La Gorgone e gli Eroi or The Gorgon and the Heroes

'La Gorgone e gli Eroi' or The Gorgon and the Heroes is an contemporary artwork by Giulio Aristide Sartorio created in 1899 that shows a nude red haired Medusa, a mythological monster that seduces and then kills men that look at her, surrounded by dead naked men, all of different skin tones, at her feet. When one looks at this artwork they first focus on Medusa because she is, after all, the symbol of seduction, lust and danger. These qualities are immediately present through her seductive pose and apparent nakedness, as well as her red hair; which was usually associated with devious activity. She represents the vices in society and what happens when mans desire and lust overtake his reason and perception of reality. Through the written works of philosophers: Nietzsche, Shopenhauer and Heidegger, one can come to a better understanding of 'La Gorgone e gli Eroi' by Sartorio by determining through their different perspectives if it is beautiful, true or good for society.

La Gorgone or Medusa, is selfish. She wants men to desire her and she does not care that if they look at her they will die, in fact she enjoys it. This selfish quality comes out in Sartorios painting through la gorgones stance, she is standing seductively and proudly on top of the head of one of the men who looked upon her and died. She does not show any sign of remorse and it even looks as if she is asserting herself confidently as a successful killing seductress who can take on any man. It looks this way because she looks down at the man beneath her feet to watch him die as she casually fixes her hair. La gorgones selfishness, assertiveness and superhuman strength, which are clearly visible qualities of hers when one looks upon the painting, are all qualities t...

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...x piece of art that to some philosophers is considered beautiful, true and good for society while to others is considered none of these or one or two of them. As a true Nietzchean supporter, I believe this painting is beautiful especially in the way it portrays the consequences of our basic human desires, like lust and the use of superhuman mythological figures in the art of the up and coming modern twentieth century.

Bibliography:

1) Heidegger, Martin, and David Farrell. Krell. Basic Writings: Martin Heidegger. London: Routledge, 2010.

2) Cahn, Steven M., and Aaron Meskin. "The World as Will and Representation By Arthur Schopenhauer." Aesthetics: A Comprehensive Anthology. Malden, MA: Blackwell Pub., 2008.

3) Cahn, Steven M., and Aaron Meskin. "The Birth of Tragedy By Friedrich Nietzsche." Aesthetics: A Comprehensive Anthology. Malden, MA: Blackwell Pub., 2008.