Debunking `Eternal' myths Song cycle takes a fresh feminist slant

`The Eternal Feminine," the title of mezzo-soprano SusanneMentzer's song recital Monday night at Ravinia, isn't exactly anoriginal idea.

Throughout the centuries, male writers, artists and composers havemeditated on womanly attributes, culled ones they found mostfascinating and collected them into an archetype enthroned as theeternal feminine. Whether selfless saint, voluptuous temptress or oneof the infinite shades in between, the eternal feminine is a womancreated by and for men. She is the woman of man's fondest dreams. Sheis also a creature that many women, certainly at this point in the21st century, would like to shoot between the eyes and bury once andfor …