The Art of Being Human Chapter Three Chapter

The Art of Being Human Chapter Three

Chapter 3 Objectives: �Describe the meaning of mythology and explain how it relates to the study of the Humanities and theory of Carl Jung. �Outline features of the archetype of the hero in myth. �Distinguish major archetypes in myths including magic, word power, the circle, the journey, and the garden. �Illustrate the concept of myth as explanation regarding areas such as creation, the natural world, and human suffering. �Explain mythic elements in fairy tales and relate the study of myth and the archetypes to fairy tales and stories in your own life.

Carl Jung �Believed that all people are born with an instinctive knowledge of archetypes �The Hero �The Wise One �The Trickster or The Underdog �The Villian �Carl Jung Archetypes youtube video (1: 48)

Joseph Campbell �You tube video – 4: 34 �What do you have in common with the Hero? �You leave your “comfort zone” and �“The cave you fear to enter holds the treasure you seek. ”

Archetypal Heroes �Birth of the Hero—unusual/wonderous �Early Recognition of Hero �Hero’s Great Deeds �Hero’s loss of Power �Hero must prove him/herself �Fairy Tales– happy ending �Myths – lots of tragedy �Archetypal Heroes – youtube clip 13 min

The Hero Today – Anti-hero? �Anti Hero: Usually fairly “normal” person, who strives to do the right thing, but has many failings. � Wolverine � � of the X-men Willy Loman Death of a Salesman Draco Malfoy, or what about Snape? Napoleon Dynamite Edward/Jacob -- Twilight � Usually more interesting than traditional Heroes—often does things/has a personality that causes problems – therefore is partially/completely at fault for his/her problems/failings.

Components of Myth �Magic �Power of Words �Power of Numbers �The Circle �The Journey �The Garden �Gods as human beings (Greek gods)

Myth as Explanation �Creation �The Natural World �Human Suffering �Cursed by Fate

Myths of Childhood �Need for reassurance �Importance of being rich and attractive �The Importance of Names �The Dark Side

Popular Mythology �We continue to create and perpetuate myths �Common Sayings

How Myths influence Humanities �Many times, myths and archetypes underlie a given work. �“Leda and the Swan” by Yeats is much more powerful if you know about Zeus who disguised himself as a swan. �Frodo in Lord of the Rings leaves Middle Earth at the end and goes to a very “green” type of paradise – much like the Elysian Fields for brave Greek warriors, in Greek Mythology. �If you have a broad knowledge of myths, you can look for the similarities in modern literature, film, art, etc.

East vs. West—the Myths that mystify �The World vs. My World (Devdutt Pattanaik – 20 min) �Every culture is trying to understand itself and each culture comes up with its own explanation. �Different cultures come up with different explanations �“My World” is always better than “Your World” – the reason we have strife and warfare, etc. �Don’t live a life that is boring – be SPECTACULAR!! �The Circle—what comes around, goes around. �Cloud Atlas – the same life is lived over and over until you get it right.

The next time you meet a stranger: �One request: Understand that you live in the subjective truth and so does he. �Have empathy. � Devdutt Pattanaik

Key Terms: �Archetype �Collective unconscious – Jung’s phrase for the universality of myths among different cultures �Gender Roles �Karma �Monomyth – myth found in every culture -- hero �Mythology �Myths