Pygmalion and Galatea
Myth 6
16 September 2008
Pygmalion and Galatea
A story about a man who loved a statue? Now that’s an interesting story! The reason the story is boring, I mean, important is that Pygmalion didn’t want to love just any woman, and Galatea was the way he released his love by manifesting it in her. The three levels of interpretation: physical, social, and psychological, help us understand, in detail, why this myth is important by showing us that art helps release stress (Physical), advances our outlook on life through interpretation of the piece of art (Social), and helps to solve emotional problems by acting as a conduit for emotion to pour out from (Psychological).
Stress affects the body as much as the mind. When you stay up late because you are stressing over tomorrow’s test, it causes you to be tired and that slows your body. The way that this myth shows us how art staves off stress is that Pygmalion was, indeed, stressed out about having so many women trying to get him to marry them. He wasn’t going to have any of that; therefore, he released his stress by making beautiful statues. Many artists use their art as a way to relieve their stress as well.
When we study art, we are all subject to our own interpretation of the artist’s work. Many people can take a different outlook on life when they make an interpretation. After we choose which interpretation we like best, we talk about it. This is how we change our thinking. Through the exchange of ideas. When Pygmalion looked upon his masterpiece, Galatea, he changed his outlook on love. For instance, even if he loved the statue, he had to look at love in a whole new light because he may not b e able to talk to this woman, but it was the image of his dreams so he loved her.
Oh the woe in loving something that cant love you back! Emotion is a major part of your psyche, as a result, when an artist uses his (or her) art as a way to channel emotion, you get a beautiful picture of what their emotional turmoil is. Pygmalion was so emotionally involved with his work that he wouldn’t stop working until he had made his sculpture absent of imperfections. His love for that statue was shown in his dedication to detail.
Pygmalion didn’t want to love just any woman, and Galatea was the way he released his love by manifesting it in her. Because he loved her so, for this reason he got his wish from Venus that he may not just love a statue, but truly love a woman.
