The annual City Dionysia keynote lecture will be given by Dr. Mary-Kay Gamel, Professor of Classics, Comparative Literature, and Theatre at University of California Santa Cruz on Friday, November 14, 4:30pm in Clark 309. Her lecture is titled, “Metamorphoses of Medea.”

“Killer!” “Barbarian!” “Witch!” Madwoman!” “Heroine” Ever since Euripides staged his drama Medea in 431 BCE Athens — a play about marital passion, betrayal, and explosive revenge — the character of Medea has been called all these names and much more. Distinguished professor of Classics, Mary-Kay Gamel, will explore how Medea has been depicted in drama, poetry, visual art, music, and film, asking “What makes this figure so fascinating?” And how — even in our era in which graphic violence is prevalent throughout our media — the playa continues to intrigue, haunt, and disturb audiences. This event is co-sponsored by the Department of Classics and the Baker-Nord Center for the Humanities.

Free and open to the public.