1 / 16

Myth

Ch 2 Mythology Anthropology 5 Magic, Science & Religion Winter 2013 Katherine Schaefers , Instructor Office: 3102 OH: 10:00-11:00am Mondays 7:15-7:45am Tuesday/Thursday. Myth. When we hear myth, we may think of: Zeus, Hera, Poseidon, the Titans (ancient Greece)

ardara
Download Presentation

Myth

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript


  1. Ch 2 MythologyAnthropology 5Magic, Science & ReligionWinter 2013Katherine Schaefers, InstructorOffice: 3102OH: 10:00-11:00am Mondays7:15-7:45am Tuesday/Thursday

  2. Myth • When we hear myth, we may think of: • Zeus, Hera, Poseidon, the Titans (ancient Greece) • Romulus and Remus (ancient Rome • Isis, Osiris, Horus, Seth (ancient Egypt) • Thor, Odin (ancient Norse) • But myths are not just ancient…

  3. Modern “major” religions have their myths… • Adam & Eve (Judaism & Christianity) • Brahma, Krishna, Vishnu, many more (Hinduism) • The Jade Emperor/Heavenly Grandfather (Taosim) • Muhammad and the Angel Gabriel (Islam)

  4. Myth defined… • Religious, sacred, stories that provide basis for beliefs/practices • Origins of humanity, creation of the universe, nature of death/illness • Lay the founding for values/morals • Can be passed down verbally or in writing

  5. Worldview • Myths help to shape a society’s worldview, the way they look at reality. • Navajo vs. Judeo-Christian • Act in part w/ nature vs. control nature

  6. Myths vs. Legends vs. Folktales • Myth: Regarded to be true, accepted on faith, provides moral/ethical authority (takes place in a remote time/place)

  7. Myths vs. Legends vs. Folktales • Myth: Regarded to be true, accepted on faith, provides moral/ethical authority (takes place in a remote time/place) • Legend: Based on real people, considered (mostly) fact, sometimes has to do w/ religion. Examples?

  8. Myths vs. Legends vs. Folktales • Myth: Regarded to be true, accepted on faith, provides moral/ethical authority (takes place in a remote time/place) • Legend: Based on real people, considered (mostly) fact, sometimes has to do w/ religion. Examples? • Folktales: Fiction, meant for entertainment/non-religious. Examples?

  9. Changing nature of Myth • If passed down verbally… • Slight alterations with each retelling • Meaning of parts may change depending on the orator’s emphasis. • Remember more completely what is most interesting about the story. • Ex: Illiad (Troy) & Atlantis

  10. Changing nature of Myth • If passed down in writing… • Change in written language/translation to other languages may also change the meaning. • Scribal errors may omit from or accidentally add to the myth.

  11. Transmission discrepancies not the only reason Myths change… • Changing society, changing culture, changing religion, so….change the mythology. • Ex: Ptolemy, Egypt, Greece and Rome • Syncretism • The melding of diff. myths and religions with the goal of creating a mutually agreeable religion between disparate cultures. • Ex: Egypt and Christianity • Isis/Horus vs. Mary/Jesus

  12. Analyzing Myth • Evolutionary Approach (outdated): • How “primitive” societies advanced to more “civilized ones by starting with myth/magic, advancing to religion, and then finally reaching the pinnacle (science). • Comparative Approach: By comparing the mythology of “primitive” societies, could get at a “common form” of myth which was seen as also occurring in early European society. • Good ex: Frazer, The Golden Bough

  13. Analyzing Myth • Functional Approach: • Focuses on outcome: What is the function? What does the myth do? • Franz Boas: myths as a source of ethnographic data. A literal reflection of culture. • Malinowski: myths help explain religious rituals and social/moral rules.

  14. Analyzing Myth • Structural Approach: • What is the structure of myth? • Based on Levi-Strauss: myth as binary opposites • Light/dark, day/night, male/female

  15. Analyzing Myth • Psychological Approach: • Sees myth as composed of symbols • Sigmund Freud: Myth as a “shared dream”/childhood experiences (mother/father figure) becomes myth (god/creation figure). • Carl Jung: Our brains have “Archetypes” or certain characters that we, humans, have in our unconscious: • “The Prodigal Son”“the Hero”“the Helper”“The Fool” etc.: these will always pop up not only in myths but also in our stories and fiction. • Collective Unconscious: shared elements of the human unconscious mind that are manifested in myths/dreams.

  16. Themes • Origin Myths • Where all other aspects of Myth usually branch out from • Ex: Egypt • Flood Myths • Part of our collective unconscious because of our need to use the restroom during the night? -or- Natural occurrence for those who live close to rivers/oceans/seas • Ex: Atlantis • Trickster Myths • Bringing a certain element into creation, often by the use of wily, sneaky ways. • Ex: Prometheus • Hero Myths • A hero departs from ordinary life to pursue adventure. Here in a realm filled with supernatural wonders, he prevails against certain trials/foes, returning to humanity with some sort of boon. This is, as defined by Joseph Campbell the monomyth • Ex: Hercules

More Related