UPDATE: This blog entry was originally published July 2022. You can shop new items from this collection here: Fearless Women Collection
Available here: MAUT Designs on Threadless — Fringe Medusa
Medusa with a fringe haircut, or bangs. Medusa’s visage has been adopted by many modern women as a symbol of rage.
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There are a lot of different myths about Medusa, and even more in recent years as the story is revisited by modern women. The basic story that most people know today is that Medusa was originally a beautiful maiden serving in the temple of Athena, but when Poseidon raped her in the temple, Athena punished Medusa by transforming her beautiful hair into horrible snakes and causing her gaze to turn men into stone. (There are no recorded instances of Medusa turning a woman to stone.)
Fringe Medusa Sketch
Medusa was beheaded by the hero Perseus. Since Medusa was the only one of the three Gorgons who was mortal, Perseus was able to slay her while looking at the reflection from the mirrored shield he received from Athena. During that time, Medusa was pregnant by Poseidon from the previous rape. When Perseus beheaded her, Pegasus, a winged horse (because Poseidon was God of the sea and horses), and Chrysler, a giant wielding a golden sword (because Medusa was a Gorgon), sprang from her body. Perseus then took Pegasus for use during the rest of his quest.
Fringe Medusa Baseball Triblend Baseball Triblend Longsleeve T-Shirt
Most people know this story from the movie Clash of the Titans (original or remake). Of course, neither version covers the whole rape thing. The tale of Medusa is largely considered one that exemplifies victim-blaming. Athena punishes a victim of rape, who is then demonized and finally beheaded as a trophy by a male demigod hero.
Available here: MAUT Designs on Threadless — Fringe Medusa
Fringe Medusa Kids Baby Bodysuit
From ancient times until today the visage of Medusa’s head has been used for protection, displayed on shields, cameos, doorknobs, and more. Perhaps her head is also used as a warning. When I was a child, I was taught that perhaps Medusa’s iconic look was inspired by a drowned woman. Her pale face grew algae, eels swimming through her hair, a blackened swollen tongue protruding from her mouth, her eyes turned white or removed by sea predators— a fearsome thing to lay eyes on to be sure! A warning to stay away from the dead.
Fringe Medusa Accessories Button
Probably one of the most well-known modern depictions of Medusa’s head is the logo for fashion house Versace. A mix of extreme glamor and fetish wear suggests that the clothing will make one so stunning and magnificent that men will freeze in their tracks.
The story of Medusa is an evolving one. Joseph Campbell describes a historic event where goddess worship was violently overrun by male-centric worship. Psychoanalysts like Sigmund Freud suggested that Medusa represented the alluring terror of castration. Nihilists interpreted Medusa’s story as a lack of eye contact with the truth of the universe (interpret that as you will). Modern feminism has reclaimed Medusa as a symbol of female rage and power.
Artist in Fringe Medusa Women’s Fitted T-Shirt
(After adding the photo of myself here I feel like an explanation is needed for the state of said bangs. I was unable to trim my fringe for an extended period of time due to my rage at the state of the world. I blame SCOTUS.)
Keeping in mind that most of the Greek myths were stories created and recorded by men, but told by women around the hearth, I like to think that some subversive messages became encoded in them. The famous Zeus who “seduces” nearly every woman he encounters (cough, cough, rapes) is portrayed as a hero time and again, but the consequences for the women are not skipped in the stories. It feels like the women sharing these stories are passing notes to a younger female generation. This is how men are. This is how the world is.
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I like to think that perhaps the curse of Athena was a gift of protection. Her long, beautiful hair, a liability that attracted the unwanted attention of amorous males, had become a fearsome warning, and any man that approached her would be stopped by her thousand-yard stare.
Available here: MAUT Designs on Threadless — Fringe Medusa
UPDATE: This blog entry was originally published July 2022. You can shop new items from this collection here: Fearless Women Collection