1. Narcissus & Echo - The Influencer & The Follower
Alex Andreou's Podyssey
Nature and Divinity in Greek Mythology
This chapter examines the intricate relationship between nature and divinity in Greek mythology, particularly through the figures of Echo and Narcissus. It discusses the cultural impact of this connection on ancient societies and how it continues to influence modern art and practices.
The myths, tales, and concepts of ancient Greece echo and reach into every aspect of modern life. Often misunderstood, frequently romanticised, and sometimes deliberately twisted - to understand their origins and truth is to get a real glimpse into the universal themes that connect us to the past and each other.
Welcome to Podyssey with Alex Andreou. Each week we will take one myth, one concept, person, place, or theme from Ancient Greece, take it apart, figure out its inner workings, trace its influence, juice it for its wisdom, reimagine, update and put it back together - all shiny and new!
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Most of what you think you know about the story of Narcissus, is wrong. This isn’t a story of conceit or vanity. It isn’t even the story of one person. It is a story of unrequited love and pain, of the corruption of innocence, of losing oneself.
Written and presented by Alex Andreou
Expert contributions by Alexandra Angeletaki-Røe, Debbie Challis, Linda Marric, and Dr Ruth Smith
Exec. Producers Naomi Smith and Kenny Campbell
Music by Marianna Sangita
Artwork by Simona Kanellou
For Cooler Heads, in collaboration with Sandstone Global
NOTES
MUSIC
Carly Simon - “You’re so vain” - LIVE on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mQZmCJUSC6g
Marianna Sangita - “Glaros” - LIVE on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OIGrYHF7jLA
The Clerks of Christ Church - “Slow, slow fresh fount” - on SPOTIFY https://open.spotify.com/track/61kkAfQYSZQIhw46FDLe49
Joan Sutherland - Gounod FAUST “Jewel Song” - on SPOTIFY
https://open.spotify.com/track/348lGUh1TA8t0T2Kpe0Qkm
Maria Callas - Meyerbeer DINORAH “Shadow Song” - on SPOTIFY
https://open.spotify.com/track/1QhZtlXHBuFUwn4splxosj
Joni Mitchell - “Both sides now” - on SPOTIFY
https://open.spotify.com/track/1pjATX7sbd6Y4jMVqIvzHk
Clara Rockmore - Saint-Saëns “The Swan” - LIVE on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XdFSU8sn3mo
Róisín Murphy - “Narcissus” - OFFICIAL on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=88p6AwgZNaw
Ann Blyth & Lorenzo Lamas - Friml ROSE-MARIE “Indian Love Call” - on SPOTIFY https://open.spotify.com/track/3Fd9Ti1AFjvEyK67Sv8U7Y
FILM
The Talented Mr Ripley (1999) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0134119/
Snow White (1937) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0029583/
All About Eve (1950) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0042192/
The Shape of Water (2017) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5580390/
The Picture of Dorian Gray (1945) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0037988/
Black Swan (2010) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0947798/
Ingrid Goes West (2017) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5962210/
ARTWORK
“Narcissus” by Caravaggio https://www.caravaggio.org/narcissus.jsp
“Metamorphosis of Narcissus” by Salvador Dalí https://www.tate.org.uk/art/artworks/dali-metamorphosis-of-narcissus-t02343
“The Nymph Echo” by Max Ernst https://www.moma.org/collection/works/79316
Narcissus Fresco in Pompeii by Anon. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Narcissus_%28mythology%29#/media/File:Narcissus_on_a_Pompeian_fresco.jpg
“Echo and Narcissus” by John William Waterhouse https://www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/artifact/echo-and-narcissus
“Narcissus” by Follower of Giovanni Antonio Boltraffio https://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/follower-of-giovanni-antonio-boltraffio-narcissus
"Mr. O'Wilde, You are not the first one that has grasped at a Shadow" by Thomas Nast
https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/820022
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