The James Middleton Essay Prize was awarded to third-year anthropology and ancient history and classics student Dylan Morningstar and fourth-year history student Justin David Sutton at a luncheon held in their honour on Tuesday, October 11. Faculty and staff joined the students and donor James Middleton in the Lady Eaton College Senior Common Room to celebrate Mr. Morningstar’s and Mr. Sutton’s contributions to the study of Humanities at Trent University.

Mr. Morningstar’s essay, On the Correlation of Eastern Contact and Representation in Art, was completed as a final term paper for the second-year Introduction to Greek and Roman Archaeology course. His paper explores the Greek portrayal of cultures from the East (Assyrians, Egyptians, Phoenicians, Persians) in their art in relation to the amicability of their contact with them. Mr. Middleton, who presented each student with a plaque and $600 cheque, praised Mr. Morningstar for the breadth of history examined in his project and excellent grasp of the topic.

“It’s awesome to know I am capable of writing something that not only benefits me academically, but financially as well,” Mr. Morningstar, who looks forward to a career in academia, said. “It’s very motivational and inspiring to know you can be rewarded for your hard work and recognized for the efforts you’ve put into your academic career. Many thanks to Mr. Middleton for his generous award and active role in the Humanities at Trent.”

Mr. Sutton echoed Mr. Morningstar’s appreciation for the award. “Prizes like this are important because they act as encouragement to students,” he said. “They tell us that our work matters beyond grades or credentials. That a member of the community supports such a prize is tremendous.”

“I feel very proud to have earned this prize,” he said. “Changing one’s career takes a huge leap of faith.” Mr. Sutton is completing an undergraduate degree at Trent after leaving a career as a television producer. “Winning this prize is a significant affirmation that I made the right choice and I’m on the right path.”

Mr. Sutton’s essay, Marx’s Alienated Labour Defended in the Context of Neo-Liberalism, completed for the third-year Social and Political Philosophy course, investigates the Marxist concept of alienated labour and argues that it is relevant in the context of the current economic reality in North America. “I try to show how Marx can help us understand the world as it is now,” Mr. Sutton explains, “and I make the point that his ideas should be part of the discussion. Unfortunately, Marx has become a dirty word for many. Hopefully I’ve succeeded in pointing out how unproductive it is to turn away from theorists even if their ideas make us uncomfortable.”

“Justin took a phrase from Marx, dissected it and related it to today and the real world of finance,” Mr. Middleton said, in presenting Mr. Sutton with his prize. “If Humanities are to survive, we need to illustrate that they are relevant today, as Justin has done.”

Mr. Middleton is an accountant and passionate advocate of the Humanities as a key component of the human experience. “It’s important to intellectually stimulate our students through the humanities and the study of subjects like history and philosophy,” Mr. Middleton said during the luncheon. “The Humanities often faces a demoralizing lack of support in popular media, and it is my goal to come to Trent each year to demonstrate my support for this area of study.”

The winning essays can be viewed at: http://www.trentu.ca/deanundergraduate/prizes.php

Established in 2004, the James Middleton Essay Prize encourages students in the study of the Humanities as the foundation for liberal arts and professional studies. Two prizes are awarded annually for outstanding essays completed in second or third year by students pursuing Ancient History & Classics, History, Philosophy or English Literature Honours degrees.

Posted on Friday, October 14, 2011.