2nd July 2025
Grace, studying English Literature, Dance, Drama and Theatre and Sociology at A Levels references the importance of the ‘range of voices’ her St Brendan’s English teachers place into the curriculum. Being able to explore different perspectives throughout time, served as a support and inspiration to her retelling of Kae Tempest's Work “Brand New Ancients” published in the EMC emagazine.
Grace was encouraged to submit poem by English teacher Hetty, who has the student through university applications and essay competitions.
“It was the most validating thing ever to have professionals treat your work as mature enough to deserve critical editing”
In the old days
The gods had tapestries stitched in their image
Now, with one click, a face is etched into code, becoming
Only a series of ones and zeros.
And in the old days the people in paintings were heroes,
But with a brand-new invention, a technological transition –
The people we now picture are those that glimmer and glitter.
Their stories are told, but – all that glitters isn’t gold.
Now zoom in, into her head
You know sometimes she thinks she’s better off dead
The people in her phone, are cool as marble
Still as stone. Modern Medusa looks them straight in the eye, her perfect hair bites
Their fingers, as they scroll on by. She hisses,
Their thoughts linger on these images and they wish they could be her,
Or have her – a pretty head mounted on a wall.
They don’t know what the gods did to her.
The gods who clutched her in fists like a thing
And in their hands, a snake was born.
Modern Medusa was never warned
A virtual contract can’t be torn.
They own her face, the pictures of her body
Are burned in firewalls as sacrifices to themselves.
Their eyes feast on her flesh – she can’t even look in the fucking mirror.
It literally petrifies her.
Comments are written all over her in scripture. The teenage
Gorgon-girl of Digital Olympus, the abstract amphitheatre.
On the other hand, in my other hand
I hold another image. Pan in on this photo.
The people on this piece of pare are loved. Are known.
That’s how they keep going.
That’s all Medusa wants. The same goes for the Narcissi that follow her.
Mythic monsters, obsessed with Insta infographics –
Relying on the parasocial element of infamy to soothe
Their rejection and by extension, their own reflections.
Grace was drawn to Kae Tempest as part of the curriculum at St Brendan’s Sixth Form College, referencing the importance of reading perspectives of different demographics of society in fostering connection and empathy. Speaking on the breadth of the curriculum of the English Literature A Level, which covers Shakespeare through to modern writers, and immigrant fiction:
“There is a whole other cultural heritage of literature that you don’t always get to learn about. At St Brendan’s, you do, and that is an excellent virtue of the College course specifically.”
Her poem and approach to writing stems from a curiosity of analysing the work of others alongside creating their own;
“I think some of the best writers are close readers and that’s not to say that have had to have studied formerly. People are intellectually stimulated by the written work tend to be able to write in an incredible way”.
Growing up, Grace referenced having a really vivid inner world but studying sociology developed skills to analyse issues by “unpicking from the inside out” which helped writing.
Grace has a place to study Drama and Art History and Exeter University in September, and her advice to fellow St Brendan’s current and future students is to “remember you are in the driving seat. It’s your life, don’t live it for anyone else”.
Literary success is set to continue for the St Brendan’s student, as they have another article with EMC on the way ‘Savage with hope: Plurality and subversion in Postcolonial Literature’. It is a critical appreciation of Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s novel ‘Americanah’, exploring tropes and themes of the immigrant fiction genre, and is due to be published in September.
