Antigone Rising: The Subversive Power of the Ancient Myths - Hardcover

Morales, Helen

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1472273605 ISBN 13: 9781472273604

Publisher: Wildfire, 2020

Synopsis

A witty, inspiring reckoning with the ancient Greek and Roman myths and their legacy, from what they can illuminate about #MeToo to the radical imagery of Beyoncé.

The picture of classical antiquity most of us learned in school is framed in certain ways -- glossing over misogyny while omitting the seeds of feminist resistance. Many of today's harmful practices, like school dress codes, exploitation of the environment, and rape culture, have their roots in the ancient world.

But in Antigone Rising, classicist Helen Morales reminds us that the myths have subversive power because they are told -- and read -- in different ways. Through these stories, whether it's Antigone's courageous stand against tyranny or the indestructible Caeneus, who inspires trans and gender queer people today, Morales uncovers hidden truths about solidarity, empowerment, and catharsis.

Antigone Rising offers a fresh understanding of the stories we take for granted, showing how we can reclaim them to challenge the status quo, spark resistance, and rail against unjust regimes.

About this title

About the Author

Helen Morales holds the Argyropoulos Chair in Hellenic Studies at the University of California, Santa Barbara. She is the author of Classical Mythology: A Very Short Introduction and Pilgrimage to Dollywood: A Country Music Road Trip Through Tennessee, which inspired an honors history course about Dolly Parton at the University of Tennessee-Knoxville. Morales has been a guest on BBC Radio 4 Women's Hour, and her work has been cited in the New York Times and The New Yorker. Morales taught previously at the University of Cambridge, where she was a Fellow of Newnham College, and has been a Fellow at the Center for Hellenic Studies in DC. She is on the editorial board of Eidolon, the popular online journal dedicated to antiquity and feminism. She lives with her daughter in Santa Barbara.

From the Back Cover

A witty, inspiring reexamination of the ancient Greco-Roman myths, from what they can illuminate about rape culture and #MeToo to the radical imagery of Beyoncé


The picture of classical antiquity most of us learned in school is framed in certain ways-glossing over misogynistic violence while ignoring, or omitting, the seeds of feminist resistance within each story. But in Antigone Rising, classicist Helen Morales reminds us that myths have subversive power because they can be told-and read-in different ways. And they are due for a fresh understanding.


Whether it's Antigone's courageous stand against tyranny or Procne and Philomela punishing a powerful rapist, Morales uncovers hidden truths about solidarity, empowerment, and catharsis in familiar stories. Myths are still being used to justify harmful practices like diet culture and school dress codes, but people today, from climate activists to LGBTQ college students, can also reclaim them to challenge the status quo, spark resistance, and rail against unjust regimes.


Antigone Rising is a much-needed reckoning with the myths-the effects they've had on us, the ways they're told and retold, and how they can empower us-offering a fascinating new lens on the stories we take for granted.

Edition details

• Publisher: Wildfire
• Publication date: 2020
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1472273605
• ISBN 13: 9781472273604
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 224