@article{Skibinski2023,
  author    = {Skibinski, Connie},
  title     = {'Crazy Man-Killing Monsters'},
  series = {thersites 17},
  volume    = {2023},
  journal   = {thersites 17},
  number    = {17},
  editor    = {Potter, Amanda and Gardner, Hunter H.},
  issn      = {2364-7612},
  doi       = {10.34679/thersites.vol17.240},
  pages     = {183 -- 211},
  year      = {2023},
  abstract  = {The Amazons have a long legacy in literature and the visual arts, extending from antiquity to the present day. Prior scholarship tends to treat the Amazons as hostile 'Other' figures, embodying the antithesis of Greco-Roman cultural norms. Recently, scholars have begun to examine positive portrayals of Amazons in contemporary media, as role models and heroic figures. However, there is a dearth of scholarship examining the Amazons' inherently multifaceted nature, and their subsequent polarised reception in popular media. This article builds upon the large body of scholarship on contemporary Amazon narratives, in which the figures of Wonder Woman and Xena, Warrior Princess dominate scholarly discourse. These 'modern Amazon' figures epitomise the dominant contemporary trend of portraying Amazons as strong female role models and feminist icons. To highlight the complexity of the Amazon image in contemporary media, this article examines the representation of the Amazons in the Supernatural episode 'Slice Girls' (S7 E13, 2012), where their portrayal as hostile, monstrous figures diverges greatly from the positive characterisation of Wonder Woman and Xena. I also consider the show's engagement with ancient written sources, to examine how the writers draw upon the motifs of ancient Amazon narratives when crafting their unique Amazon characters. By contrasting the Amazons of 'Slice Girls' to contemporary figures and ancient narratives, this article examines how factors such as feminist ideology, narrative story arcs, characters'/audience's perspectives and male bias shape the representation of Amazons post-antiquity.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{Toscano2023,
  author    = {Toscano, Margaret Merrill},
  title     = {Varieties of Supernatural Depictions},
  series = {thersites 17},
  volume    = {2023},
  journal   = {thersites 17},
  number    = {17},
  editor    = {Potter, Amanda and Gardner, Hunter H.},
  issn      = {2364-7612},
  doi       = {10.34679/thersites.vol17.249},
  pages     = {2 -- 31},
  year      = {2023},
  abstract  = {This article proposes several conceptual frameworks for examining the widespread use of classical intertexts depicting the supernatural in popular media. Whether the supernatural is viewed as reality or simply a trope, it represents the human capacity and desire to explore worlds and meanings beyond the obvious and mundane. Representations of classical gods, heroes, and monsters evoke the power of mythic stories to probe and explain human psychology, social concerns, philosophical questions, and religious beliefs, including belief about the paranormal and supernatural. The entertainment value of popular media allows creators and audiences to engage with larger issues in non-dogmatic and playful ways that help them negotiate tensions among various beliefs and identities. This paper also gives an overview of the other articles in this journal issue, showing overlapping themes and patterns that connect with these tensions. By combining knowledge of classical myths in their original contexts with knowledge about contemporary culture, classical scholars contribute unique perspectives about why classical intertexts dominate in popular media today.},
  language  = {en}
}