The terrible beauty of change: from Ovid's poems to modern commerce
In short: How do we reconcile the ancient art of transformation with the modern crisis of sustainability? By weaving together 2,000 years of poetry, classical music, and economic theory, a unique performance explores our unprecedented power to reshape the planet and the risks we face in doing so.
During June 2009, a diverse programme called 'Metamorphoses: The Terrible Beauty of Change' occurred at Gresham College. This show combined sustainability-focused business thoughts with the 1951 solo saxophone piece 'Six Metamorphoses After Ovid' (Op. 49) by Benjamin Britten. The project was designed to envision a metamorphosis toward sustainable commerce that exists in harmony with nature. It combined the musicality of John Harle's saxophone with the economic insights of Michael Mainelli and the computer graphics of William Joseph, creating a 'sustainable odyssey' that spans over two millennia. The foundation of this exploration is Publius Ovidius Naso’s epic poem, 'Metamorphoses,' completed in 8 AD. Written in dactylic hexameter, Ovid's work served as a masterclass in storytelling and a primary reference for Greek and Roman mythology. Ovid lived through a period of profound transition, born into a republic and dying in an empire. His poems depict a world of 'sylvan shade' and 'perilous peaks,' capturing the enduring theme of change—a theme that has inspired legendary figures ranging from Chaucer and Botticelli to Mozart and Joyce. Today, the context of change has shifted from the mythological to the industrial. While Ovid's world was one of nature, our modern world is described as 'compressed by our own expansion.' The performance highlights a paradox: humans now possess an unprecedented power to transform the planet, yet this power carries the risk of losing everything. By uniting Britten's work with four years of Gresham College commerce talks regarding sustainability, the occasion aims to discover 'Zen-like' clarity within shifts in scale, advocating for resilient global systems.
theme-case-study mood-reflective difficulty-2 topics-["sustainability", "classical-music", "economic-history"]
It encourages a transition towards durable economies and habitats for humanity's destiny.
canvas-type-["timeline", "timeline-events
Opens the Intellect+ feed with this card first. Swipe up for the next one.
Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Metamorphoses - Changes - Gresham College Sustainability Talk & Benjamin Britten Performance
- Also: Metamorphoses – The Terrible Beauty of Change
To cite this card, link to https://intellectplus.co.uk/app/ideas-metamorphoses-changes-gresham-college-sustainability-talk-be.
How we source, check and correct cards: Editorial standards.
General information, not professional advice. Spotted an error? Flag the card or see corrections and complaints.
Intellect Plus is a visual educational discovery platform for exploring fascinating facts and ideas. Brain Food, Not Brain Rot. What is Intellect Plus?
