Ancient Myth Made Modern

Catalog description

This course examines retellings of Greco-Roman myth that reimagine the myths in a contemporary setting: Helen of Troy as a stripper; Persephone as a climate change activist and an intern; Hades as a CEO in a pinstripe suit. Over the semester, we will put the works of ancient authors such as Homer and Ovid in conversation with modern retellings of Greco-Roman myth, including the musical Hadestown, the webcomic-turned-graphic-novel-series Lore Olympus, and the works of Anne Carson and Margaret Atwood. How does—or doesn’t—ancient myth lend itself to feminist, environmental, or political commentaries in the twenty-first century? How does the story change, depending on who is doing the telling? This is a Communication Within the Curriculum seminar, and students will develop their public speaking skills through classroom discussion and presentation-based assignments. No prior knowledge of the material is required.