The Department of Art History extends it warmest congratulations to Tia Sager, who successfully defended her doctoral thesis on November 29, 2024. Her dissertation, titled "The Poetics and Politics of Space: A Regional Analysis of the Cretan Final Palatial and Postpalatial Built Environment," was examined by a distinguished panel comprising Prof. Eleni Hatzaki (University of Cincinnati), Dr. Quentin Letesson (Université Catholique Louvain), Emeritus Prof. Joseph Shaw, Prof. Phil Sapirstein (University of Toronto), and her supervisor, Prof. Carl Knappett.
Tia's research delves into the art and archaeology of the Bronze Age Aegean, with a particular focus on Minoan and Mycenaean architecture. Her interdisciplinary approach integrates theoretical and methodological models from art history, architecture, and urban planning to explore the social constructions of space during the Late Bronze Age. Tia's current research investigates the social functions and perceptions of the built environment in the Aegean during the Late Bronze Age period. Her innovative work involves the application of digital approaches, including 3D scanning and modeling of Cretan Bronze Age architecture.
Tia's expertise is further enriched by her extensive field experience on the island of Crete, where she has worked for over seven years as part of two excavation projects. During the 2021/2022 academic year, she was a graduate fellow at the Critical Digital Humanities Initiative (CDHI), where she contributed to a project involving 3D scanning and modeling of Cretan Bronze Age architecture.
The successful defense of Tia's doctoral thesis marks a significant milestone in her academic journey and contributes to the understanding of the intricate relationship between space, society, and architecture in the ancient Aegean world.
Congratulations to Tia on this wonderful achievement!