Visual Mythology Ancient and Modern: The Case of Narcissus
Channel: The Center for Hellenic Studies
Date: 2022-04-01

A participatory discussion with Harvard Classics graduate students Sarah Eisen and Nate Herter, moderated by Professor Caroline Stark of Howard University.

What does mythology express about our innermost nature? When 20th century artists of the Surrealist movement approached antiquity, they did so with this question in mind. While simultaneously rejecting the influence of prior notions of classical antiquity over contemporary European culture, artists and literary figures such as Salvador Dalí, Pablo Picasso, Andre Masson and others turned to classical mythology and, in many cases, the ancient artistic traditions in which these myths were represented, to create startling new and multi-layered visions of myth that highlighted the deep psychological truths they found within.

This workshop for high school and college students will examine the representation of classical myths in both ancient and modern contexts, with a focus on the myth of Narcissus in both Roman wall painting and  the surrealist art of Salvador Dalí. Through a participatory discussion with Harvard Classics graduate students Sarah Eisen and Nate Herter, moderated by Professor Caroline Stark of Howard University, students will learn the basics of “reading” a mythological image, will consider the function of mythological painting in Roman culture, and will discuss the influence of both classical art and later renditions of the Narcissus myth on Dalí’s own representation. Students will then have the opportunity to put their new skills and perspectives to the test in analyzing other representations of the Narcissus myth in facilitated break-out room discussions.