Dear Cinemythologists,
Tuesday, September 1, marks something of a transitional day for us. We’ll continue our exploration into how myth works, not only by way of the career of Theseus, but also that of Perseus, who is the subject of our first proper unit of screen texts.
Please do the following.
READING
- Plutarch, Life of Theseus, chapters 1–20 (pp. 13–27).
Plutarch, a Greek biographer, wrote during the height of the Roman Empire. He’s best remembered for his Parallel Lives, which pair the life of a prominent Greek figure with his (yes, his) Roman parallel or analogue. Theseus had as his parallel a Life of Romulus.
As you read the assigned selections, think about why Plutarch would write a biography of Theseus in the first place. Also, consider how the biographer handles divergent sources.
- “Perseus” in the Oxford Guide to Classical Mythology in the Arts.
The article has three parts: a general section on Perseus; a section on Perseus and Medusa; and a section on Perseus and Andromeda. Try to get a sense of what the general plot of any given Perseus myth is supposed to look like.
Each of these sections is followed by an annotated list of relevant visual and literary works. Don’t sweat the details of these lists, but do peruse them and see if you can identify any trends. What aspects of the myth seem to inspire later artists and writers?
- Ovid, Metamorphoses 4–5 on Perseus
Ovid’s version of the Perseus myth dates to the beginning of the first century CE. As is typical, he begins in the middle of things, starting with the god Bacchus, but soon making his way to Perseus’ grandfather, Acrisius. If the Oxford Guide offers a rather straightforward account of Perseus’ story, what do you make of Ovid’s less-than-straightforward version?
- (Optional) The Oxford Reference database on Plutarch, Ovid, Theseus, Perseus, or whatever else needs further context (via Scribner Library; credentials required)
Entries from the Oxford Classical Dictionary are especially useful. Oxford Reference is an excellent alternative to Wikipedia and should be part of your scholarly tool kit. And perusing it is an excellent way to stoke your intellectual curiosity.
DC
