So are we in the Present?

           

            Obviously, the myth of Demeter and Persephone has stood the test of time. Through art and literature, this myth has been reintroduced, redone, and reinterpreted many times. So as one can see, the transition is clear, Demeter and Persephone have been introduced to contemporary times.

            It’s amazing to see the transformation for it can be reminiscent of historical images or completely invented. Take art for instance, in the Classical and Hellenistic periods Demeter would have been idealized with a distance look, but with a quiet beauty. This type of image can be seen in this sculpture found currently at the State Hermitage Museum in Russia:

http://www.theoi.com/Gallery/S3.1.html

It is safe to assume then, that art has changed over the years, so due to this constant flux in art, Demeter took on a new look such as this and this:

http://browse.deviantart.com/?qh=&section=&q=demeter#/d1woia1

http://www.sfmoma.org/explore/collection/artwork/119

 The spectrum is endless and variety is abundant. The meanings of each still call back to the original piece, surprisingly. In the illustration, Demeter is depicted similarly to the historical sculpture of the Roman copy. She still possesses wheat or a harvest of some kind to denote her identity and her hair is partly covered to show her as an older, motherly figure.  Also, the distant gaze is still present in both pieces. As for the contemporary sculpture, it attempts to connect more with the emotional aspects of the myth itself. Similar to Ovid and Tennyson (see previous posts for more explanation), the artist Fabro aims to display Demeter’s anguish. He does this through roughly cut stone lips and an immovable tongue. This paralysis emphasizes Demeter’s pain as she is unable to call to her daughter in a time of confusion and separation.

            Okay, these deities have been shown in image form since the dawn of their existence. Yet, what truly brings Demeter and Persephone in the realm of the contemporary is its new media format. By this I mean, Demeter and Persephone rather than just being an orally pasted down story, they have become symbols for songs and bands alike. For instance, there are several bands that use the name of Persephone in their own band name. I would suppose the use of Persephone’s name is to use the tragic association of Persephone with themselves. Like in numerous modern interpretations, Persephone is tragic and filled with anguish, however upon being given away to Hades, she gains a new title as well as power. 

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oMx8WwczeE8

Other bands just use the associations of Demeter’s and Persephone’s story to help elevate their own meanings in their song. For example, the band, Third Eye Blind has a well-known song called Persephone. The song is often interpreted to be about a boy who is depressed about a girl leaving him. This song talks about a common tale found in most sad love songs. Still, the use of references and allegory to the myth of Demeter and Persephone saves it from being just another love song for it gives the song more meaning for it has more than one point of reference. So when one hears the lyrics, “I wish spring would come”, one can relate the intense sorrow of Demeter as she awaits her daughter to return to the sorrow of the boy who wishes and waits for the possible return of his girlfriend.

          Also recently, Persephone referenced if not appeared in various video games. Seeing as how video games are quite contemporary, it is safe to say that Demeter and Persephone have stood the test of time. A clear example of this is the recent game based on mythology itself is God of War.  In God of War: Chains of Olympus, Kratos, the main character goes to finish his service to the gods.  While attempting to complete his 10-year service, he begins a search for his daughter upon hearing a familiar tune that he had once played for her. So he heads to the Underworld. This is similar to the original myth, since Demeter lost her daughter to the Underworld. Upon reaching the Underworld to search for his deceased daughter, he is greeted by Persephone. This is an obvious illustration of how Persephone is perceived to be the Queen of the Underworld, who greets and welcomes the dead.

If you are interested in playing the game, please go play it. There are possible spoilers ahead.

            So Persephone in the game gives Kratos a choice to either cast aside his weapons and powers to be with his daughter for the rest of eternity or continue his mission for the gods. So at first Kratos agrees to put down his weapons and live with his daughter. However, feeling that he is being tricked and finding out the Persephone holds much spite for the gods in Olympus, he deserts his daughter to stop Persephone from overthrowing the other gods. This is another instance of the gods being viewed as very human like because Persephone is quite bitter and spiteful in this game. So then Kratos goes and finds Persephone in order to defeat her.

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0D7KjGO6wVU

            Another video that Persephone is referenced is Bioshock 2. In this game, Persephone is not a person. Instead Persephone is a name of a prison, cellblock area in which as the main character, that is a Big Daddy, (for more background information of the game, go to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BioShock_2) one has search for their little sister named Eleanor. This is referencing the myth in the idea that Persephone was held captive in the Underworld. So the underworld was her prison. In the game, naming the prison area, Persephone may seem odd until the connection of Persephone being locked in the underworld in the myth and the actual cellblock is made. This is actually a tactful move on the part of the designers and writers of the game for the sadness and sorrow associated with myth only helps to make the level of the game seem more creepy and desperate feeling.

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Xp0jPcwiI8&feature=relmfu

            Thus, the myth of Demeter and Persephone is constantly evolving and changing, yet its emotional pull and meaning stays intact. It is truly amazing to see how something quite old and possibly miniscule can leap onto new platforms even in minor references. Therefore, one can almost say that this myth is quite modern for it has taken on numerous new faces as time has passed.

So here is The Storyteller with a brief screen time of Persephone:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Jqgx06TJUM

Works Cited:

I played the games:

Bioshock 2, 2K Games, 2010

God of War: Chains of Olympus, Sony Computer Entertainment, 2008

Persephone by Third Eye Blind, 2009