#Go Electra

[margaretkart]

The failure of Greek myth retellings

This is a personal rant about how I, as a Greek and mythology lover, view these modern retellings and how they came out more as a disappointment.

Here are some examples of forced labelling from the book sites like Bookreads:

Do you see a pattern? Is not only they are telling the audience rather than showing how "feminist" are these retellings but also..

Man vs woman

According to the retellings all ancient Greek men are bad, sexist, misogynists, worthless, abusers and women are girlboss ✨. But it's obvious that humans regardless of gender are complex beings.

But when you read the Original epics you realise that women have as much importance in the story as men. But not in the way you are used to...

The women aren't afraid to speak their mind, they have agency, they are a driving force the admire, but it's not with shields, armor or physical strength. They are also showing it with kindness, empathy, cunning but also with anger, sorrow, vengeance.

Penelope, Electra, Antigone, Ariadne, Andromache, Helen, Cassandra etc. ARE strong women! They don't have to go to battle to prove it!

BUT that also doesn't mean we should glorify the women who are abusers and do wrong things!

Clytemnestra for example, exiled Orestes, had her daughter Electra a slave, showed proudly her Trojan women (also slaves) and killed Cassandra an innocent woman.. Do i understand how and why she acted? Yes 💯. Does this justifies her actions ? Of course no.

Medea, killed her brother and her children, and also poisoned Jason's next wife and her father because "she wanted to make him suffer like her". Do i understand why she did it? Yes. Does it justify to have everyone suffer because of one man? No.

Hera, punished several women and men alike because she couldn't do it on Zeus (because he is the king and stronger). Is cheating bad? Yes. Does it justify her to punish someone who was obviously a victim or was powerless against a god? No.

The retellings:

fail to do complex characters.

fail to let the audience come to their own conclusions who's right, wrong or neutral.

They fail to make daring characters without be labelled on a modern stereotype.

Fail to understand the norms of ancient Greece and how they shaped these stories.

Fail to realise that men and women are more complex than modern stereotypes.

I am not against retellings but do better! Making a great retelling respectful to the source and having complex characters with quality reading would be deeply appreciated.

And to the readers to not rely on retellings as "faithful resources".

[doodlzcat]

Idk what to caption this. He's eating tho x

[thhouseofblack]

neoptolemus, telemachus, peisistratus, hermione, polycaste, electra, orestes, and pylades – now that's a chaotic friend group I need a sitcom of.

[mettaglam]

is this too niche…

rip shiver’s defining features.

anyway who’s surprised that a bisexual nonbinary cunty as all hell singing train on rollerskates would be the thing to drag me out of artblock bc it’s certainly not me!! but give it up for electra starlight express!!

[feppepurin]

guys gyuys have any of you seen this if no PLEASE watch im on the verge of tears over this video

[random-moth-art]

OLC Starlight Express cheater boys <3

[nostalgic-retrosexual]

Carmen Electra PlayStation-2 party 2002

[dilfmobius]

All I ever wanted was the world.

[mysticalcats]

greasy brakes upon ye

[ghoulchurch]

theyre so drunk girls in the bathroom coded

[mango-dot-yum]

I love how in productions where Electra isn’t bald he become temporarily bald during the races to put on his helmet, only to have a fucked-up wig during One Rock ‘N’ Roll Too Many. It implies he had a wig ready in preparation just in case he crashed during the race.

[montygatorguy]

if i had a nickel for every time the first cover for a nonbinary character in one of my favorite musicals was becoming the principal actor for that character after a cast change i’d have two nickels, which isn’t a lot but it’s weird that it happened twice right?

[forbiddentaako]

What a difference a year (and incurable hazbin hotel brainrot) makes huh

[worrywarwrites]

Little known fact but my series “I sing the body electric” (home of radio nowhere) was originally supposed to be 2600 words… as of today I’ve cracked 90k. I meant for none of this

[blueberry-ink-93]

sisters <3

half baked doodls bc im soso tired but refused to pass up on my girls

letters and stuff from helen

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electra plays dead till she gets what she wants lol (very effective)

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dont be mean to her all of mycenae will hunt u down

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i imagine them to be a lot like maruko and sakiko lol (the ages probably dont work but let me be in denial in peace)

for my beloved @maruyaaya i hope ur happy im crying <3

[nostalgic-retrosexual]

Carmen Electra’s 2000s style