Final answer:
The gender politics in Aristophanes' 'Lysistrata' and the modern adaptation 'Chi-Raq' highlight the agency of women in patriarchal societies through a sex strike narrative. While both address societal issues, 'Chi-Raq' focuses on modern concerns like gang violence, extending the original themes to contemporary contexts.
Step-by-step explanation:
The gender politics in Aristophanes' comedy Lysistrata and its modern adaptation Chi-Raq both focus on female agency within patriarchal societies though their context and presentation differ significantly. In Lysistrata, the Athenian women's decision to withhold sex is a means to end the Peloponnesian War, leveraging the social power they have available to them to force a political change.
This comedic act, filled with ribald humor, exposes the folly of war and critically views the role of women in society as more than just wives and mothers, showcasing their wit and resilience. In comparison, Chi-Raq translates this narrative to a modern setting, addressing the violence in Chicago's South Side and using a similar sex strike to confront issues such as gang violence and racial dynamics. Both works encourage audiences to reflect on the roles of women in societal conflicts, the voice they have or lack in resonating with the social position of women, and their potential for collective action.