Classical Reception is the process by which, “individuals and societies continually reappropriate and redefine classical antiquity in an effort to assert (or, at times, to challenge) continuity with a privileged past,” (Broder 505). It encourages classicists to examine the impacts ancient texts have made on those who have interacted with them and reveals the values they prioritize. My research as a Dean’s Scholar uses methods of classical reception to explore the ways modern versions of the myths of Medusa and Persephone re-think the role of misogyny within their stories. It uses textual analysis to explore the original representations of the myths in ancient sources such as Ovid’s Metamorphoses 8 C.E., Apollodorus’ Library c. 180-120 B.C.E., and the Homeric Hymn to Demeter c. 800-701 B.C.E., focusing on the ways men remove choices from Medusa and Persephone. This provides a basis for comparison with modern materials including Luciano Garbati’s sculpture Medusa with the Head of Perseus and Crypsis by The Know Theater, which present versions of the characters who are prepared to fight for themselves. Garbati’s statue reverses the outcome of Medusa’s ancient story, presenting her as a victorious opponent instead of a prize to be won. The Know Theater emphasizes Persephone’s resistance to her forced marriage to Hades, framing their story around her escape from the underworld. By identifying the ways modern interpretations of Medusa and Persephone claim agency over the situations that oppress them in ancient myths, their ability to defy misogynistic structures within those myths is emphasized. In this way Classical Reception displays the continued power of myth, highlighting the elements of ancient stories that resonate with modern audiences while leaving open the possibility of endless reinterpretation.
Presenter(s): Eleanor Miller, Classical Humanities and History Major
Advisor(s): Denise McCoskey, Department of French, Italian, and Classical Studies
You must be logged in to post a comment.