USF St. Petersburg campus Honors Program Theses (Undergraduate)

First Advisor

Dawn Cecil, Ph.D.

Second Advisor

Catherine Wilkins, Ph.D.

Publisher

University of South Florida St. Petersburg

Document Type

Thesis

Publication Date

2025

Date Issued

May 2025

Abstract

This thesis explores the modern interpretation of Homer’s Odyssey through Epic: The Musical, examining its viability as a bridge between Criminological scholars and a contemporary audience. Epic: The Musical, a musical retelling of The Odyssey created by Jorge Rivere-Herrans, begins with Odysseus and his crew at the end of the Trojan War and ends with Odysseus arriving home at Ithaca. The musical consists of 40 songs and 9 Sagas, or albums, each focused on a different part of Odysseus’ journey. The focus of this thesis is in the relationship between Calypso and Odysseus. The two songs, “Love in Paradise” and “Not Sorry For Loving You” depict the psychological complexities of a relationship characterized by uneven power dynamics, coercion masked as affection, and conflicting personal narratives. Through this modern retelling, Calypso becomes more than an archetype, she represents a contemporary model of an emotionally manipulative abuser, while Odysseus is more in the role of a victim struggling to retain his autonomy. The songs also demonstrate how harm can still come from good intentions and that a person’s interpretation of events greatly informs the choices they make. The Odyssey is a classic tale with many retellings and reinterpretations and EPIC stands as one of the most recent additions. It provides an opportunity for scholars to teach a modern audience elements of criminology that may easily be misunderstood or misinterpreted. As such, this thesis will contain a lyrical analysis of Epic: The Musical, specifically the two songs mentioned above, and provide a detailed understanding of how well they utilize and demonstrate criminological terms.

Comments

A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements of the University Honors Program University of South Florida, St. Petersburg December 5, 2025.

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