Phobos,

Leto who protects all who are persecuted for their gender.

Leto who watches over intersex babies recovering from a surgery they couldn't consent to.

Leto who shields transgender children from their parent's transphobia.

Leto who covers women getting catcalled with her veil to hide them from watching eyes.

Leto who gives men the strength to let out the emotions they're afraid of showing.

Leto who stands beside nonbinary people advocating for inclusion.

I’m so tired of the “Spartan man = emotionless brute” stereotype they gave him. SHOW HIM doubting before killing enemies. Show the moments where he feels pity for the men forced into war, for the lives that will never return home. Show him trying to avoid war peacefully, only for Paris to ruin it, because consequences have never been his concern. Yes, Menelaus is still a MAN whose honor has been shattered. Yes, he wants revenge. But what about the moments where he questions the gods? Where he wonders why this is his fate, why he is the one who has to endure this, after welcoming the Trojan prince into his home with hospitality, only to have his kingdom violated and his wife kidnapped. And how Zeus still favors the son of Troy.

And Helen, I am begging to them to stop romanticizing her Abduction. Stop turning her into this brainless, superficial pretty blonde. LET HER BE ANGRY. Let her snap back at Aphrodite. Let her rage at being treated like a toy for the goddess’s favorite pretty human boy. Let her scream at Paris for his cowardice, his selfishness, his refusal to take responsibility while others die for his choices. Show the guilt that was never hers slowly consuming her through years of cruelty and a war fought in her name, one she never asked for, because of men. Stop reducing her to "Paris's forbidden love", she was a mother, taken away from her HOME and daughter. Show her telling Aphrodite that if she loves Paris so much, she should sleep with him instead.

Artist research

Jenny Saville is a contemporary painter who does large scale portraits of the female form, she challenges traditional beauty ideals by depicting bodies in raw and unidealised manners. These paintings of the female body I believe challenge the narrow beauty standards that dominate today’s society. She has been a big influence on my project throughout the semester. I’ve focused on mostly faces, mirrors and makeup for a good portion of my project, so I think Seville’s work on the female form gave me a great understanding on how body image and the way or bodies look and how they are perceived is just as big of an insecurity than our faces.

Her work is so raw and shows the truth of a normal body, not posing and pretending but just real and true, showing the reality of the human body. Not the fake edited version we see online or in society. She shows bodies in a raw and unposed manner, including all imperfections or flaws.

Her work shows the importance of representing diverse body types and challenging the unrealistic standards and expectations that are infiltrating the media and our minds. Her art to me symbolises that beauty is not about fitting into a specific ideal but about celebrating the unique qualities of every body and flaw.