Monday Night "Metamorphoses" Club
As the world is on the verge of a major transformation—from lockdown to whatever comes next—we are taking a deep dive into the greatest poem about transformation in Western civilization, Ovid's Metamorphoses.
The tale of Perseus transforming Atlas into stone with the help of Medusa's severed head is just one of hundreds of myths in Ovid's masterpiece. Others include Daphne turning into a tree, Midas turning apples into gold, and all the fates that befall Narcissus, Echo, Hercules, Venus, Adonis, and more.
Written roughly the year Jesus Christ was born, by a Roman poet who was later exiled for mysterious reasons, The Metamorphoses was a direct inspiration to artists like Titian and Shakespeare.
We will read it in a relaxed, friendly environment, roughly 35 pages a week, over 18 weeks, and discuss it as we go. Each session will begin with a lecture by Christopher Frizzelle, followed by open discussion. At the end of the experience there will be a talent show, for anyone in the group who's inspired to make something.
The recommended edition for this club is Allen Mandelbaum's translation, but we will consult other translations as we go, and you may read whichever you like.
You do not need to read any of the book before our first meeting. And if you miss any sessions, no problem: A recording of each one will be sent to all ticket holders automatically.
NOTE
You may purchase a pass to the entire four-month experience (meeting each Monday in May, June, July, and August at 6 pm PST) or you may pay in installments. Find those options below.
FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
If you are unemployed or underemployed or facing financial hardship, a limited amount of sponsorship money is available to help make this possible; apply here.
RECOMMENDED EDITION
If you want to have the same translation (and page numbers) as everyone else, get this edition.
ART
Illustration by Levi Hastings