What is Myth? “a Depew / Fontanarosa joint”. What is “Myth”? DEFINITION: The word “myth”...

What is Myth?

“a Depew / Fontanarosa joint”

What is “Myth”?

DEFINITION:

The word “myth” comes from the Greek word, “mythos”, which means, “a spoken or written story.”

The modern definition includes:The ancient stories themselves

The overall belief-system (i.e. religion) of the people/culture who originated these stories

What is Myth?

PURPOSE:

Myths were developed so people could make sense of the world around them.

This is why every society has its own collections of myths-its “mythology”

What is Myth?

PURPOSE:

Myths try to explain the way the world is.

Their explanations are often dependent on relationships between humans and the gods and goddesses who made humans

What is Myth?

PURPOSE:

Myths answer unanswerable questions, like:“Who made the universe?”

“What causes a storm?”

“Why are humans different from animals?”

Myths usually play an important part in religion.

Myths answer primitive people’s fears about science

Myths make nature seem less chaotic

NATURE: (origin myths)Where did the Earth come from?

Heavens- sun moon stars, etc.

Seasons- climate, rain, fertility

Geography – oceans, mountains, forests

Myths attempt to explain:

What is Myth?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=crnpS1HoDQw

Myths attempt to explain:

MAN Where did man come from?

His life cycle-birth, growth…

His victories

Glories in war and love

Defeats in war, love, misfortunes

His end/death-glories and weaknesses

What is Myth?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=anB1BgtwCpkhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ccKhLrKhiOo

GODSWhere did the gods come from?

Number of gods

Polytheism vs. Monotheism

Responsibilities / duties of gods

Roles of gods – their powers and weaknesses

Myths attempt to explain:

What is Myth?

What is Myth?

TEXTS:

Oral Tradition:Most myths were passed down orally

They were permanently recorded in rhyming poems that were publicly recited or sung.

He longest of these are known as “epics”Iliad AeneidOdyssey

What is Myth?

TEXTS:

They were also recorded in:Plays

Architecture

Sculpture

Mosaics

Ceramics

Frescoes and Murals

Carvings

Textiles

Other assorted human artifacts…

What is Myth?

PlaysParticularly, those of four Greek playwrights who lived near Athens around 500 – 400 BC

• Aeschylus

• Euripides

• Sophocles

• Aristophanes

TEXTS

What is Myth?Architecture

TEXTS

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3289/2801135531_5d9887020d_z.jpg

What is Myth? TEXTS

Architecture

http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2145/2314582176_a673e26fd2_z.jpg

What is Myth? TEXTS

Architecture

http://www.shunya.net/Pictures/Greece/Athens/ParthenonFrieze.jpg

What is Myth? TEXTS

http://http://www.tammyjerome.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/DisneyStudios3.jpg

Architecture

What is Myth?Sculpture

TEXTS

What is Myth?Sculpture

TEXTS

What is Myth?Sculpture

TEXTS

http://www.hellenicaworld.com/Greece/Mythology/Sculpture/HerculesMaucher.jpg

What is Myth?

Mosaics

TEXTS

http://farm2.staticflickr.com/1084/5161815327_614d454406_z.jpg

What is Myth?

Mosaics

TEXTS

What is Myth?

Mosaics

TEXTS

http://media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/20/2d/

a0/202da0d0d112d441e0105025f7348d7b.jpg

What is Myth?

Ceramics

TEXTS

http://www.workofartists.com/images/art/ceramicscirclefriends.jpg

What is Myth?

Ceramics

TEXTS

male effigy vessels, called "Jivitonuu" and female effigy vessels called "Jivitovaa".

Hiwi pottery

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__N5hDcfFbvk/S5vfw8Yqh9I/AAAAAAAAA9g/7L9qfm9vWaU/s400/Jivi-Guajibo-Hiwi-Ceramica.JPG

What is Myth?

Ceramics

TEXTS

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3483/3707761638_6bcc2a82f6_z.jpg?zz=1

What is Myth?

