SASA Mini Reading Group: The Bacchae of Euripides: On Priestesses, Orgasmic Dancers, and Other Decadent Women

Previous participation and previous knowledge not required.

Ancient Greek Tragedies: before reading the text, right from the cover, they seem to tell us

something special, as if they emanate a sacred and misty energy. Indeed, a terrible charm is theirs.

In this group on Euripides’ play Bachhae, as we closely read the text together, we will enter the world of the sublime, reflecting on some of the most extraordinary and bewitching characters from the ancient world. The Bacchae – followers of Dionysus, that ‘other’ god, the god of subliminal drives, of the unbridled fecundity of life – are mostly symbols of a wounded and grieving as well as ecstatic and overjoyed feminine. As mythic images of earthly goddesses stained with madness, they disturb us with their mere existence – bitches, female wolves, panthers. The Bacchae constantly orgasms for being part of zoe, life that knows no end – an impossible experience to be held in one singular and mortal life, body, bios. And still they do. In our conversations, we will reflect on the several masks of Dionysus, his traumatic births, and the irreducible protest of life that characterizes his cult. We will ask how the Bacchic experience speaks to us today, at a time when the capitalist imaginary draws its nourishment from the consumption and fetishization of the female body. We shall then heal in reading together, recovering the right to think of ourselves as tragic texts, bearers of a knowledge made of flesh and yet capable of the divine in a way that is otherwise than the trappings of metaphysics.

3-Week Text-In-Translation Reading Group

Thursdays @ 10am EST

Jan. 14th

Jan. 21st

Jan. 28th

Participants only need to register for each Reading Group once, you will recieve links to our Live Syllabus where readings and discussions are posted in the confirmation email.

SASA Mini Reading Group Certificates are available after completion of the full 3-week reading group.