Sexual | Personae

Paglia's story of Western culture is defined by a central conflict between two ancient Greek forces:

: She claims that Western culture is inherently pagan, and that our fascination with "sexual personae"—glamorous, archetypal figures in art and media—is a modern continuation of ancient idol worship. Reception and Legacy Sexual Personae

The book became a flashpoint for debate due to Paglia's uncompromising and often controversial stances: Paglia's story of Western culture is defined by

In Paglia's view, art is the battlefield where these forces meet. From the regal, rigid beauty of to the internal, explosive poetry of Emily Dickinson , she traces how artists have attempted to trap the "Dionysian" within "Apollonian" forms. A Provocative Worldview rigid beauty of to the internal