The story of 厂补濒辞尘茅 has been recreated in popular culture for more than 2,000 years. But according to religious scholar Emil Homerin, it鈥檚 only in the last two centuries that the character was transformed into a femme fatale. On Oct. 8-11, her evolving role in religion, society, and the arts will be explored in a two-day symposia and series of events titled The Veils of 厂补濒辞尘茅, at both the 蘑菇传媒 and its Eastman School of Music.
鈥淥ver time the character of 厂补濒辞尘茅 shifted from a young girl doing the bidding of her spiteful mother, to a threat to all that is holy, and eventually a vengeful femme fatale,鈥� said Homerin, professor of Religion at Rochester. 鈥淏ut whatever her identity, 厂补濒辞尘茅 has become a character whose sexuality and assertiveness threaten the identities and very lives of men.鈥�
Originally introduced in the Bible as a minor character who aids in the beheading of John the Baptist, 厂补濒辞尘茅 later became the focus of fascination for artists in the Middle Ages and Renaissance. Their portraits of her dancing and holding a head on a platter influenced famed playwright Oscar Wilde to write 鈥�厂补濒辞尘别,鈥� which inspired a controversial one-act opera by composer Richard Strauss.
Funded by the University鈥檚 Humanities Project, the Veils of 厂补濒辞尘茅 features a talk with 厂补濒辞尘茅 comic book artist P. Craig Russell, performances, a dance workshop based on 厂补濒辞尘茅鈥檚 Dance of the Seven Veils (which first appeared in Strauss鈥� original opera), and an exhibition of images in the University鈥檚 Rare Books and Special Collections library in Rush Rhees.
鈥淔or the musical performances, we want to provide audiences with a live and interactive show unlike any other they鈥檝e ever experienced,鈥� said Matthew Brown, professor of music theory at Eastman and founder of Table Top Opera, a chamber ensemble of Eastman faculty, alumni, and friends. 鈥� replaces the singers and traditional symphony orchestra with a chamber ensemble of familiar and unfamiliar instruments, including saxophone, trumpet, percussion, piano, electric keyboard, violin, cello, and bass.鈥� The music is paired with illustrations from P. Craig Russell, which will be projected above the musicians during the performance, and a newly choreographed version of 厂补濒辞尘茅鈥檚 鈥淒ance of the Seven Veils.鈥�
Admission to the Oct. 8 performance of 鈥湷Р贡舸浅久┾�� in Kodak Hall at the Eastman School is $10, free to 蘑菇传媒 faculty, students, and staff with valid University ID; admission to the Oct. 10 performance in the Interfaith Chapel on River Campus is free. A video trailer about 鈥湷Р贡舸浅久�,鈥� featuring illustrations from Russell鈥檚 comic book, can be seen at .
Symposium talks are free and open to the public. For a detailed schedule of events, visit or contact Homerin at emil.homerin@rochester.edu.
