(Re)Interpreting Circe

from myth to the short film Skin & Bone (2022), by Eli Powers

Abstract

This article analyzes how the short film Skin & Bone (2022), directed by Eli Powers, reinterprets the myth of Circe in a contemporary folk horror context. Circe, the sorceress from Greek mythology, embodies the duality between the human and the beastly, the creative and the destructive, questioning the essence of humanity. The text examines the parallels between the myth, as described in The Odyssey, and the narrative of the short film, which addresses the deconstruction of humanity through archetypal symbolism and issues of gender. The analysis is structured around three main axes: the relevance of mythic thought as a symbolic foundation, the cultural and symbolic aspects of the myth of Circe, and the reinterpretation of these elements in Skin & Bone. The narrative of the short film delves into the reduction of humanity to its essentials, evoking reflections on isolation, fragility, and power. Serene, the protagonist, reflects Circe's destructive facet, exposing human vulnerabilities and challenging the boundaries between the human and the inhuman. By connecting mythic thought to contemporary narratives, the study highlights how Skin & Bone reinterprets the myth, addressing humanity as a process of constant contention. Thus, the film reaffirms the relevance of Circe as a universal archetype, capable of reframing ethical, social, and existential questions across different historical and cultural contexts.