I am in the library. There is someone from a wildlife charity doing a presentation - with live creatures - to a bunch of young boys and girls their mothers, in attendance. We have, over the last few generations, of course, rendered it harder and harder for young people to have any connection with "Nature".... Continue Reading →
Ovid’s Metamorphoses #043/111: “Jason and Medea”
What this project is about. This one is from Book 7. How long it took to read this (aloud): x mins What it’s “about”: Medea gets the horn for Jason in the worst possible way, helps him nick the Golden Fleece. Then tries to revive his dad from old age. It’s all pretty thankless -... Continue Reading →
Metaphors we live (and die) by
A friend wrote the following on Bluesky All the metaphors we use to describe heedlessly pursuing one's own destruction - lemmings, cargo cults, Easter island, etc. - are actually colonial myths based on mistakes or lies. The real analogy for heedlessly pursuing one's own destruction is the colonial society itself. Some responses Yes, yes about lemmings... Continue Reading →
Ovid’s Metamorphoses #042/111: “Boreas and Orithyia”
What this project is about. This one is from Book 6. How long it took to read this (aloud): 3 mins 22s What it’s “about”: Boreas tries to play it nice, but reverts to steel and ice…And steals and rapes his southern wife Two kids are had, no wings, but life. Words I didn’t know:... Continue Reading →
Ovid’s Metamorphoses #041/111: “Tereus, Procne, and Philomela”
What this project is about. This one is from Book 6. How long it took to read this (aloud): 18 mins 56s What it’s “about”: Tereus wins a war and this, well - explanation would add up to excuses for astonishing behaviour. His wife, Procne wants either to visit her sister (Philomela) or have her... Continue Reading →
Ovid’s Metamorphoses #040/111: “Pelops”
What this project is about. This one is from Book 6. How long it took to read this (aloud): 0 mins 49s What it’s “about”: A human shows off where the gods put him back together, all “Six Million Dollar Man” after his dad (Tantalus) wasn’t so nice… Words I didn’t know: xx Quotable quotes: ... Continue Reading →
Ovid’s Metamorphoses #039/111: “Marsysas”
What this project is about. This one is from Book 6. How long it took to read this (aloud): 1 mins 32s What it’s “about”: Gods are vengeful assholes - a human gets into a pipe-playing contest, and the god is a sore winner. Gods are the worst. (Nb this is a modern sensibility -... Continue Reading →
Ovid’s Metamorphoses #038/111: “Niobe and Latona”
What this project is about. This one is from Book 6. How long it took to read this (aloud): 15 mins 14s What it’s “about”: Niobe is proud of her wealth, her seven sons and daughters and says “what’s the worst that can happen?’ The goddess she has tried to get the peasants to stop... Continue Reading →
Ovid’s Metamorphoses #037/111: “Arachne”
What this project is about. This one is from Book 6. Ruby Ruby Ruby Ruby Rubens! How long it took to read this (aloud): 9 mins 18s What it’s “about”: This one is a banger! Up there with Phaethon’s Ride and Perseus’s Wedding. Arachne is a human and very very good at weaving. Pallas Athena... Continue Reading →
Ovid’s Metamorphoses #036/111: “Metamorphosis of the Pierides”
What this project is about. This one is from Book 5. How long it took to read this (aloud): 1 mins 17s What it’s “about”: You lose a singing contest, you are getting turned into crows Words I didn’t know: none Quotable quotes: "And as they tried to beat their breasts, their wings Were black,... Continue Reading →
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