One subconscious bias that occurs consistently in writing is the Male/Female Gaze, and what better way to explore how this happens in storytelling than by examining the centuries-long legend of Medusa?

Popularized by the Greek poet Ovid and later on in modern media by films such as Clash of the Titans (1981 & 2010) and book series like Percy Jackson and the Olympians (Rick Riordan), Medusa is often portrayed as a vicious monster created by Athena as punishment for defiling her temple when she had an affair with Poseidon.

But that story is from the male perspective.

Listen in to hear more about the fascinating way Medusa's curse - and her identity - was actually a gift and story of hope for women who told her tale and saw her face as a symbol of sanctuary and safety.  I also discuss the various ways you can utilize the male/female dichotomy to strengthen your characters, and provide examples in contemporary literature where this shift between perspectives impacted the stories as we know them.


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Articles on Medusa (as referenced in this episode):

"Medusa in Ancient Greek Art" by Madeleine Glennon, Metropolitan Museum of Art. https://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/medu/hd_medu.htm

"Medusa and the Female Gaze" by Susan R. Bowers, NWSA Journal Vol. 2, No. 2 (Spring, 1990), pp. 217-235 (19 pages).  Published By: The Johns Hopkins University Press
https://www.jstor.org/stable/4316018


Books Mentioned:

-Rhapsodic from The Bargainer Series by Laura Thalassa 
-The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
-Game of Thrones by George R. R. Martin