Professor Plays: Antonios Finitsis, Professor in Religion

Fulton Bryant-Anderson
Staff Reporter

Meet Professor of Hebrew Bible and former MTV video-jockey, Antonios Finitsis. 

Finitsis teaches Second Temple Literature, Gender, Sex and Sexuality Studies and directs the Wild Hope Center for Vocation. Finitis is also the president of the P.N.W. Region American Academy of Religion and Society of Biblical Literature. 

I caught up with Finitsis and asked him what he was listening to.

What was the last song or album you listened to?
The last new album I listened to was the Eurovision 2022 double CD. Google it and plan to watch the next live event in May 2023. Just remember: nail-biting during the voting process is for beginners.

Who’s your favorite musician and/or band?
Duran Duran.

What did you listen to in college?
80s music because it was actually the 80s! So anything from marquee names like Bon Jovi to Tina Turner and from Eurythmics to Pet Shop Boys. Also, music from notorious 80s musicals like: Flashdance (1983), Footloose (1984), A Chorus, Line (1985), etc. But also songs by more lesser-known European musicians like Michael Cretu and Ricchi e Poveri.

Beatles or Beach Boys?
Unfortunately both of these music luminaries were before my time, so I never even knew there was a rivalry between them. I appreciate them both for the music they created and I definitely have beloved songs from both bands. Now, if you want to talk about a musical dilemma that divided up my generation that would be: Duran Duran versus Wham! 

Favorite concert memory?
Peter Gabriel live in Athens. I watched his show five consecutive nights. The fact that I worked on music TV at the time is what allowed me to do so because I so did not have the money to pay for those tickets. Each night he impressed me with a new aspect of his art. He really is a consummate composer-lyricist-singer-performer-showman.

Any music you’re looking forward to?
Always! Peter Gabriel is expected to release his new album 20 years later in 2022. I mean, if that is not news-worthy I do not what is. I’m also waiting to listen to Pop Trash, the album Duran Duran released a few weeks back. And of course in February 2023 we will discover the arrivals of all forty-plus entries for the annual Eurovision Song Contest. That in itself is a thrill.

What are your hobbies outside of work?
In no particular order: running (always while listening to music), comics (I find myself slowly moving away from the monthlies to collections), movies (and movie-like TV series, the new breed of season-long serialized storytelling) and of course, investigating with friends the plot holes and trivia of our favorite novels. 

Professor Plays is a monthly column written by Fulton Bryant-Anderson. Bryant-Anderson is the General Manager for PLU’s student-run radio station, Lute Air Student Radio. He also writes Fulton’s Music Room in the Mast. Visit plu.edu/lasr to learn more about Fulton and Lute Air Student Radio. 

Share your thoughts