Chapter 2 MYTHOLOGY Mythology The most common mythology

Chapter 2 MYTHOLOGY

Mythology � The most common mythology people think of is Greek: � https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=e. JC m 8 W 5 RZes

Introduction � But mythology is actually a broader term � Myths are religious narratives that tell stories and are important to religious beliefs �Origins �Histories �Rules of behavior �Can be written or oral

Myths and Worldview � All people experience things they can’t explain � The way we perceive reality is our worldview and it colors all we see and how we interact with things � Ex. Navaho vs. Judeo-Christian view of nature

Myths and Worldview � Read the Judeo-Christian and Navaho creation myths on pg. 34 -35 & pg. 45 -46 � Analyze for themes: �Nature-human interaction �How humans are created �View of animals �Interaction between humans and supernatural �Element of time

Myths and Worldview � So how would we summarize the different worldviews from these two creation myths?

Myths and Worldview Navaho: interconnectedness with nature, living in balance, respecting living things � Judeo-Christian: controlling nature, humans were given the world and can exploit it �

Supernatural Read the story on Snow White (pg. 3031) � What is the ‘moral’ of the story? � What aspects are supernatural? � Is this a religious study? Why or why not? �

Supernatural This story is a folktale � It entertains and gives a lesson, but is not a religious text �

Supernatural � Legends are stories that people believe really happened, but have been embellished � Urban legends are stories that supposedly happened in the recent past

Supernatural � What are some examples of urban legends?

Supernatural � Bloody Mary � Big Foot � The escaped killer with a hook hand � Basically anything that people think is a hoax or tabloid story

Myths These are sacred stories � They explain: � �Human’s origin �Creation of the universe �Values and norms �Good vs. evil They are religious and used in religious rituals � Bible stories, Qur’an, Torah, etc. � (Table 2. 1, pg. 32) �

Myths � Be able to distinguish what makes folktales, legends, and myths different � Use table in book

Written and Oral Texts � Some cultures do not have written histories �They use oral traditions to pass down cultural knowledge �Oral texts are performed, not recited �Slightly altered each generation �Can be adapted to new events � Others are written �Qur’an means “recitation” and is literal word of God and so not changed in any way

Example � Genesis from the Bible is a creation myth � Part 1: �God makes the world in 6 days �He makes plants, then animals, then humans �Importance of the Sabbath � Part 2: �Creates Adam and Eve �Fall from Eden �Makes humans first and then animals �Creates Eve out of Adam

Example � These myths reflect worldview and social charter (human interactions) �Male dominance �Humans given control over nature �Correct and incorrect behavior �Punishments

Myths � There are different forms of written traditions � How many versions of the Bible are there? � Some keep traditional language (it sounds more “religious”) and some use current language

Understanding Myths � Myths are found in all societies but vary widely � There are different ways to approach studying them �Most of these are connected to theories we discussed in chapter 1

Approaches to Myths � 1. Evolutionary �(incorrect) idea of unilineal evolution �Evolve from simple to complex �Primitive to civilized �Frazer (The Golden Bough) NO!

Approaches to Myths � 2. Fieldwork and Functional �Can use myths to understand cultural system �See what function myths have in society �Boas (Father of American Anthropology) �Malinowski (Essential needs of humans)

Approaches to Myths � 3. Structural �Look at structure of the myth �Dualism: light/dark, good/evil, male/female �No focus on meaning or content �Levi-Strauss

Approaches to Myths � 4. Psychological �Unconscious projections �Collective consciousness �Archetypes: orphan, creator, fool, etc. �Freud �Jung

Common Themes � Know common themes to use on homework!!

Common Themes Common themes may come from diffusion of knowledge or from collective consciousness � Birth Metaphor � �Supernatural creating something � Chaos �Things created out of chaos or darkness � Emergence �Things created by emerging from under the earth � Holy People �Holy beings create people

Apocalyptic Myths Center on the destruction of the world � Cycles of destruction and creation � � Noah’s flood � Revelations ○ Four horsemen, lamb of God, lake of fire, etc.

Trickster Myths � Some myths are for entertainment and some discuss serious matters � Trickster myths are less serious and teach people how not to behave � Example: Haida story of the Raven (pg. 49).

Hero Myths � Though stories all vary, there is a common pattern or story line (monomyth) � Hero leaves common world and enters supernatural world receives training encounters obstacles and is victorious hero returns to help his friends and family � Common in our stories and movies

Discussion Questions � 1. Define what worldview is. How does this impact how people see nature and the environment? � 2. What are some common themes among different religious creation myths? � 3. What is a monomyth? Why are popular movies (previous slide) not considered religious?

Assignment � ICA #1 “Creation Myths” together in groups

Videos � As you watch videos look for: �Similarities �Common themes �Connection to environment �Examples from lecture

Videos Egypt: http: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=u. Ty 49 Jlg. JZE � Inca: http: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=75 k. Db 2 Oq. BWI&list=PL 32257 EC AC 08445 A 3 � Aboriginal: http: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=koxp_q 46 z 0 Q&list=PL 32257 ECA C 08445 A 3 � Japan: http: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=PIQ 9 Ea 7 WDSI&list=PL 32257 EC AC 08445 A 3 �

Greek Mythology Video � http: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=c. QN 1 v. Gm. Hxs 4