These Are Strange Teachings: The Magic of Mary Magdalene ONLINE CLASSES

These Are Strange Teachings: The Magic of Mary Magdalene

A two-part online class with Eliza Swann

Saturday, December 6th:

Part One: Hairy Mary - the shifting image of Mary Magdalene - 1 hour, 15 minutes

Saturday, December 13th:

Part Two: The Gospel According to Mary Magdalene - 1 hour, 15 minutes

Mary Magdalene is a figure onto which a succession of fantasies has been projected. In one age after another her image was reinvented - sex worker, sibyl, repentant, hairy nun, feminist icon - Mary Magdalene’s character has been conscripted by the Christian Church and popular culture at large as we wrestle with shifting attitudes toward materiality, divinity and sexuality. It wasn't until the publication of the Gospel of Mary in 1955, a Gnostic text written down in the 3rd century CE and re-discovered in 1896, that we got to hear Mary Magdalene speak in her own words. The text suggests that Mary Magdalene, not the Apostle Peter, was Jesus' closest disciple.

This two-part lecture explores the evolving images of Mary Magdalene—from the “hairy Marys” of the medieval imagination, to her fierce autonomy in H.D. 's The Flowering of the Rod, and her portrayal as wife and mother in The Da Vinci Code. In the second session, we’ll closely read sections of the Gospel of Mary, where she shares a vision of the world not as fallen or broken, but as inherently good and worthy. In getting close to our images of Mary Magdalene, in taking her words into our heart, we can get closer to the ethics and emotions that color our own love if this world.

Eliza Swann, aka Emerald, is an interdisciplinary artist, writer, and educator based in New York. They are the author of The Anatomy of the Aura (St. Martin’s, 2020), Green Mary (Cosmic Dog House Press, 2024), and The Alchemical Imagination (Weiser/Red Wheel, 2026.) Their writing has appeared in many places, including BOMB, Arthur, Contemporary Art Review LA, and Momus. Eliza received a BA in Painting from the San Francisco Art Institute and an MFA from Central St. Martins in London. Eliza is also the founder of Golden Dome and now Emerald School of Alchemical Arts, mystery schools that explore the mystical dimensions of art. Emerald School produces exhibitions, performances, classes, and publications throughout the year.

Ticket price: $45 (two class package) Online Event Only

Please email contact@prs.org or phone 323-663-2167 with any questions.

This class will be recorded and shared with students for up to 2 weeks following the class. The class recording will be emailed to your a few days after the scheduled class.

CONTENT DISCLAIMER

The views, opinions, and thoughts expressed by the presenters are solely those of the presenter and may not represent those of the Philosophical Research Society (PRS), its affiliates, or any individuals associated with PRS. Presentations are intended for informational and entertainment purposes.

ACCESSIBILITY

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In the event that PRS is forced to cancel an event entirely, tickets will be refunded or vouchers offered for a rescheduled event.

PARKING

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