Medusa: Die schrecklich Schöne

by David A. Leeming

Medusa tötet. Wer es wagt, ihr ins Gesicht zu schauen und ihrem Blick zu begegnen, erstarrt zu Stein. Dank eines spiegelnden Schildes konnte Perseus sie schließlich besiegen, so die mythologische Überlieferung. Der Dichter Dante war der Erste, der in Medusa einen erotischen, männermordenden Vamp sah. In den folgenden Jahrhunderten bannten Maler und Bildhauer ihrerseits das schreckliche Antlitz auf Leinwand oder in Stein und gaben damit den dunklen Seiten der eigenen Existenz ein Gesicht. Die Romantiker stilisierten Medusa zur exotischen Femme fatale oder zur sinnlichen -Nymphe mit langem rotem Haar, Frauen sahen in ihr ein Opfer männlicher Gewalt. Heute ist das Medusenhaupt eines der Markenzeichen des Modehauses Versace. Der Schlangenkopf als niedliches Accessoire in luxuriösen Interieurs? David Leeming folgt der schaurigen Schönen durch die Kulturgeschichte und fragt, was der grausame Mythos über uns erzählt und wie wir uns die Medusa der Gegenwart vorstellen etwa als Darth Vader in Star Wars. Denn der Blick der Medusa fesselt bis heute.

Genres: Nonfiction, Mythology, History, Feminism, Art

144 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2013

About the author

aka David Adams Leeming

Reviews

[Phillip · Rating 4 out of 5]

Leeming takes an interesting approach to the myth of Medusa, in that he tries to write a biography of here--one which establishes the "facts" of her life, then surveys the various uses to which the Perseus-Medusa myth has been put over the centuries. The basic idea is a good structure for a reception studies text, and Leeming does a good job summing up the history of the myth.

What I have more of a problem with is the idea that he can present the "facts" of the Medusa myth, and determine which interpretations are fact-based and which aren't. Certainly there are broadly shared characteristics among the Classical versions, but I'm not necessarily convinced that this represents the "truth" of the myth and later versions of Medusa (as femme fatale, as beautiful victim of patriarchal authority, as liberatory symbol, etc.) are "untrue" uses of the myth. I mean, Leeming's own book shows how even the Greek and Roman versions of the myth made substantial changes, and how they may have drawn the Medusa figure from earlier mythic traditions, thereby making substantial changes to those earlier versions. If the Greeks changed who Medusa is for their own purposes, then the only reason to assign their version(s) canonical authority is a cultural prejudice identifying the Greeks as authoritative--there is an argument to be made that their versions are as much distortions as any of the uses of the myth that followed them.
https://youtu.be/Ah2QJ8lX-ic

[Kirsty Rowe · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really wanted to like this book, I'm a big fan of greek mythology and the Medusa story is a particular favourite of mine.

It did get off to a strong start, a solid retelling of the story with good references. However I felt as though the book became forced as I read on, it was incredibly repetitive and on the odd occasion I had to double check I was on a page I hadn't already read.

There were some good elements in there but the repetitiveness for me really put me off and it felt almost a slog to get to the end. Considering in total the book is 112 pages excluding the bibliography etc. I don't think it should have become difficult to read.

[Morena Koroliova · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall it's a good book. It goes over the common myth everyone knows about Medusa. It talks about how different philosophers, groups, etc. Have interpreted the myth.

The last chapter is the authors personal take on it. I'm just sitting here going "how the HELL did he come up with that conclusion?". Like I'm bad and disgusted by it. This review loses an entire star for that.

So read the last chapter at your own discretion since it's all his perspective. However, if you just want a basic run down of the myth and how people have reacted to it over the ages, it's a good book.

[Michael]

Short but comprehensive, Medusa's gaze remains strong.

[Becky · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great read