Medusa and Me Too

What was your first reaction on seeing "Medusa With the Head of Perseus"?

It's a powerful image, no question. Sculptor Luciano Garbati inverts one of Greek mythology's most famous stories, showing Medusa as the victor and demigod Perseus as her decapitated foe.

Those familiar with the myth of Medusa (and not just her pop culture appearances as a murderous monster) will instantly recognize the meaning. Medusa was a victim several times over, first sexually assaulted by Poseidon in a temple of Athena and then cursed by her own goddess simply for being attacked. Banished to the fringe of the world, Medusa was subsequently hunted down and killed by Perseus so he could use her head as a weapon against his enemies.

The statue was created as a symbol of feminist empowerment in the Me Too era as men are finally held to account for their longtime abuses of power.

And while misogynists have predictably come out against it, quite a few supporters of the Me Too movement have as well. Some dislike the statue's metaphor of Perseus as the target of vengeance when Poseidon was her attacker (though I would note that Perseus also broke into her home to murder her). Others think the statue is too idealized by a male artist and reinforces visual stereotypes of women in art.

I caught up with both the sculptor and the artist who led the charge to bring the statue to NYC, where it's being unveiled today across from the New York County Criminal Courthouse (site of Harvey Weinstein's trial).

Check out the interview to see how the statue's creator and supporters respond to its critics and why they remain more passionate than ever about seeing what conversations it generates once it's on display in the real world.

What's your perspective on the statue? Let me know at the email below or at @Griner on Twitter.

David Griner
Creative and Innovation Editor, Adweek
David.Griner@Adweek.com

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