There is a big mural of Prometheus in Frary Dining Hall. It is called Prometheus, by some guy named Jose. When he wanted to give Prometheus a penis, Pomona said, “no way, Jose!”1 That is one difference between me and Prometheus. Another one is that Prometheus stole fire from the gods. The only thing I’ve ever stolen is cups and plates and eighteen ice pops from Frary.
When Prometheus stole fire from the gods, they bound him to a rock and sent an eagle to peck out his liver every day. This is what it’s like when I have three beers and lie down for a little. You see, I have acid reflux, a horrible condition that gives me heartburn sometimes when I eat spicy food or drink alcohol. There is no cure. 2(
Some people say that because I am a cis white man I am “privileged” (whatever that means???). This is not true because I am chronically ill! With acid reflux. And sometimes my nose gets runny. And I am a little bit bisexual. 3 Think before you speak, ableists.
One thing that people talk about with murals in art history is site specificity.4 Prometheus is site specific to Frary because I am Prometheus when I eat at Frary. The ableists tell me to “stop eating the Nashville Hot Fish Sandwich” or “get sober” or “have a Tums”. To that, I say: “Na na na boo boo.”
In conclusion: Jose Clemente Orozco’s masterpiece Prometheus was praised by LA Times art critic Arthur Miller as a “sublime conception of Prometheus bearing fire to cold, longing humanity until it lives as probably no wall in the United States lives today.”5 It is also praised by Pomona art history student Me as “what it’s like when my tummy hurts.”
This article has been reworked from a final essay I submitted for ARHI 130 PO: Modern Latinx American Art. I got an A- 🙂