About the book
“This ain’t no Dreamgirls,” Rhodessa Jones warns participants in the Medea Project, the theater program for incarcerated women that she founded and directs. Her expectations are grounded in reality, tempered, for example, by the fact that women are the fastest growing population in U.S. prisons. Still, Jones believes that by engaging incarcerated women in the process of developing and staging dramatic works based on their own stories, she can push them toward tapping into their own creativity, confronting the problems that landed them in prison, and taking control of their lives.
Rena Fraden chronicles the collaborative process of transforming incarcerated women’s stories into productions that incorporate Greek mythology, hip-hop music, dance, and autobiography. She captures a diverse array of voices, including those of Jones and other artists, the sheriff and prison guards, and, most vividly, the women themselves. Through compelling narrative and thoughtful commentary, Fraden investigates the Medea Project’s blend of art and activism and considers its limits and possibilities for enacting social change.
Rhodessa Jones is co–artistic director of the San Francisco–based performance company Cultural Odyssey and founder of the Medea Project: Theater for Incarcerated Women. An award-winning performer, she has taught at the Yale School of Drama and the New College of California.
Editions of Imagining Medea
- Hardcover
- ISBN 9780807826591
- Paperback
- ISBN 9780807849842
- EBook
- ISBN 9781469610979
- PDF
- ISBN 9798890873750
Read an Excerpt
“This ain’t no Dreamgirls,” Rhodessa Jones warns participants in the Medea Project, the theater program for incarcerated women that she founded and directs. Her expectations are grounded in reality, tempered, for example, by the fact that women are the fastest growing population in U.S. prisons. Still, Jones believes that by engaging incarcerated women in the process of developing and staging dramatic works based on their own stories, she can push them toward tapping into their own creativity, confronting the problems that landed them in prison, and taking control of their lives.
Rena Fraden chronicles the collaborative process of transforming incarcerated women’s stories into productions that incorporate Greek mythology, hip-hop music, dance, and autobiography. She captures a diverse array of voices, including those of Jones and other artists, the sheriff and prison guards, and, most vividly, the women themselves. Through compelling narrative and thoughtful commentary, Fraden investigates the Medea Project’s blend of art and activism and considers its limits and possibilities for enacting social change.
Rhodessa Jones is co–artistic director of the San Francisco–based performance company Cultural Odyssey and founder of the Medea Project: Theater for Incarcerated Women. An award-winning performer, she has taught at the Yale School of Drama and the New College of California.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Imagining Medea about?
“This ain’t no Dreamgirls,” Rhodessa Jones warns participants in the Medea Project, the theater program for incarcerated women that she founded and directs. Her expectations are grounded in reality, tempered, for example, by the fact that women are the fastest growing population in U.S. prisons. Still, Jones believes that by engaging incarcerated women in the process of developing and staging dramatic works based on their own stories, she can push them toward tapping into their own creativity, confronting the problems that landed them in prison, and taking control of their lives.
Rena Fraden chronicles the collaborative process of transforming incarcerated women’s stories into productions that incorporate Greek mythology, hip-hop music, dance, and autobiography. She captures a diverse array of voices, including those of Jones and other artists, the sheriff and prison guards, and, most vividly, the women themselves. Through compelling narrative and thoughtful commentary, Fraden investigates the Medea Project’s blend of art and activism and considers its limits and possibilities for enacting social change.
Rhodessa Jones is co–artistic director of the San Francisco–based performance company Cultural Odyssey and founder of the Medea Project: Theater for Incarcerated Women. An award-winning performer, she has taught at the Yale School of Drama and the New College of California.
What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in Imagining Medea?
Society and Social Sciences > Society and culture: general > Social groups, communities and identities > Gender studies, gender groups > Gender studies: women and girls
Where can I read a sample of Imagining Medea?
You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9780807826591
How long is Imagining Medea and how many pages does it have?
Imagining Medea has 270 page(s)
Is Imagining Medea part of a series, and can it be read as a standalone?
Yes it is a part of series Gender and American Culture
Who is/are the Author/s of the book Imagining Medea?
Angela Davis, Rena Fraden
What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?
Imagining Medea is available as hardcover(ISBN 9780807826591) and paperback(ISBN 9780807849842) and ebook(ISBN 9781469610979) and pdf(ISBN 9798890873750)
Where can I buy Imagining Medea online or support local independent bookshops?
You can buy Imagining Medea from below
Where can I buy Imagining Medea?