This class will take Anne Carson’s “Autobiography of Red” as its starting point. A “novel in verse,” this story is based on “Geryoneis”, a poem written by Greek Lyric Poet Stesichorus in 6th century BC which tells the story of a red winged monster named Geryon and his “heroic” killer, Heracles. Carson’s work includes her translation of the existing fragments of this poem, and then expounds on the myth with a modern day queer coming of age story, rife with exploration of identity and creativity. Through the lens of the anti-hero narrative, this class will collaboratively put this mythic universe to music. We will critique the hero narratives that dominate both history and current popular culture, and examine how experimentation with narrative forms in music can undermine dominant – and often oppressive – structures. This class will culminate in a musical and/or theatrical installation of Stesichorus’ “Geryoneis,” the precise form of which will be collectively determined by the group.
Learning Outcomes:
Delivery Method: Fully in-person
Prerequisites: Students should write an email to the Gina Deibel (ginadeibel@bennington.edu) about their studies at Bennington and their interest in this class.
Course Level: 4000-level
Credits: 2
Th 7:00PM - 8:50PM (Full-term)
Maximum Enrollment: 12
Course Frequency: One time only
Categories: All courses , Composition , Fully In-Person
Tags: Collaboration , Electronic music , installation , interdisciplinary , performance , Queer literature , sound , theater