USC.edu

John Pollini

USC Associates Professor in Art History and Professor of Art History, History and Classics
John Pollini
Email pollini@usc.edu Office THH 355 Office Phone (213) 740-4554

Research & Practice Areas

Classical Art and Archaeology
(Greek and Roman Art and Archaeology)

Center, Institute & Lab Affiliations

  • Cotsen Institute of Archaeology, UCLA, Cotsen Fellow

Education

  • Ph.D. Ancient History and Mediterranean Archaeology, University of California at Berkeley, 1/1978
  • M.A. Ancient History and Mediterranean Archaeology, University of California at Berkeley, 1/1973
  • B.A. Classics, magna cum laude, University of Washington, 1/1968

  • Tenure Track Appointments

    • Dean of the School of Fine Arts, University of Southern California, 1993 – 1996
    • Professor, Department of Art History (Joint Professor in Department of History and Adjunct Professor in Department of Classics), University of Southern California, 1991 –
    • Chairman of the Department of Art History, University of Southern California, 1990 – 1993
    • Associate Professor, Department of Art History and Department of Classics (adjunct appointment), University of Southern California, 1987 – 1991
    • Assistant Professor, Department of Classics, Johns Hopkins University, 1980 – 1987
    • Curator, Johns Hopkins University Archaeological Museum, 1980 – 1987
    • Visiting Assistant Professor, Department of Classics, Johns Hopkins University, 1979 – 1980
    • Mellon Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Classics, Case Western Reserve University, 1978 – 1979

  • Summary Statement of Research Interests

    Professor Pollini’s research is concerned with methodologies of classical art and archaeology, ancient history, classical philology, epigraphy and numismatics. His other scholarly research interests include ancient religion, mythology, narratology, rhetoric and propaganda. Over the years Professor Pollini has excavated at the Greco-Roman site of Aphrodisias, Turkey, and the Etruscan site of Ghiaccio Forte, Italy, and participated in the underwater survey of the port of Tarquinia (Gravisca), Italy. Since 2010 he has been involved in excavations in and around Rome in connection with USC’s summer excavation course in Italy. Trained in the methodologies of classical art and archaeology, ancient history, classical philology, epigraphy, and numismatics, Professor Pollini is committed to interdisciplinary teaching and research. Professor Pollini has lectured widely both in the United States and abroad. He has published numerous articles and authored several books.

  • Book

    • Pollini, J. (2012). From Republic to Empire: Rhetoric, Religion, and Power in the Visual Culture of Ancient Rome. Norman, OK: University of Oklahoma Press.
    • Pollini, J. (2005). Terra Marique: Studies in Art History and Marine Archaeology in Honor of Anna Marguerite McCann on the Receipt of the Gold Medal of the Archaeological Institute of America. Oxford, England: Oxbow Books.
    • Pollini, J. (2003). The deNion Head: A Masterpiece of Archaic Greek Sculpture. Mainz, Germany: Philipp von Zabern.
    • Pollini, J. (2002). Gallo-Roman Bronzes and the Process of Romanization: The Cobannus Hoard.
    • Pollini, J. (1990). Roman Portraiture: Images of Character and Virtue, Fisher Gallery, University of Southern California, 1990.
    • Pollini, J. (1987). The Portraiture of Gaius and Lucius Caesar. Fordham University Press.
    • Senior Fellowship at the International Morphomata Center for Advanced Studies in the Humanities at the University of Cologne, Germany, 2017-2018
    • National Endowment for the Humanities Fellowship Recipient, awarded for the third time, 2015-2016
    • Invited Scholar in Residence at the German Archaeological Institute in Berlin, 2016/05/26-2016/07/01
    • Getty Residential Scholar Grant, Fall 2015
    • Martha Sharp Joukowsky Lectureship in Archaeology (14 lectures at various venues in U.S., Canada, and Europe), 2012-2013
    • Invited Scholar in Residence at the German Archaeological Institute in Berlin , 2011/09/07-2011/11/07
    • Guggenheim Fellowship Recipient, Guggenheim Foundation Fellowship, 2007-2008
    • American Council of Learned Societies Fellowship Recipient, awarded for second time, 2006-2007
    • Whitehead Professor at the American School of Classical Studies at Athens, 2006-2007
    • Departmental Nominee for University Associates Award for Excellence in Teaching 2002, 2002-2005
    • Mellon Foundation Award for Excellence in Mentoring, 2004-2005
    • Departmental Nominee for University Associates Award for Excellence in Teaching 1998, 1998-2001
    • Elected Life Member, German Archaeological Association, 2000
    • National Endowment for the Humanities Fellowship Recipient, awarded for second time, 1995-1996
    • American Council of Learned Societies Fellowship Recipient, , 1987-1988
    • National Endowment for the Humanities Fellowship Recipient, , 1983-1984
    • Mellon Postdoctoral Fellowship, 1978-1979
    • Fulbright Award, Fellowship to Italy, 1975-1976

  • Other Service to the University

    • Director: Visual Culture of the Ancient World (Old World, New World, Asia) (VCAW), a consortium of institutions and museums in the Los Angeles area (International Museum Institute at USC, Cotsen Institute of Archaeology, Getty Research Institute, J. Paul Getty Villa Museum, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Natural History Museum), 2010 – 2013