"Reimagining Kassia" Colloquium Held

The "Kassia'yı Düşlemek / Reimagining Kassia" colloquium, which addressed the works and historical role of Kassia, the Byzantine poet, composer and hymnographer and one of the first female figures in world art history, was held at the Pera Campus, hosted by the Bahçeşehir University (BAU) Conservatory in cooperation with the Cartoon & Animation departments of the BAU Faculty of Communication and the Istanbul Women's Museum. At the event, the BAU Conservatory's music ensemble classroom, which will bear Kassia's name, was also inaugurated. The Kassia Classroom aims to inspire BAU Conservatory Music Department students as a space for production in genres from jazz to classical music.

The event brought together art lovers and researchers from many different disciplines. Acting Consul General of Greece Stavros Christodoulidis also attended the colloquium. In her presentation, Dr. Cecily Hennessy, lecturer at Christie's Education London, emphasized that Kassia took important steps for feminism and that her art has universal value, especially for Istanbul.

"Many Researchers from Türkiye and Abroad Attended the Colloquium"

The panel was moderated by Lecturer Dr. Özgecan Karadağlı of the BAU Conservatory Music Department. Many experts contributed to the hybrid colloquium, including Acting Consul General of Greece Stavros Christodoulidis, Christie's Education London lecturer Dr. Cecily Hennessy, City University of London faculty member Dr. Alexander Lingas and Istanbul Women's Museum Curator Meral Akkent. Throughout the colloquium, topics such as the artistic significance of Kassia's works and contemporary art education for women were discussed.

"Kassia Is One of the Women Who Laid the Foundations of Feminism"

In his presentation titled "Kassia and the Traditions of Byzantine Music," City University of London faculty member Dr. Alexander Lingas focused on the dissemination and use of her hymns from her own time to the present and on how they have been perceived. Lingas said, "Today, we see that her hymns have been influential in the pop world. Greek popular singer Maria Koch and American singer-songwriter Frank Turner have included arrangements similar to Kassia's hymns on their albums. All this shows you how her music has come down to the present day over more than a thousand years without being forgotten."
In her presentation titled "Kassia the Girl," Dr. Cecily Hennessy talked about Kassia's childhood and youth in Istanbul. She also explained how, as a woman, Kassia took on her art and her social role. Emphasizing that Kassia was a very strong woman, Dr. Hennessy said, "Known as a treasure of Istanbul, Kassia was born into an aristocratic family in Constantinople between 805 and 810. In the years when Kassia was born, women had almost no rights; nevertheless, Kassia had a high level of education. Kassia is one of the women who laid the foundations of feminism. In practicing her art, she always addressed women's rights and feminism. Even centuries later, Kassia's influence continues around the world."

The colloquium continued with a special animation screening prepared by the Cartoon & Animation department of the BAU Faculty of Communication about Kassia, who holds a special place in history as much for the works she produced in the 9th century as for her struggle for artistic freedom against the religious and male-dominated authorities of her time.