From Carl Smith:
MEDUSA: THE TRANSFORMATION
Join us for this Halloween ONE NIGHT ONLY immersive audio-visual
experience exploring shadow, transformation and creative power through
a retelling of Medusa with Union Chapel's artist-in-residence Boe
Huntress.
MEDUSA: THE TRANSFORMATION features live music, performance,
projection mapping, visuals, soundscaping and ritual.
In Greek mythology Medusa is a beautiful maiden cursed by Athena for
being raped by Poseidon. Her punishment is profound ugliness; a
writhing nest of snakes replacing her golden locks. Medusa’s ugliness
is so horrifying that her gaze petrifies mortals on the spot. Her head
becomes a prize in a quest of honour and is eventually severed by the
hero Perseus.
However, this is only one version of the story. There is a much older,
hidden story rooted in African and Mesopotamian traditions, which
suggests that Medusa was a Libyan goddess, adopted by the Greeks when
they colonised Libya in 600BCE. The story we know reflects the
colonisation of history itself, as well as advancing a more
patriarchal narrative of jealous competition between disempowered
women.
The older myth has completely different implications. Snakes, for
example, were keepers of wisdom, with the inherent power to regenerate
through shedding their skins. Christianity made the serpent evil,
tempting Eve and initiating the fall of humanity, whereas, in earlier
traditions, snakes were powerful and positive omens. Similarly, it's
suggested that for the ancient people of Libya, rocks and stone were
understood to be divine, and were worshipped. Turning someone into
stone has an entirely different meaning in this context.
Medusa is a primal archetypal story, which, like all great myths, can
be enjoyed and understood on many levels. The story looks at what we
learn when we confront our worst fears and accept the darkest aspects
of ourselves.
This Halloween - the time in the pagan calendar when the veil between
the worlds is thin - we are inviting you on a journey to meet the true
Medusa, in a way that is experienced rather than explained.
Created by:
Boe Huntress - Writer, Producer and Musician
Adah Parris - Co-producer
Sarah Janes - Consultant and Ritual Keeper
Phoebe Cottam - Filmmaker
Carl H Smith - Soundscape and Visual Design
Mark Rangolio - Projection Mapping and Visual Design
Kimetica Studios - Animation and design
Tickets available here:
https://www.unionchapel.org.uk/event/31-10-18-medusa-the-transformation/?fbclid=IwAR3JL7qd8DIx8JayGNWXzTdpUAaaF04nYaIVSLeXQt5uIYWz-kIhGZ65DjY
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