Medusa

Medusa is mostly known and referred to in her final form, i.e. as a monstrous, malevolent, destructive creature, while the causes and reasons for her monstrosity are usually glossed over. Her monstrosity was not innate, it was not part of her personality, it was neither a choice nor a decision. 

The ancient Greek myth of Medusa is a starting point of the author’s project by Karin Komljanec.

Medusa was a young lady, a priestess who served in the temple of Athena. Poseidon, god of the sea, raped her, and when Athena, goddess of warfare and wisdom, found this out, she was enraged, because he invaded the sanctity of her temple. She blamed Medusa for the rape, since she was attractive and beautiful, and punished her by turning her into a monstrous creature - a woman with snakes in her hair. After the rape, Medusa lived in a sea cave, hunting men who turned to stone if they locked gaze with her, until the great hero Perseus beheaded her. He later used her head as a murder weapon and finally gave it as a votive gift to Athena.

The production is set now, here, in our world. At the very end of Medusa‘s story. It does not glorify the role of the victim, but rather explores the historical and current causes that brought about a paradoxical shift of blame from the perpetrator to the victim. It is about sexual attraction that is biologically determined, but socially unwelcome. Biologically correct, but socially incorrect. Historically neglected, but extremely emphasised. The women of today, particularly some of those who appear on the catwalk, and those who cultivate their public image on social networks, are often made to look monstrous in their desire to be attractive.

Source: https://www.mgl.si/en/shows/meduza/<;/p>