What do Lore by Alexandra Bracken, Circe by Madeline Miller and the Whatever After Series by Sarah Mlynowski have in common? They are all great examples of feminist literature that question previous well-known patriarchal stories. Lore and Circe question traditional Greek mythology and the lovely Whatever After series explain various fairytale storylines and questions there outcomes. All follow strong female leads who follow their inner strength to do what is right. I enjoy a good story about empowering women deconstructing capitalist and patriarchal social constructs. I think it is important to add fantasy breaks into the nonfiction that I enjoy to read. The fictional characters lend an empathic perspective to the concepts I am learning, allowing me to have a broader lens of understanding.
Little mountain cup, completed 2020. I pulled this little green tea cup out my last kiln firing, I love the way the colours are playing and hope to emulate it in my next firing coming up this April. A good Greek story is always welcome while I work away in the studio.
I have always been attracted to Greek mythology and I found Lore reminded me of the other Greek mythology book I recently finished- Circe by Madeline Miller. Greek mythology can be complicated and long, and Lore and Circe both follow suit. At times I had a hard time following the storylines and dealt with the stories at surface level. In Lore, I enjoyed the ode to some of my favourite characters reimaged in contemporary New York. It is an interesting twist, adding an ‘what have our favourite Gods been up to?’ / Hunger Games theme. While Circe had a more traditional telling of the original Greek story, diving into the complicated emotions that a women deals with when she finds out men want to control her destiny. Both Lore and Circe deal with complicated trauma that women endure due to traditional patriarchal social constructs, a trigger warning should be included. I feel both stories effectively question the root why men feel that they can take power over a women, making room for these previous behaviours to be questioned on a what should be acceptable in a contemporary society.
Work in progress, 2021. I love the shadow play this vase displays. Reminds me of the interweaving snakes in Medusas hair that is mentioned in the book Lore. I had initially thought of the various levels of internal shadow work but a good art piece always has more than one reference.
Lore reminds me of the Whatever After series my daughter is reading in that the main character questions the fairy tales main characters’ choices through a feminist lens. I love that someone has created a book for children that explains traditional oral story telling traditions and explores the differences between the Brothers Grims and the Disney adaptations. Ie -Whatever After’s main character Abby questions The Little Mermaid , Ariel for choosing to give up her tail and voice to get to know a man she just met better, and Lore questions Athena on why she previously only ever helped men and choose the mans side when a women had clearly been abused through no fault of her own (Medusa).
Mountain Appy Plate, 2018. Cookie break on mountain plates. I am inspired by the nature I am so lucky to be part of daily. I am very grateful for this remarkable life where I get to do what I love in an amazing natural surrounding.
I like that there are these books out there that question why these choices were made and give alternative endings for the women. I look forward to ‘hearing’ this trend develop and grow as I listen attentively while making pots and eating scrumptious cookies. Thank you authors for the deep thoughts. Happy Easter 2021 everyone!