The Raft of the Medusa has been Referenced by...
Comic Books
- It's a Running Gag that every pirate ship sinking in Asterix is drawn to resemble The Raft of the Medusa.
Films — Live Action
- Asterix & Obelix: Mission Cleopatra: When Redbeard's ship is sunken again (courtesy of Obelix kicking a boulder too far) his pirates are left floating on a makeshift raft, with the composition echoing The Raft of the Medusa.
Live-Action TV
- Doctor Who: "The Day of the Doctor" has a version of The Raft of the Medusa but with Cybermen.
- The Falcon and the Winter Soldier:
- Sharon's gallery showcases the painting in the background. This thematically underlines some of the themes of the show, which emphasizes how lower-class people and people of color are often left to fend for themselves. And while the painting associates the raft's sole black passenger with hope, the show does as well, since Sam is initially passed over for the position of Captain America before coming into it at the end.
- The painting and the show also demonstrate the consequences of bestowing the title of Captain to someone unworthy for political reasons. The captain of Méduse hadn't sailed for the better part of 20 years but was given the captaincy anyway because he was a noble, and he made terrible decisions that led to a shipwreck and ultimately an obscene act of cruelty. Walker, Sam's immediate predecessor, is precisely the type of soldier Erskine wanted to avoid giving the Super Serum to but was given the mantle of Captain America anyway because the government was reluctant to let an African-American wear the stars and stripes, and he ended up having to be stripped of the mantle for committing cold-blooded murder in public.
- The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power: Word of God named this painting as inspiration for the raft scenes from episode 2.
- The Terror: In episode 5, Captain Francis Crozier jokingly asks Lieutenant Edward Little "How fares The Raft Of The Medusa?", referencing the similar dire situation and eventual descent into Cannibalism in both stories.
Music
- The Pogues use The Raft of the Medusa as the basis for the cover of Rum Sodomy & the Lash, with the band members' faces painted over the men in the painting.
Video Games
- In Case 55 of Criminal Case: Grimsborough the painting can be seen in the Warden Office.
