University of Sydney and Saint Andrew’s Theological College of the Holy Archdiocese of Australia. Professor Karalis, who is also an Archon of the Great Church of Christ and part of the “Order of Christ the Saviour,” was personally tonsured by His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew during a recent visit to Australia.

Induction into the Academy represents the pinnacle of recognition in the humanities in Australia. Professor Karalis was selected for his status as a "leading international scholar of Greek cinema." According to the Academy, his work in data collection, analysis, and interpretation has provided groundbreaking insights into the significance of Greek cinema within the broader context of European film history.

Professor Stephen Garton, President of the Academy, highlighted the essential role of humanities, stating, "Each of our Fellows is addressing national and international challenges, demonstrating the critical nature of ethical, historical, cultural, and creative knowledge for informed decision-making in building a resilient society."

Garton further remarked on the complex challenges Australia faces, asserting that the humanities are vital for comprehending the interplay of individual lives within broader societal, cultural, and scientific frameworks. He stressed that resolving contemporary issues necessitates a deep appreciation of these insights.

The Australian Academy of the Humanities is one of the five Learned Academies in Australia, independent bodies dedicated to fostering excellence and providing expert advice at public, institutional, and governmental levels.

About Professor Vrasidas Karalis:

Born in Krestena, Ilia prefecture, in 1960, Professor Vrasidas Karalis grew up in Piraeus and graduated from the University of Athens in 1983. He has been teaching at the University of Sydney since 1990, where he occupies the Sir Nicholas Laurantos Chair in Modern Greek and Byzantine Studies.

Professor Karalis serves as the editor of the Journal of Modern Greek Studies for Australia and New Zealand. He has translated numerous works of Byzantine historiography and extensively studied authors such as Zisimos Lorentzatos, Nikos Kazantzakis, and Dionysios Solomos, as well as translated works by Patrick White, an Australian Nobel laureate, into Greek.

In English, his published works include "Realism in Greek Cinema" (2017), "The Cinematic Language of Theo Angelopoulos" (2022), and "Theo Angelopoulos: Filmmaker and Philosopher" (2023). He has also edited volumes on philosophical figures like Martin Heidegger, Hannah Arendt, and Cornelius Castoriadis.

His renowned book, "A History of Greek Cinema" (2012), was released in Greek in 2023, translated by Achilleas Dellis, under the title «Μια ιστορία του Ελληνικού Κινηματογράφου» (A History of Greek Cinema).