Mapping Medea: Revolutions and Transfers 1750-1800

The ancient mother who killed her own children, Medea, attracted the attention of authors, audiences, actors, and rulers in Europe and its dominions during the late-eighteenth century. This lively collection of essays examines why Medea was so popular and what effects it had on the cultural and political landscape of the time. By bringing together eighteenth-century specialists with classical scholars' reception perspective, the volume offers rare material from archives across continental Europe and sheds light on how the century made Medea modern and how she helped to shape modern performance.

Format: Hardback
Length: 288 pages
Publication date: 25 September 2023
Publisher: Oxford University Press

The late-eighteenth century was a remarkable era for the performance of Medea across Europe, the Americas, and the Russian empire. Performances took place in various cities, including Moscow, São Paulo, London, Lisbon, Gotha, Stuttgart, and Venice. This collection of essays delves into the various reasons why Medea, the ancient mother who killed her own children, captured the attention of authors, audiences, actors, and rulers during this pivotal period from 1750 to 1800.

Medea, as a migrant and iconoclast, crosses numerous borders in the eighteenth century, including linguistic, cultural, national, temporal, spatial, aesthetic, ethical, and generic. Moreover, the fact that late-eighteenth-century playwrights, poets, composers, and choreographers all turned to one of the most problematic characters of Greco-Roman antiquity provides a unique opportunity to examine the remarkable flexibility of the reception process itself.

Medea serves as an intriguing case study, reflecting a broader context of cultural and political change within Europe and its colonies in the late-eighteenth century. By bringing together eighteenth-century specialists working across multiple languages and disciplines with the reception perspective of classical scholars, this volume offers a fresh perspective on the material, presenting much rare material from a range of archives across continental Europe for the first time.

Mapping Medea explores how the eighteenth century made Medea modern, and how Medea, in turn, helped to shape modern performance. The essays in this collection examine various aspects of Medea's reception, including her portrayal in literature, theatre, opera, and visual art. They explore the ways in which artists interpreted and reimagined her story, adapting it to their own cultural and artistic contexts.

One of the key themes that emerges from the essays is the ways in which Medea is used as a vehicle for exploring themes of power, gender, and morality. The mother who kills her own children is often seen as a symbol of maternal love and sacrifice, but she is also portrayed as a complex and ambiguous character who defies traditional gender roles. Medea's decision to use her magic powers to exact revenge on her enemies is seen as a powerful statement against the injustices of the world, and her ability to manipulate and control others is a reflection of her strength and resilience.

Another theme that is explored in the essays is the role of Medea in shaping the cultural and political landscape of the eighteenth century. The mother who crosses borders and defies societal expectations is seen as a symbol of resistance and rebellion against the oppressive forces of authority. Medea's story is often used to comment on the political and social conditions of her time, and her ability to transcend cultural boundaries allows her to speak to a wider audience.

The essays in Mapping Medea also offer insights into the ways in which Medea's story has been interpreted and adapted over time. They explore the different ways in which artists have approached her character, from the classical Greek origins of her story to the modern adaptations that reflect the changing cultural and political landscape. The collection also highlights the ways in which Medea's story has been used to explore issues of gender, power, and morality in different cultural contexts, from Europe to the Americas and beyond.

In conclusion, the late-eighteenth century was a period of remarkable creativity and innovation in the performance of Medea across Europe, the Americas, and the Russian empire. This collection of essays offers a fresh perspective on the reasons why Medea captured the attention of artists, audiences, and rulers during this pivotal period, and how she has been interpreted and adapted over time. By bringing together eighteenth-century specialists with the reception perspective of classical scholars, Mapping Medea provides a valuable contribution to our understanding of the role of performance in shaping cultural and political identity in the eighteenth century.

Weight: 590g
Dimension: 241 x 162 x 18 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780192884190