Ceramics

TEXTS

http://www.greekpotteryshop.com/images/DSCN6495_500x375.JPG

What is Myth?Frescoes and Murals

TEXTS

http://media-cache-ec0.pinimg.com/736x/c8/b4/a2/c8b4a241116aebffb17ad11a6ace50fe.jpg

What is Myth?Frescoes and Murals

TEXTS

http://www.wga.hu/art/r/raphael/5roma/4a/05farnes.jpg

What is Myth?

Frescoes and M

urals

TEXTS

http://www.terminartors.com/files/artworks/4/5/7/45737/Guercino-Aurora-1621-II.jpg

What is Myth?

Carvings

TEXTS

http://www.mythencyclopedia.com/images/mlw_0001_0003_0_img0166.jpg

The carving on this hei tiki jade pendant

is a fertility symbol in the mythology of the Maori people of New

Zealand. The figure represents the first

man, Tiki, in the stories of other

Polynesians.

What is Myth?

Carvings

TEXTS

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7cw-P9EkdLQ/TjxQe-3XwHI/

AAAAAAAADac/A7RQlUNH5X8/s400/

IMG_5037.JPG

What is Myth?Carvings

TEXTS

The Exquisite Art of Food Carving

http://arts.cultural-china.com/chinaWH/upload/upfiles/2011-03/02/

the_exquisite_art_of_food_carving05e7ed556a92c6d5cd91.jpg

What is Myth?Textiles

TEXTS

http://www.rugreview.com/orr/or113ke1.jpg

What is Myth?Textiles

TEXTS

http://ololopress.com/amm/images/cattle.jpg

Andean llama god

What is Myth?Textiles

TEXTS

http://blinds-wallpaper.net/wallpaper/images/uploads/tapestries/EUROPEAN/3776tap.jpg

What is Myth?

LEGACY:

Why do myths survive?Myths allow modern people to reflect upon a more simple and genuine time

Myths promote the use of symbols to explain shared patterns of experience

Myths are cool stories that resonate on many different levels.

What is Myth?

Themes, Motifs, SymbolsGood against EvilGods and GoddessesCreation MythsThe First HumansHeroesThe AfterlifeAnimals

What is Myth?Fabulous Beasts/Monsters

What is Myth?

Fabulous Beasts

and Monsters

What is Myth

Sacred PlacesStonehenge

What is MythSacred PlacesOracle at Delphi

LegendsUsually do not have religious or supernatural content

Usually do have historical contentThey give almost-superhuman qualities to historical figures or events

They are more about the “story” than the significance of the story

Purpose = entertainment first, lesson second

Sometimes used for education purposes, as an example

Myth, Legend, and Folklore

Myth, Legend, and FolkloreLegends

They are more about the “story” than the significance of the story

More for entertainment

Sometimes used as educational examples

We might gain some meaning from a legend, but not the archetypal intensity that myths contain

Ex: – Atlantis– Robin Hood– Romulus and Remus– Headless Horseman

– Knights of the Round Table

– Vlad the Impaler

– El Dorado

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legend

Atlantis

Legend

http://www.blog.dolorescannon.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/AtlantisTheMyth.jpg

Robin Hood

Legend

http://static.comicvine.com/uploads/original/11/118094/2720089-disney_robin_hood_help.jpg

Romulus &Remus

Legend

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zAu0NmcY5UU/TdFAqVzUIjI/AAAAAAAABf0/Yd9uJdTT-EI/s1600/SSRomeBegginingsRomulusRemus.gif

Knights of the Round Table

Legend

http://whatculture.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/7213.jpg

Knights of the Round Table

Legend

http://fc07.deviantart.net/fs70/f/2011/085/2/5/knights_of_the_round_table_by_paladin_errant-

d37cg3p.png

Headless Horseman

Legend

http://www.francescofrancavilla.com/gallery/images/headless_horseman_low.jpg

Legend

http://www.lookingland.com/jcarrstudios/vlad.jpg

Vlad the Impaler

El Dorado

Legend

http://www.redicecreations.com/ul_img/24142eldorado_678x320_front.jpg

Myth, Legend, and Folklore

Tall TalesFolktales, known to be fictional

Usually limited to specific regions

Always contain exaggerations

One town, one city, one mountain range Paul Bunyan

Br’er Rabbit

Rip Van Winkle

Tall Tales

Paul Bunyan

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-L9pSiyDgqz0/T3HPOEuM-6I/AAAAAAAAAOA/

