Misogynist Feminism?

Aristophanes’ Ladies’ Day

Quote

“There is no gender identity behind the expressions of gender; that identity is performatively constituted by the very

‘expressions’ that are said to be its results” (Butler Gender Trouble)

Does Ladies’ Day deconstruct or affirm “identities”/stereotypes?

- QUESTION -

Aristophanes Ladies Day 4

Agenda

Ladies’ DayThe Basics

Misogynist Feminism?Social Critique in Ladies’ Day

DiscussionWhat’s Being “Performed”: Ideology of or

Subversion of Identity?

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Ladies Day

The Basics

Aristophanes Ladies Day 6

Thesmophoriazusae: Play Facts

Title “Women Celebrating the

Thesmophoria” Produced

spring 411 BCE Premise

eur finds out plays anger women

women’s “assembly” to punish him

Parody / allusion Euripides’

PalamedesHelenTelephusAndromeda

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Setting, Occasion

Occasion Thesmophoria (fall)

Goddesses Demeter Kore-Persephone

Celebrants Freeborn, respectable

women Venue

Thesmophorion

Activities Business Withy bedding

anti-aphrodisiac Three-day sequence

“Ascent”“Fasting” (+ ground-

sitting)“Celebrating” -

unearthing genitalia cakes piglet sacrifice snake models

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Misogynist Feminism?

Social Critique in Ladies’ Day

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Discussion: Gender Stereotypes

Female Male

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Feminist Aristophanes?

“If the men are to be believed, we are a plague to them; …. But if we are truly such a pest, why marry us? Why forbid us to go out or show ourselves at the window? …“Come, let us compare them in detail, each individual man with a woman. Charminus is not equal to Nausimakhē, that’s certain. Cleophon is in every respect inferior to Salabakkhō. It’s a long time now since any of you has dared to contest the prize with Aristomakhē, the heroine of Marathon, or with Stratonikē. Among the last year’s Councilors, who have just yielded their office to other citizens, is there one who equals Euboulē? Not even Anytus would say that. Therefore we maintain that men are greatly our inferiors.” (Thesmophoriazusae lines 788 ff. ≈ p. 299 ff Fitts)

names…

Discussion

What’s Being “Performed”: Ideology of or Subversion of Identity?