Antigone Rising: The Subversive Power of the Ancient Myths - Helen Morales Audiobook

Written by Helen Morales
Read by Gabra Zackman
Format: MP3
Bitrate: 64 Kbps
Unabridged

Publisher: Hachette Audio
Release date: April 14, 2020
Duration: 04:07:36

A witty, inspiring reckoning with the ancient Greek and Roman myths and their legacy.

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.

Library Journal,— Those who pick up classicist Morales’s book on the strength of its evocative title might find themselves both enlivened and slightly disappointed. … Three of the eight chapters center not on myths at all but on: the Greek play Lysistrata, the treatises of Hippocrates, and the gynaeconomi or “women controllers” of ancient Greece. Almost as much attention is given to how myths help establish and enforce harmful modern behavior as to the potentially subversive aspects of myths… The result is an entertaining, thoughtful read that also requires some adjustment of expectations. VERDICT Most appropriate for readers seeking a spirited, concise look at intersections of Greek and Roman myths and current social concerns.—