Contemporary Meets Ancient, Queer Meets Myth, Girl Meets Boy.

In her novel Girl Meets Boy, Ali Smith adapts the myth of Iphis and Ianthe that was commissioned for Canongate Publisher’s The Myths series, which had the intention of having contemporary authors rewrite ancient myths from across cultures. Iphis’ myth was originally told in Ovid’s Metamorphoses, but Smith reinvigorates this with a focus on queer identities. As such, this novel can be read in
terms of contemporary queer theory. I will begin this paper with a critical exploration of Iphis’ myth from Book 9 of Ovid’s Metamorphoses, specifically considering its relevance for contemporary queer audiences. Following this, I will consider the feminist implications of analysing myths in terms of queer theory. I will then elucidate on Ali Smith’s deployment of contemporary queerness when adapting Ovid’s
myth, in terms of sexuality and then gender. In terms of gender, I will specifically analyse the genderqueer characterisation of Robin, and queerness as activism in Girl Meets Boy. Specifically, this paper will interpret the character of Iphis, and her contemporary adaptation in
Robin, in terms of their transgender narratives. Ultimately, this paper will demonstrate how contemporary theories of sexuality can be used to present a queer adaptation of myth, and the importance of queer representation when considering adaptations of mythology in terms of feminism.