Shifting Myths (Power)

Shifting Myths (Power) reimagines classical Greek mythology through a contemporary lens, challenging patriarchal structures and conventional gender roles embedded within ancient narratives. This thesis centers on a series of photographic diptychs that reinterpret iconic mythological stories—such as those of Apollo and Daphne, Echo and Narcissus, Hades and Persephone, Athena and Arachne, Poseidon and Medusa, and Zeus and Hera—through the act of gender-swapping and visual storytelling. These reworkings interrogate the historical marginalization of female figures and subvert the traditionally dominant male perspectives that have long shaped mythic canon.

The project presents twelve highly stylized portraits, each framed within custom-built, embellished borders that serve as symbolic extensions of the narratives they contain. These frames, constructed with materials ranging from feathers and foliage to pearls, bones, and snakes, are not mere decoration—they function as immersive visual metaphors, amplifying the mythic identities and emotional undercurrents of the portrayed deities. Through lighting, costume, pose, and composition, the work emphasizes softness and vulnerability in male figures and strength and assertiveness in female ones, thereby disrupting stereotypical associations of masculinity with power and femininity with passivity.

Beyond its aesthetic ambitions, this work carries a deeply political undertone, particularly in the sociopolitical aftermath of the 2024 U.S. election and the rollback of reproductive and LGBTQIA+ rights. By reinterpreting myths in which male gods often dominate, deceive, or punish women, this body of work becomes a form of resistance—a visual platform that reclaims narrative space for those historically silenced. The gender swap becomes a powerful tool not to vilify women, but to reveal cultural biases: traits like ambition or emotional distance, when embodied by women, are often condemned despite being celebrated in men.

Each image is underpinned by rigorous research, conceptual development, and symbolic detail. Mythological motifs are embedded into every visual element—from lighting gels that convey emotional tone, to hand-crafted props like Apollo’s sunbeam crown or Medusa’s serpent headdress. These design choices fuse traditional symbolism with contemporary artistry, inviting viewers to reconsider the power dynamics within these enduring myths. The series also incorporates digital techniques such as scanned illustrations and layered text to deepen each image’s interpretive possibilities.

Shifting Myths ultimately serves as a visual dialogue between the past and present, between myth and reality. It asks urgent questions about who holds power, how that power is portrayed, and what happens when traditional roles are reimagined. By reinterpreting the familiar through gender reversal, the work not only revives ancient stories but also reframes them as potent critiques of modern-day gender politics, agency, and representation.