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."
I thought this was going to be a scholarly classical reception volume: it's not. Instead it reads like a series of popular articles that have a link (sometimes tenuous) or spring from a classical phenomenon (not always a myth) which Morales uses as a foundation for writing about our own cultural flashpoints, principally around feminist resistance to patriarchy but which also attend to other inclusive issues around race, gender and sexuality.
The writing is frequently fierce (and rightly so) with flashes of ironic humour (the terrible danger to men of a naked collarbone!) and the whole thing is easily read in 1-2 hours. I'd say that if you're already familiar with Greek and Roman culture and classical myths then there might be a bit too much storytelling rather than analysis here, but that feels appropriate for a cross-over audience. While I was familiar with most of the connections between myths and popular culture and the myths themselves, being both a classicist and queer, it was still lovely to read an eloquent book about this subject which is very close to my heart. I would highly recommend this book to people that know little about either Greek and Roman Myth, culture, or modern feminist issues.
Age Rating 16+. Mentions of rape and violence.
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