rnSmr4ra7xg/s400/PaulBunyanBabe.jpg

Tall TalesBr’er Rabbit

http://leahstps.files.wordpress.com/2011/10/brer-fox-talking.gif

Tall Tales

Rip Van Winkle

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AWV4hGqqnZ0/TY07sBA2pEI/

AAAAAAAAALc/9ZO3ub-FIgw/s1600/Rip-Van-Winkle.jpg

Fables:Short stories to entertain (and teach) kids

Emphasize the moral (lesson)

Characters are often animals (or other non-humans)

Plot is a metaphor for a human behavior that must be clarified or modified

Examples include Aesop’s fablesThe Tortoise and the Hare

Ants and the Grasshopper

Fox and the Crow

Fairy Tale:A fictional story set in a magical version of the real world

Characters are archetypesSpecifically, there is usually a “Hero”

Characters’ actions teach a lessonFairy Tales teach lessons like fables teach morals

Magical Beasts / Talking Animals are often present in fairy tales

Magic is often used to move the plot

Examples:Cinderella

Pinocchio

Rumplestiltskin

Puss in Boots

Folklore (or Lore)consists of :

– legends,

– music,

– oral history,

– proverbs,

– tall tales, and

– customs that are the traditions of a culture, subculture, or group.

It is also the set of practices through which those expressive genres are shared.

– jokes,

– popular beliefs,

– fairy tales,

– stories,

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Folklore

Myth, Legend, and Folklore

Folklore (or Lore)Study of folklore (by Folklorists)

looks at four general (non-literary) media:

• Artifacts

• Oral Tradition

• Culture, and

• Behavior / Rituals

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Folklore

Myth, Legend, and Folklore

Types of Myths

Primitive MythsOriginally stories told about nature

Pagan MythsWhich were like the Greek and Roman stories of the interplay between humans and deities

List from In the Global Myths, by Alexander Eliot

Types of Myths

Sacred MythsAs in the stories from current Eastern and Western religions such as Christianity and Hinduism

Scientific MythsStories which support natural laws

Types of Myths

Cosmic MythsStories which detail the creation and end of the world

Place and Object MythsDescribing places such as Camelot, or objects such as the Golden Fleece

Types of Myths

Theistic MythsDetail events involving the deities

Hero MythsStories about characters including Heracles,

Moses, Odysseus, and Achilles

Why Do Humans Need Myths?

Myths grant continuity and stability in culture

They strengthen and maintain a shared set of values, ideals, and history

Holidays, calendars, morals, laws traditions, rituals…

Myths present guidelines for living

Ex. PHILEMON & BAUKIS

When myths tell about the activities and attitudes of deities, the moral tone of the story implies the expectations of society for our own behaviors and standards

Why Do Humans Need Myths?

Myths justify a culture’s activities

as well as technical tips for hunting, warfare, farming, etc.

Myths establish a culture’s customs, rituals, religious tenets, laws, social structure, arts and crafts, holidays and traditions,

Why Do Humans Need Myths?

If we believe that humans can interact with gods, then we obviously must have some part in their grand scheme

We are suffering for a bigger cause rather than being battered about randomly

We believe all of our problems have meaning

Why Do Humans Need Myths?

Myths explain the unexplained

– The Story of Hades and Persephone

Ex. Why do have seasons?

They reveal our fate after death, the reasons for miracles or disasters, and other riddles of life

Why Do Humans Need Myths?

Myths offer role models

If they can do it, why can’t we?

We can find strength in the exploits of the deities and heroes’ courage and strength

Why Do Humans Need Myths?

As a part of Chuck Norris in Greek Mythology Week, the Austin Sketch Squad came up with these two wonderful illustrations. Walker: Texas Centaur …

http://geekadelphia.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/walker_texas_centaur.jpg

…and Chuck Norris kicking Medusa…

http://geekadelphia.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/pottery_shard_chuck_norris.jpg